The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-06-01
THE FIRE Department.
INSPECTED BY THE TOWN O1UN
OIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
4 Large Turnout and Very credl.ablo
Parade - Friendships New Uniforms
An Attractive Feature.

On the 25th day Of January, 1881,
the constitution and bylaws for the
government of the Bloomsburg Fire
Department were approved and Or
dained by the Town Council of the
Town of Bloomsburg, and have re-
manned in force unchanged to this
day. Among other provisions therein
contained is the following: "The
Chief Engineer shall, at least once in
each year, order general parade of
all the companies belonging to the
Fire Department, at such times as
shall be designated by the Fire Board,
for inspection and review by the Town
Council
In pursuance of the above, an in
spection was ordered, and held on
Memorial Day. AT 1890 p. m. the
four companies assembled at the
Town Hall, and formed IN the follow
ing order President of Council w.
o. Holmes, Chief of Police Wesley
Knorr, Members of Council Blue,
Cronin, Hartman, Cox, Demaree and
Smith. Bloomsburg Band, Friend
ship Fire c., No. 1, IS men, steamer,
hose carriage, cart; Rescue Hose Co,
No. 2, IS men, hose cart; Winona
Hose Co., No. 8, FL men, hose cart !;
Good Will Fire Co., No. a, 81 men,
hose cart. The Friendship Steamer
was drawn by Dieffenbach Bros. fine
team of grays, with H. F. Dieffenbach
holding the relns.
The Rescue Hook and Ladder
Truck was not out, nor the hose car
riages Of the Rescue and Winona.
The line marched down Main street,
to head of Market street, then coun-
termarched to the square, where it
halted, and was inspected by the
Council. After this formality was
completed the firemen returned to the
Town Hall, and at ago all but the
Winonas joined the G. A. R. parade,
leaving their apparatus behind.
FRIENDSHIPS NEW UNIFORMS.
The leading feature of the day was
the uniforms of the Friendships, worn
then for the first time. They consist
of cadet blue coats, pants and caps.
The coats are very long frocks, with
brass buttons, double-breasted, and
black braid on the sleeves. A black
stripe runs down the sides of the
pants. The handsomest men inside
the coats were the two robust axemen,
who led the parade, carrying with
them about 800 pounds of solid flesh
each, and enjoying the rays of old
Sol as he smiled down on them with
a lurid countenance, while they smiled
back at him with blushing cheeks.
After the parade they " "smiled " again.
We refer to Chas. H. Reice and Geo
Enterline.
Chief Gilmore was here, there and
everywhere, and performed all his du.
ties well. He has the distinction o
being the second Chief Engineer who
has ever had an inspection of the fire
department, though the ordinance ha:
been in existence eighteen years. In
1883, when the editor of this paper
had the honor to hold that Office, there
was an inspection on Memorial Day.
Only two Members of Council ap
peared, and after being shown the
condition of the apparatus, and prom,
ising to make necessary repairs, the
Council failed to act on any of the
recommendations then made, and SC
far as we know, some OF those repairs
have not been made yet.
Now that the custom has been re
vived, let it be kept alive, and let u
have an annual inspection Of the Fire
Department