Cañon City record., 1911-02-23
A History Of The
Volunteer Fire
Department

hall on Wednesday night commemor-
ative of Washington's birthday ami
versary suggests some historical data
in relation to the organization of the
Canon City fire department, not gen.
orally known, that can hardly fail to
be of interest to the general public.
The records pertaining to the or
ganization were lost some years ago
such information as we have been
able to obtain concerning 1t were sup
piled by Robt S. Lewis and Jas H.
Peabody, who have been connected
Wits 1t, either as active or honorary
members, from its formation to the
present time. Jas. H. Peabody, Robt.
S. Lewis, Jas. F. Rogers and Andy
Hemmerle were among its original
members. We are unable to find 9TH
ers now residing here who we're as
ISOLATED with 1t in its earlier days.
although there may be others now liv-
ing in the community whose names
were enrolled as charter members.
The department was organized in
the fall of 1876 and was called The
Relief Hook and Ladder Company, No.
l." with Jas. II. Peabody. chief; Robt
S. Lewis, president and assistant
chief, and Geo. T. Conoway, secretary.
The members had uniforms. which
they provided at their own expense.
Messrs. Peabody and Lewis we're ap-
pointed to raise money for its support
and started subscription, each men,
! ber contributing to the fund, and. al
so, paying into its treasury dues to
meet its current expenses. The busi-
ness men OF the town responded liber-
ally and money was secured 10 assist
in purchasing a lot and in erecting
/ I'll a little more than year ago on
the property where the county jail
now stands on Macon avenue. At this
stage the city council appropriated
some money to help with the erection
OF the building and the lot was deed
ed TO the city.
| The flremen themselves raised
good deal of money from time to time
/ by the sale of tickets TO balls and 9TH
er entertainments, all OF which was
devoted to making more efficient, the
work OF the department These balls
were usually held on February %. in
honor of washington's anniversary
/ and regualr monthly meetings have
been held from the time OF its organ
ization, more than thirty-four years
ago. The great social event in the
! life of the department was the annual
ball, which, with few exceptions, took
place on washington's birthday ami
versary.
The board Of village trustees in the
early days OF the department was
rather slow in extending financial
help to the movement and It's support
devolved largely upon It's members.
ey to do with thirty-four years ago
and a good many people thought the
town could get along without the de-
partment, but after the company was
| formed and money raised by its mem
bers and friends to buy lot and
truck to carry It's equipment the coun-
ell helped out
The old hook and ladder truck has
been altered to suit the changed con-
ditions and is still in use as an ex-
ercise wagon for the horses of the
paid fire department.
Later, when the water system was
established, two new fire companies
were organized; the F. A. Reynolds
and the Jas II. Peabody hose compan-
les. They received their names from
the fact that Messrs. Reynolds and
Peabody contributed the greater part
of the money necessary to purchase
the hose carts, etc, with which they
were supplied.
The old volunteer fire department
was the only protection of the kind
the community had for many years.
and It is still in position to render
valuable assistance in saving proper
ty should 1t be so unfortunate as to
be threatened by n serious and de-
structive fire. There are still some
thing like twenty-five active members
OF the volunteer fire department who
hold themselves in readiness to re-
spond to the call of duty whenever