Horse Stories #8 . . . . . . . . . . . . and more Grand Rapids Fire Department History
1858 – Stories about Grand Rapids Firefighters
January 6 – Annual meeting of Wolverine Fire Company #3
Newly elected officers are: Foreman, David Caswell – Company Engineer, George R. Pierce – Assistant Foreman, G. G. Seaton – Secretary, E. R. Lane – Treasurer, J. H. Bennett – Foreman of Hose Cart – S. G. Williams (formerly with Fire Protection Company #2) – Steward, H. W. Mason – Foreman Appointed (assistant), James Cavenaugh – Pipeman, A. L. Foote
Note: The record of the meeting mentioned above was not found until after the G.R.F.D. 150th Yearbook was printed and there is mention for the first time the names (in bold letters) of members of Wolverine Fire Company #3 that were not previously known. These names will be added to the roster of Grand Rapids Firefighters when an addendum to the 150th yearbook is compiled or whenever the next yearbook is published.
May 21 – New Engine House #3
Isaac Turner and 46 others submit a petition to the Common Council asking for $1200.00 to build a new engine house and Mr. Silas Pelton, architect, presents plans for the proposed station. This engine house will be built entirely with volunteer labor and its hall on the upper floor will become a popular location for parties and meetings of west-side residents as they support their volunteer firemen. The new station will be built on the east side of Scribner N.W. between 1st and 2nd Streets and will take over two years to complete.
May 27 – The Common Council agrees to give $1000.00 for new station #3.
June 7 – Alert Fire Company #1 & Fire Protection Company #2 test their hand engines at the corner of Pearl and Canal. Wolverine Fire Company #3 operates their hand engine at the same time across the river.
June 23 – Using a 1 ¼” nozzle Protection Fire Company #2’s hand operated engine shoots a stream of water horizontally 171 feet during practice and challenges Wolverine Fire Company #3 to equal or beat the distance.
August 1, 1858 – Wilder D. Foster, Chief Engineer . . . announces that the Annual Review of the Fire Department shall be held on August 3rd and for all fire companies to assemble in front of Collins Hall at 8:30 in the morning.
August 4, 1858 – The Grand Rapids Inquirer & Herald
The annual review of the Fire Department took place yesterday morning. Each Company was well represented, and did credit to themselves, and to our city. We have reason to be proud of our Fire Department, and should do all in our power to advance their interest. Much depends upon the course of the citizens at large, and it is for their interest to encourage the firemen.
The several fire companies, and Hook & Ladder Company, appeared at the appointed hour in front of the Bronson House – the Hook & Ladder Company first in order and the firemen according to their numbers.
They marched up Canal and Monroe streets, paraded in front of Luce’s Block, and really presented a fine appearance. They were then inspected, after which they tried their machines on length. The trial was well contended, but the gallant crew of Fire Protection Company #2 fairly distanced her competitors, and seemed in a fair way to carry off the palm. The exact distance could not be ascertained, but they threw far above the steeple of the Catholic Church; the distance was computed, by good judges, to be from 100 to 125 feet. Wolverine Fire Company #3 threw their stream about 4 to 5 feet shorter.
They then “took up” their “Machines” and marched back up to Sweets (new) Mill, and tried them on distance horizontally. Each Company was flowed ten minutes to play in from the time they set, and required to play through 100 feet of hose. Alert Fire Company #1 appeared first, having about 20 men. They responded nobly to the call, and threw a distance of 125 feet. Alert #1 has a small machine, and it was not expected to be able to compete successfully with the others. We understand they design getting a new engine shortly, when we may expect to hear from them again with better results. They on this occasion did well, and none have reason to complain. Next came Fire Protection Company #2 as it was between them and Wolverine Fire Company #3 that the main test was to be made, as the machines are of the same manufacture (James Smith of Rochester, N.Y. built about 200 hand engines), of the same capacity, and about equally manned. Protection #2 numbered about 35 members, on the ground. Everything ready they “manned the brakes,” “played away” and manfully “labored to save” themselves from defeat. The wind blew very hard causing the stream to break badly, which was a source of much annoyance. They threw on the paper line, through an inch and a quarter nozzle, 149 feet. They afterwards threw to the ridge of a small house, apart from the line, which is considerable farther than they threw on the paper line. Wolverine Fire Company #3 then took the stand, eager to display their prowess, and determined to retrieve the ground lost on Monroe Street, which they did most successfully. About 40 members were present. The wind was also a serious detriment to the stream of #3. They first put on an inch and a quarter nozzle, and threw 157 feet on the paper line, and cleared the ridge of the house, throwing some distance beyond it. They then put on an inch and one sixteenth inch nozzle, manufactured by Mr. George Pierce, a member of the Company, and threw 173 feet on the paper line, which may be called pretty “tall squirting”, all things considered.
Wolverine Fire Company #3 is composed mostly of residents of the West Side, and are a credit to the enterprise of the citizens there; they are ever ready, and “when duty calls they strive” to excel, and on this occasion fairly won the “broom”. Protections #2, however, declare they will yet pluck the laurels from #3, who in return assert that they are ever ready to meet them. Everything passed off pleasantly and harmoniously, and to the perfect satisfaction of all. When the exercises were concluded, they “took up” and returned to their respective homes.
Note: Not all of the competition between the fire companies went off as well as the one mentioned above. Sometimes tempers got out of hand resulting in bruised knuckles and black eyes. Before 1850 the city as we know it now was divided into three distinct parts – The other side of the river (West Side) – The village of Kent (everything north of Pearl Street) – The village of Grand Rapids, also known as Shanty Town (everything south of Pearl Street. Young men did not dare wander through an area they were not originally from unless they were in the company of several friends, and even then it was risky. The rivalry continued long after the City was incorporated in 1850.
The Horse Story for this issue is as follows:
1867 – During a meeting of the Common Council of the village, the Police Department issues a complaint and asks for restitution for the loss of a horse that was used to draw their first paddy wagon. They charge that the Fire Department traded them the horse and after only a few days it died (obviously the horse was half-dead or sick with disease when the Fire Department made the transaction). In searching through the Common Council minutes in the days following that report, there is no mention that the Fire Department gave back the item they received in trade or replaced the recently departed horse. Until the mention of this horse (found recently in historical records), it was assumed that it was not until1872 that the Grand Rapids Fire Department actually owned horses (from 1865, when the first steam fire engine arrived until 1872 when the third steam fire engine, the “Valley City” was delivered, teams of horses were rented by the city).
This entire three-part story was taken from the October 18, 1914, Sunday morning, issue of the Grand Rapids Herald.
This was not the only time those wily old firefighters were caught selling horses that were on their last legs:
April 29, 1878 – Local citizen John Coffee, Jr. told the Common Council today that he bought a pair of horses from the Chief Engineer (fire chief) of the Fire Department for the sum of $229.00 and that one of them died three days later. He believes the horse had a long-standing disease that was not disclosed at the time of the sale. He claims $110.00 in damages. (The city pays the claim on July 1, 1878)
September 6, 1880 – C. Prange, a local citizen, submits that he bought a horse from the Fire Department and it died the very next day. He claims a loss of $75.00 to the Common Council.
April 12, 1888 – A bay mare used to pull the supply wagon at Engine House #4 drops dead. (I guess the firefighters kept that one a little too long)
Alert Fire Company #1 – used this hand drawn, hand operated engine.
The following old photos from 1859 or 1860 are of Fire Protection Company #2 (taken on Island #1 in the Grand River) and Wolverine Fire Company #3 (taken on Monroe Street). Both hand fire engines were purchased from Rochester New York in 1855.
Captain, Robert Imhoff, retired