New Britain herald., 1922-03-10


 which was swung open by the first fireman who happened to appear at the station following the sending in of an alarm. The alarms were regu- lated in a manner similar to that of the present day, with the exception that the sender had the trouble of securing key from residents near the box.
 Today. the local fire department stands out as one of the best equipped in the state and with a capable force of about 70 men. Of these, there are AT permanent men stationed at the various houses ready for call which may bring them to any part of the city.
 History of Department.
 Back in 1886, the Amoskege steam CT, drawn by two horses and consid- cred the best piece of mechanism in {. the vicinity, was placed in Station No. 1. Being located in the heart of the s town, the station also had the largest truck, a hook and ladder, and a four wheel hose wagon. There were no permanent firemen stationed at either of the houses in those days. When Il call was sent in, the men responded, leaving their work in the various factories and stores. One man was detailed to secure the horses from the H. R. Walkers trucking company, or at an alarm, the horses were general : iy rushed to the station where they T,tyC he a were in the Walker stables daily for this use.
 Number "2's'' house was little place on Elm street near it's present day location. and this station was furnished with steamer and a hose wagon. This station had the first pair of horses ever purchased by the city to remain permanently in the fire house.
 That station was thus saved the trouble of securing the Walker horses in case of fire. Thomas Cross, vet eran fireman, now dead, was one of the first drivers to be appointed to care for this station.
 Number house was located on the park, at the intersection of Main and North Main streets, a short distance from the new house of that same number This department had hand drawn reel which was usually pulled by the willing residents in that locality during a fire. Thomas Clark a local expressman, would some times manage to hitch the reel behind one of his delivery trucks and reach the blaze in short notice.
 Number was also favored with hand drawn reel and was located at the corner of Curtis and Myrtle streets. Generally at fire in those sections of the town, bucket bri- gade was forced to aid the fire fight CTS, and oft times the hose was seV- eral feet short of reaching the blaze.
 Pay Not Great.
 There was not much fire fighting in those days, and the pay of the tiremen was small. They received an aver age of $40 year
 Town Buys Auto Truck.
 Back in the "90's," the town con sidered the purchase of a LalTrance automobile fire fighting truck. Tho truck was placed in No, ? station house for approval and was awaiting decision on it's acceptance on the night of the meeting when big fire started on south street The new truck was pressed into service and the firemen had the thrill that comes once in lifetime' when they got aboard the apparatus and sped out 10 the fire. The truck showed up to good advantage and the hose on 1t was much longer than the old hand reels and the service apparatus. The result was that the fire was quickly under control. Back to the station proudly rode the fremcn with stories how the new machine showed Us mettlc. No further debate was nee essary: the truck was accepted. It remained in Number station for six years, and now can bc seen Tn sta- ton No. 6, as a reminder or the trucks in use in those days. It IS