Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-29
RECALLING SOME
ANCIENT HISTORY
Remodehng of Central Fire
Station Brings to Light an
Old Inscription.
TELLS OF DAYS LONG GONE
Then the Minnies and EDWARDS Occu-
pied the Station-Farewell
Party Proves Event.

I'VE painted this red Sept. 16. 1857
THAT we" whoever we" were, had
done a thorough and good job of it
was very apparent 20 the people who
saw the wall today in the old city hall,
now the Central fire station, where the
above inscription glared in red letters
a foot high and red, very red
Who were they and why did they
paint it red? 1t must have been some
celebration, all right"
This was the inevitable question and
remark passed By every individual
who dropped into the fire station, now
beginning to shine as the walls are
covered with white glazed tile. One of
the "Billikins'' who was not present
Sept. 10. 81, but who has heard tales
OF the famous occasion, explained.
In that year the old building, which
has been used for almost every con
ceivable public service imaginable,
was used, as il is now, for fire sta
ton. Then, however, the "Billikins"
who now grace the structure by loung-
ing in its doorways discussing local
option. the last ball game, the politi-
cal situation at home and abroad. and
the most recent developments in the
religious world, as well as the most re-
cent developments in the pattern of
gentlemen's hosiery as exhibited by a
well known local fire insurance agent,
and ever and anon making spectacular
dashes through the yawning doors in
a flashing red monster. were not dream
ed of. II was used as headquarters for
two small volunteer hose companies.
They were few in number. but eff
ficient, and far from humble, those
cocky volunteer fire laddies who made
UP the EDWARDS" and the Mime
hahas," the latter better known as the
"Minnies." They were some fire lad
dies. and they were proud OF it. For
a long time they inhabited the head
quarters in the old building in peace
and harmony. wing with each other
TO see which could haul their hose
cart to the scene of a confiagration in
the quickest time-for then there were
no horses to do the hauling for them.
Then Comes Change.
But in September. 1881, came a
change. The then city officials decreed
that the two companies should sep
arate. The EDWARDS" were sent to
Twelfth street and Third avenue, the
+Minnies' to Eighteenth street and
Second avenue. And the city officials,
so tradition says, were "cussed" and
discussed" as heartily as is the fash
ion today.
The laddies could not leave their old
home without a farewell party, how
ever. Plans were laid, and on Sept
16 there was a revelry by night"
Unlike the famous party in the Bel
sian capital, however, there were no
ladies present. But for downright en-
joyment, they say. It must have had
that famous party on the eve of Wa
terloo backed OF the boards. Incl
dentally, it surpassed in similar man
ner all previous celebrations or those
that have come since, even to the now
famous rabbit supper of last winter.
All traditions of the fire laddies point
TO it as the acme OF publications.
They Paint il Red.
Some time in the wee small hours,
as the time of departure drew near,
some one suggested that it would be
fitting TO paint the place red-it would
be less disturbing to peaceful slumber-
ing citizens than to paint the town
red. The hardy volunteers greeted the
suggestion with joy and in a few min
utes the letters were painted that to-
day aroused the curiosity of another
generation and brought the traditions
of the Moline fire department from the
archives. John Carlstedt, now deceas.
ed, was the man who welded the
brush.
a few months later the walls were
covered with lath and plaster and the