The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-01-06
GEO. H. HARDWOOD
81 YEARS IN FIRE
PARIMENT
Veteran Steamer Engineer RetireS
After long Period Of Service
ANS WERFO FIRST ALARM IN 1864
Has Filled Position of Engineer Ever
Since Steamer was Purchased
in 1871.

If the bell in the tower of the
Second Congregational church about
2.30 tomorrow morning should an
nounce that some building in the viii
lage is in danger of destruction by
fire. George II. Harwood. if he so de-
sires. can turn over in bed and go to
sleep again but 1t will be the first
time he has granted himself that priv
lege since 1871, Ever since the vii
lage steamer was unloaded from the
car "A years ago he has been its en-
gineer and during that long period of
time with the exception of the few
occasions on which he has been out
of town, he has responded to every
alarm Tuesday evening he present
ed his resignation to the board Of
trustees and while he must continue
to maintain an interest in the depart
ment his Official responsibility is at
an end. His is long record and it is
doubtful il its equal can be found in
the records OF any volunteer FIRE de-
partment in the state.
George II Harwood became mem
Der OF the Bennington fire depart
ment in 1864. shortly after returning
from the civil war, He has, therefore,
been a fireman for over 81 years. To
the best OF his recollection there is
living in Bennington today but onn,
member of the Spartan Engine com
pany No l. who was in the depart
meut when he answered his first
alarm, Henry w Marsh now living on
School street A half century ago the
old fashioned hand engines were
largely used by fire departments in
towns the size of Bennington ana
many OF the companies became highly
efficient in the operation of this kind
OF apparatus. Bennington at one
time maintained by private subscrip-
ton, team which took number
OF prizes at the annual tournaments
and Mr.. Harwood was an active mem
ber of this organization of star per
formers
Since 1871 his duties as a fireman
have been limited 10 the care and OPP
Grafton of the steamer 1t has not
been necessary to use the engine
al large number of fires for the
reason that the high pressure of the
gravity water system has been suti-
cient in most cases. II has, of course,
been impossible for anyone to know
at what minute the service of the
steamer might be required and the en-
gineer has always responded to the
alarms day or night, and when ever
it has been necessary to use the auXil-
iary apparatus it has reached the
scene OF the fire in perfect condition
with a good head of steam in the boil.
er.
Mr.. Harwood was born at North
Bennington, October II, 1915. the son
OF James r. Harwood and RoXana
Olin He learned the machinists
trade at the shops of the late Olin
Scott on Pleasant street and has fol-
lowed that occupation during his ac-
tive life. Today, although he has pas
sed the limit of three score and ten,
he is regularly employed at the shops
of the Charles Cooper Estate on Main
street He married in 1867 Miss Caro-
lima Walton. His sons beth reside in
Bennington. Olin W., who has been a
mail carrier for number of years,
and G. Louis, who conducts a drug
store at the corner of North and Gage
streets