The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-09

The death of Charles M. Gerdenier. former chief of the fire department removes from the community a figure who was foremost in the public eye for nearly a quarter of a century He had the distinction of being the last chief of the old volunteer fire depart nJent and the first of the paid de- partner when the reorganization of the department was undertaken ard terminated with the idea of making fire fighting a, business rather than function that went hand in hand with the social life of the community.
 In the old days the chief engineers Of the fire department were elected by the common council every year and with the office also went the position of superintend dent of streets. ] When MT. Gerdenier became superin- tendent of the gas plant then located in Housatonic avenue at the foot of Meadow street he showed his public spirit by becoming a member of "Old Fountain No. 8" a hose company with standing at (BulTs Head the north . west corner of Madison avenue and Main str 1et- Each company of the volunteer department elected an aS- esistant engineer or representative >tp- on the Board of Engine eers which eX- erciJed certain functions in govern ing the fire department, and those were days when the members of the department needed some governing.
 On one occasion some of the mem bers of Fountain No were having a little publication after a fire and organ grinder with monkey came along. The organ grinder was made a guest of the company and his or gan and monkey were spirited away by a number OI the fremen who gave several concert in various parts of the city. Although the music box and fho monk were eventually restored to their owner the eScapade autra3ted H ide attention and the hremen were
 FS~~r1NT ion failed to reveal the real cuiprits and the Board of Engineers censured rne entire company, to appease al angry iock'' on the door of the house and denying admission to any of the mem .bers for social purposes.
 o Taere o9 Was f ao evag fhgr S6 9ot work out well for the general vel fare. Members of one comp1 " fre- quantity gave the foot to me'nbcrs up while running with hand dr3 WI appare tus- Tumbling the leader on a those following in a heap This aid- ed the rival company to get the near est hydrant to the blaze and the nearest hydrant meant first water on
 Fist lights at the nearest hydrant to the hre-to see who would make the connection were frequent. To summon the firemen those days the bell of the North Congregational church was sounded and if there was no i1lunninS ion from the blaze to at tract the nremen 1t was up to those sending in the alarm to intercept the dremen and direct them.
 On one occasion when there was a down town fire Fountain No. was Inisdirected by some joker who sent the m over to East Bridgeport They started over the wooden bridge that bridge now stands In the center of the bridge they met an a most breath less East Side company that had been properly directed and whose mem bers were about to invade the "ene- nny's territory Both companies de- rnanded the right of way. blows. were was eKtued a down town company had extinguished the fire
 It was in such an unruly state that Eh1ef Gerdenier found the fire de- partment and he set about at the start to apply the heretofore misdirect- ed zeal in form that would bring about orderly cooperation of the various companies And this he ac-
 Tn 1868 he was elected 2 council the death of Chief Jack" Sherman of the fire department and MT. Gerde- ner was elected to that place with elected with the street commis- sioner job appended and his first sal ary was $500 year.
 famous Wilson lumber yard fire. The Sa-d occupied the blccH where the 5fcMahon & Wren building now stands in Water street. The fire crossed the street and destroyed a number of frame houses which stood on small bluff at the rear of where smith & Comstock's building now stands Inadequate water supply and gca rrity of engines and hose handi- capped the volunteers and after only fhe hardest kind of a fight was the Ire prevented from reaching Main street.
 This was the last big fire fought by volunteers In Bridgeport. Chief Ger