The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-10-25

puI VII &c REMAIN, MeSSrS. II. A. Pen
niman, H. j. Conger a nd George
Foster only one of whom, Mr.. Pen
niman, was present at Friday nights
ball. Mr.. Penniman, by the way.
mas the proud distinction of missing
very few social functions given un-
DER the auspices of Protection Num-
ber 3.
Protection Engine Company had a
humble origin. The first meeting
was held in haymow of DR.. Con-
slder's barn on Eleventh street,
where the present High school build
ing now stands.
The first equipment that the COM
pany had comprised two pumps Civ
en- to them by the Rev. Abel Barker,
Methodist clergyman who was To-
Gated here, and who was formerly
engaged in the book and stationery
business under the firm name of Ba-
ker & Delezenne
Ihere was no suction to the en-
glnes, and the boxes had to be filled
up with pals and pumped out again.
Ihat was the way the apparatus
was worked at the fires. And vet
tney could throw water up over the
Presbyterian steeple 1t REQUIRED a.
snort, sharp stroke to operate the
mechanism. No one could stand it
Tor more than two or three minutes
at time.
The fire laddies in the early days
wore a natty uniform consisting of
red coat, with red Understanding
A large figure three was epbroider-
ed on the jacket, and the Whole was
set off with zouave cap.
Tho A M u
purchased March 25, 1875, following
the Dig hre of January 8, 1875, which
began In the Throop building, Main
street, where Doctor Browns dental
once Is now located, and burned fif-
Teen buildings, affecting twenty
hrms or individuals, and causing a
property loss of 100000. The
steamer with two-wheel truck.
cost $4,700. The first fire that tbe
A. nj. Atkinson was in action occur
red April 10, 1875.
The Intel steamer was bought in
Towanda. 1t was afterwards re-
named the r. w. Ham. 1t was a
Silsby patent steamer, and cost $500
with four-wheel hose cart and fuel
cart. 1t arrived in Honesdale Dec
2, 1880, and cost originally $4,000.
William Muir acted as en-
gineer of the A. NJ. Atkinson, and
John M, Lyons and Andrew J. Car
roll were the assistants. Once sta
toned near the canal basin, at the
foot of old Number 13 plane with a
14OO-foot length of hose attached, it
threw stream over the smoke
stack still standing at the head of
the plane, the stack being 60 feet
high, and the head of the plane some
225 feet above the basin, making
the entire elevation 285 feet.
The first meeting of the Homes
dale Fire Department was held in
the present firemen's hall July II,
1895.
" The Atkinson steamer was pur-
chased February, 1876" according tu
J. M. Lyons, who has been chief en-.
sineer of the Honesdale Fire Depart.
ment ever since he came to the Maple
City in March, 1875.
The r. w. Ham steamer" he
was purchased, second,
N 1884, in Towanda. After the big
ire of 1875, which started in Katz's
store, which was then small estab-
ishment located about where the
Dime Bank now is. 1t was along in
February on very cold, stormy
night. 1t burned that block complete
" taking in the Commercial Hotel
1hen known as the Coyne House.
The fire company then had moth
ng but hand engines, and depend
ed on pumping water from the canal.
rhe fire got to the Coyne before they
got drop on the fire. The canal had
been closed up Nand the gates were
iown, and they had to cut the ice
rom around the gates to raise it.
Il took some time for it to fill up so
hey could pump it.
l was down there on the street
hat night. They called for volun-
-eers. l helped to pump. 1t started
n the neighborhood of o'clock in
he morning. The whole block was
burned down. The only thing that
prevented the fire from spreading
vas the people down at McGrana-
shan's who put dampened carpet on
he roof to prevent the fire from
The buildings that were burned
we're mostly three and four story
They were all frame
buildings. l Joined the company pur-
1osely to run the steamer for them.
M. Atkinson was president of the
'ouncil, and principal advocate for
'uying a steamer, and the engine |
vas named after him.
The r.. w. Ham was bought in |
1884, and so named in honor of the |
oreman. In 1890 it was rebuilt and
The A. M. Atkinson was pur-
hased from the Silsby Manufacture
ng Company, Seneca Falls, N. Y,
md was an A No. third class
teamer."
Chief Engineer j. M. Lyons fur
lished Citizen man with this infor-
nation by way of correcting a state
nent which appeared in last Fridays |
,itizen to the effect that the first !
teamer was bought in 1852, where
IS in reality 1t was first purchased In