Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1920-04-16
THE SHENANDOAH FlRE
COMPANY, OF WOODSTOCK

), CuMrAN1, OF MOODSTOC
> The Shenandoah Fire Cornpan
WAS organized Feb. Goth 1923, I'll
o the following named officers wet
k lelected:
l. Capt. Jacob Rinker, Jr., Presider!
Charles E. Lowell, secretsry: Davi
IL. Crawford, treasurer; Capt Jos
+ Hill, DR.. VIM. W. Magruder, Benz
L. Began, Editor of the Woodstoc
HERALD, Commanders.
| Robert Cav, Jacob 81. Miller, Jacol
IOtt, Jacob Rinker, Jr., Capt. JOIN
IEhinger, Captain of Geo. Washing
toms body guard), John Anderson
Michael Effinger and Phitip Miller
Regulators.
JAS. Il. Smoot and Abra ham Fra
vel, Engine Men.
Geo. c. Kneisley, David Slower
William Haddox, John J ord an. Peter
Hoshour, Geo. OFT, John Cav, Major
Robert Turner, and Joseph Glover
Hook and Ladder Men.
| Geo. Clover, Samuel Clover and
Jacob Dodson, axe men.
Zachariah Wilson, Rev. VIM. H.
| Foote and Michael OFT, Pro perty Men,
A few months later small fire en-.
glne was purchased and kept in a
Darn until an engine house had been
built on the Court House lot.
Members of the fire compa ny were
exempt from military duty in time
or peace, consequently Their e was no
difficulty in keeping the roll filed.
The engine was a double decker, some
OF the workers standing on the ground
ana others on the engine. This little
engine did effective work. Twice it
saved nearby property when the
Wnnder stone property, n the site of
r M. travels residence, burned; once
1t saved the large barn ard part of a
straw stack adjoining, lille the fire
mad gained considerable Roadway in
the straw, on the lot of Oan'I Miller,
usually two lines OF people we're
formed, one consisting of men and
the other OF women and boys, and ex-
tended to the nearest we'll. The buck
cts full of water were pa ssed up one
line to the eagine ana the empty
buckets passed back by the other. No
nose was used. After the war, the
little engine was sold to Edinburg
and a larger one purchased. After
the water was brought from the noun
tain, there was little use FOR. the engine
and the public cisterns were aban-
doned.
The present water system affords
great protection, when we ave plenty
of water ; but unfortunately last sum.
mer there were times when there was
not sufficient pressure to- tt row water
on large number of the houses in |
town, and the people rested IN farcied
security when there was ain .ost abso-l
lutely no protection from fire.
1t is fact that the town demands
more water than the reserv oirs sup
ply While the engine should he kept
in the best of order it can render
little assistance. as the public cisterns
have been filled up or aband oned, and
nearly all the private cisterns are in
the same condition.
Under these circumstances. what is
the best thing to be done? There
should be no delay.
lst We should have an active tire
company, well supported by the prop
ersy owners and Town Council.
3D. We should, us far as DO ssible.
be independent Of the present supply
OF water.
This can probably be accomplished
by purchasing good chemical engine
II the Town Council has not the
funds, the citizens of the town, we
believe, will be glad to contribute
literally for the protection of their
property. This is of much greater
Importance than any subject now
claiming the attention of the public.
Let the fire company rise to the i'm
portance OF this subject. The COM
pany has heretofore been successful
In all It's undertakings and it can sue
coed in this.
A meeting of the company will be
held on the Sd of May. 1t is hoped
%k,n
that men who have heretofore been
the most active members of the com
pany will be at the front and be ac-
lively sustained by the citi zens of the
town. 1t is subject of vital i'm
portance and there should be no de-
lay.