The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03

by Bartlett Presley. who proved to
be a popular chief. His wife
was known as the guardian angel
of the fire department" When the
men worked at a fire she was in the
habit of cooking steaming kettles of
coffee and preparing sandwiches which
she distributed among them.
Steam Fire Engine Arrives -
The effectiveness Of the department
was greatly increased in 1866, by the
addition Of steam fire engine. The
arrival Of the engine, on Aug. IL, was
made the occasion Of popular demon
stration and the engine was unveiled in
an impressive manner when it was in
stalled in the engine house on Fourth
street and christened the "Cfty Of ST.
, Paul." C. c. King was appointed first
engineer, and subscription was i'm
mediately started for money to pur-
chase horses.
Frank Brewer became chief engineer
in 1866, and his annual report for 1867
showed that the department consisted
Of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder COM
pany, with 80 men; the Minnehaha En-
CINE company, with 46 men, and the
Steamer City of st. Paul." with
Brook Hose company No. 2, with 40
men, and Hope Engine company No.
8, with 80 men, were organized.
The water supply, which had been in
adequate, was improved in 1868, when
the st. Paul Water company estab
lished pumping station at Lake Pha-
len and placed fire plugs on the streets
about the city. In June, 1869, steps
were taken to provide an engine house
at Seventh and Sibley streets for Min
nehaha Engine company, which had
been quartered at Third and Jackson
streets. The lease at the old site had
expired and the building which had
been erected on it had to be relinquished
to the owner of the property. The len
CINE house at Seventh and Sibley
streets was used only two years, for
in 1872 it was sold and the company
was transferred to a building on Wa
couta street, between Sixth and Sew
enth streets.
J. G. Prendergast became chief en-
gineer in 1870, and he was succeeded
in 1871 by r. o. Strong. M. B. Farrell
supplanted Strong in 1872, but Strong
again became chief in 1875. The Came
well alarm system was installed in the
u city in 1873, with sixteen boxes In diff
ferent parts Of the city.
- Volunteer Corps Disbanded
The volunteer corps, which had
served in it's infancy and during the
period of it's growth, was disbanded on
Oct. 1, 1877, and it's place was taken
by the paid department. When the
volunteer department went out Of ex-
istence 1t consisted of eight companies,
as follows:
The first engine, called the "Steamer
st. Paul." was attached to the st. Paul
Hose company No. Z, located on st.
Peter street, near Seventh, having 80
men the Pioneer Hook and Ladder
company, stationed at the same place.
and having 27 men the Minnehaha
steamer No. 2, Wacouta. near Seventh
street Minnehaha Engine company, at
tached to the steamer, including 40
men; Hope Engine company No. 3,
stationed at Ramsey and Leech streets,
provided with rotary Silsby engine,
and the Hope Hose company, having
40 men, Trout Brook Engine company
No. A, having a rotary Silsby machine,
located at Tenth and Broadway, and
the Rescue company No. 5, having 45
men, located at the town hall.
In the regular establishment Hook
and Ladder Company No. 1 took the
place of the Pioneer company; Hose
Company No. 1, of the st. Paul COM
pany; Hose Company No. 2. of the
Minnehaha company; Hose Company
: No. 8, of the Hope company. and Hose
company No. 8, Of the Trout Brook
company. r. o. Strong was the first
chief When the department went on
the paid basis, pfpemen and laddermen
received $40 and foremen received SIS
per month.
Fire Board Is Created
!. The board Of fire commissioners, un-
+ der whose management the depart
I ment has been brought to its present