Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-04-20
WEST BRATTLEB0Ro
WESTERN ENGINE COMPANY NO 1.
the Only Original Member Still with the
Company.

Company.
The action Of L. F. Clark, in refusing
to serve longer after being unanimously
elected clerk and treasurer OF the West
ern Engine company at its annual meet
ing, calls to mind the fact that he Is the
only member OF the original company who
still belongs to the organization. Mr..
Clark said that he thought he had done
work enough for the company. that he
was too old to carry on the duties. etc.
1t appears that previous to 1858 the
Union Engine company was in existence
and there was an organization at that
time taking the place Of what Is now the
fire district. know as the fire society. But
little interest was taken in this organi-
zation, and those who remained in the
engine company and leading citizens
thought II best TO buy an en-
CINE and organize a new company In
the spring OF 1868 the fire society held a
meeting and a committee was chosen,
consisting of L. F. Clark, Lorenzo Thayer
and Masa Willis who were given instruc-
lions to find where an engine could be
procured, its cost. etc. Mr. Clark found
that an engine was for sale In Worcester,
Mass, and went there alone to see II, the
other members not being ready to ac-
company him. He found that the engine
could be bought for cash $50 less than the
price at which 1t was offered, and on his
He had 1t shipped to West Brattleboro
and 1t was kept in his barn.
After Mr.. Clark made the purchase
some of the good taxpayers who had been
strongly in favor of buying a new engine
lost their enthusiasm and Mr.. Clark was
left with the engine on his hands as his
personal property 1t remained In his
barn until 1871. 1t was brought to the
east village at the time Of the big fire
which swept the west side Of Main street
In 1869 and good service was done with 1t
at that time. Matters dragged along
without any definite action being taken
until March 6, 1871. when a meeting OF
the fire society was held and an organiza-
ton was perfected known as Western
Engine company No. 1. At a meeting
March IL c. S. Clark, 2. A. Pratt. w. f.
Howe ]. p. Sargent and G. @. Miller were
appointed committee to solicit funds for
the purchase Of the engine and hose cart
which Mr.. Clark owned. c. S. Clark,
however, did not serve on this committee.
on Oct Of the same year the com
mittee reported that they had raised
SsO7 80 and had bought the engine and
hose cart of L. F. Clark, paying him $3.50
which covered only the actual cost OF the
machine with freight, and to the purchase
nrice Mr.. Clark contributed literally The
remainder Of the money was used In buy
ing hose and later in the fall additional
funds were solicited which were used in
building an engine house near the house
now owned by Miss Laura Powers. the
engine house was afterward moved to a
site on the Bonnyvale road which had
originally been used as pound.
when the engine was brought out at a
rouster in the east village much fun was
made OF 1t, as 1t did not present stylish
appearance. II was called the mud cart
| ana various other names, but II TOOK the
| first prize, throwing stream peyono the
| boards laid out for markers. This created
great enthusiasm in this village among
members and others and many times
| thereafter Western No. went out OF town
10 compete. II usually brought back
prize of some kind and was the leading
winner on several occasions. Among the
| cities and towns in which the company
CONNECTED were Burlington, Montpelier,
bennington, Rutland, Athol, Orange and
| Reene and some of these places were
| visited more than once.
THE engine is Of the Zimmerman type
! recurring As men to handle the brakes
| The trip to Bennington was particularly
memorable, the company going overland
/ across the Green Mountains and returning
With a big broom, emblematical OF the hrsi
nrize. About 10 years ago the engine was
renainted and repaired and the members
ioined the state Firemen's association
nov defunct. At this period the musters
in Rutland and Middlebury were attended
and at Rutland Western NO. won the
! state championship, but did not play as
far as some OF the companies outside the
state.