Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-09-10
EARLY DAY F|REMEN
DALLAS HOOK AND LADDER
COMPANY HAS HISTORY.
Many of City's Prominent Citizens
Were Members of Pioneer Fire
Protection Force.

On December 5, 1894, forty young
men signed their names to pledge
to appear at meeting five days later
for the purpose Of organizing the Dal-
las Hook and Ladder company. The
village had grown beyond the old Ter
ror Engine company and the erection
of many buildings demanded ladder
equipment. 1t had been ten years
since the organization Of old Terror
company and many Of the members of
that historic organization allied them
selves with the hook and ladder COM
pany. J. M. Sears, B. H. Grant and
H. B. Cosper were appointed mem
bers of committee at the first meet
ing, December 10, 1894, to draft a
constitution and bylaws. At the sec
ond meeting week later this commit
tee presented a revision of the con-
stitution and bylaws Of the Salem
company and these were adopted. A
fine of Is cents was set as a standard
for absence from the first roll call and
an additional 10 cents for absence
from the second. U. S. Grant was
elected president; Fl. L. Crider, sec
retary; C. E. Shaw, treasurer; A. V.
R. Snyder, foreman; F. J. Coad, first
assistant foreman; AL. Dray, second
assistant; George Bowles, janitor, and
H. l.. Fenton, c. G. Coad and H. B..
Cosper, trustees. Robert Chapman,
B. HI. Grant and J. M. Sears were ap-
pointed members of finance commit
tee.
Plans were made on December IL
to celebrate the New Year with a
grand ball in conjunction with Terror
company. Mark Hayter headed com
mittee on arrangements for the ball
which failed to pay expenses. Like
its, contemporary organization the
hook and ladder company existed not
alone for the help it could be to its
community, but for the pleasure of
social association which the members
found on such occasions as their New
Years ball. Such things helped them
to hold up the enthusiasm OF the or
ganization, and the feeling that 'ex-
listed among them did much to make
their work effective in lighting the
many large and small fires that beset
the Dallas OF twenty years ago.
In April, 1895, a new set of officers
was elected including B. H. Grant,
president; E. D. Cosper, secretary;
T. A. Riggs, financial secretary; II.
c. Dale, treasurer; George Bowles,
Janitor; K. l.. Chapman, Charles Bak-
er and B. f. Mulkey, trustees.
Throughout the year 1895 there was
very little activity III the hook and
ladder company meetings, and very
little business was transacted. Reg
ular drills were held, however, and
it is said by those who remember as
far back as twenty years, that the
organization was most efficient one.
On February a, 1896, the annual cleo
ton of officers brought out a large at
tendance OF the members. AT that
time H. l.. Crider was elected presi-
dent. and unanimous ballot was cast
for E. ID. Cosper as secretary, max
ing that gentleman third year in the
office. 7. A. Riggs was reelected as
financial secretary and j. Z. Uglow
took the place of II. c. Dale as treas
urer. B. H. Grant stepped down from
the presidents seat to the position
of foreman, with George Richmond
and Joel Shaw as his assistants.
At a meeting of the old Terror En-
CINE company and the Dallas Hook
and Ladder company, together with
a large number of interested citizens.
the two organizations Joined hands as
the Dallas Fire department on March
81. 1895. Neither company lost its
identity because of the combination
of energies. but Terror company ceas-
ed its separate activities to a great
extent. The hook and ladder com
panv held meetings from time to time
until October 10. 1905, when the rec
ord book closes, and. as no informa-
ton can be found to the contrary, it
is to be presumed that the two or
ganizations were so firmly welded IN
purpose and spirit that they lost their
separate identities. In 1897 E. L.