~ THE EARLY YEARS ~ From the beginning of time man had the urge to search for something new. When fire was discovered it became a friend. But, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As a friend, fire was helpful, but as an enemy fire was devastating. Even today man cannot fully realize the full potential of fire. Such is the reason for the formation of a group of dedicated people called "firefighters".
Fire in the early days was a ravenous fiend which consumed most every thing in its path. Its effects were slowly conquered by the gallant efforts of a few brave souls who dared to attack this opponent. Much was lost to fierce fire, but not all, thanks to the men that were the nucleus of a group that are still around today, proud to be doing their job. The first real firefighters did not have the color, flash or suppression of today's apparatus. These men did their job with outstanding dedication. ,
Although firefighting apparatus of various kinds were used as early as the late 1600's in England, such was not the case here. It was not until January 27, 1678. that Boston procured one that was imported from London, England. It was primitive in design, but did what it was designed to do. It was not equal to the force of. some fires.
Marlborough did not have any association with fire fighting equipment until 1831 when an apparatus was offered to them by subscription. This type of pump was of a gooseneck design with double action piston pump in a tub filled with water by an old fashioned bucket brigade. When pumped, pressure pushed water through the nozzle which could be directed towards the fire. Nobody seemed to want the task of obtaining subscription monies from the village people to purchase this pump. But Deacon S.R. Phelps of Marlborough's west village stepped forward and took on the job to procure this weapon of extinguishing. With own donation of $25.00, he canvassed the west village to come up with the necessary $250.00 to consummate the deal. This was the first known piece of firefighting equipment owned by a few citizens of Marlborough to be used for the good of the townspeople. In 1834 another application by the east village for the purchase of a similar pumper was made and not much later one for the north village people of Feltonville. For the next fifteen years, Marlborough's townsfolk had a slight edge against the nasty villain known as fire.
In 1849 a town meeting citizens voted to purchase three new hand tubs from the Howard &Davis Co. of Boston. Until now all the fire suppression equipment was handled exclusively by these privately owned pumpers and much praise should be given to the people who gave their time and effort in fire extinguishing without a penny of restitution from the town. The new pumpers were more efficient. Each pumper was alike. They were small bore, end stroke machines. They had a suction type pump which could draft water from a lake, pond or cistern, using hard canvas covered rubber hoses. This eliminated the slower bucket brigade. But since it took a tub of water to prime the pump, the brigade was not totally forgotten. The water was pumped through long lengths of woven canvas hose (which replaced the leather style) onto a fire many feet away. There were also many times when relay pumping was necessary. The town promised to purchase these pumps but left it up to the townspeople to house and man them. A committee of four was formed and under its direction, the engine companies were born. Sylvester Bucklin was chosen as foreman of the Torrent Co. #1 in the east village, housed in a barn in the rear of an old brick house at 18 Main Street. Company #2, the Okommakamasit, was stationed in the west village in a barn at the north west corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets. Lewis Frye was foreman. Captain Frank Brigham headed up Co. #3, the Hydrolicin, stationed in the north village of Feltonville. (Feltonville later became the town of Hudson in 1866.) Hose carts were, towed behind each engine and carried up to 500 feet of 21 /2 inch canvas hose.
There were no engineers or fire wardens to oversee these engine companies and intense rivalry existed, erupting into heated arguments and heavy smoke talk to who was the better company. In 1851, two years after their purchase, these hand tubs owned by Marlborough were entered into muster competition and many arguments were laid to rest. Although the two Marlborough tubs whipped many other competitors, The Torrent and the Okommakamasit (Oko) still ran neck and neck in scoring.
Jumping ahead a few years ...In a statement by H.H. Esterbrook of Westboro, whose hobby is explicit data on muster performances, his account is as follows:
"Seventy three years ago, July 4, 1849, the first fireman's hand engine muster was held in Bath, Maine. Marlborough that year received three new engines and two years later were contestants for the first time. Since that time Marlborough's engines have been prominent in most musters held in New England where they originated. Several of the largest, and best, were held in Marlborough".
Sylvester Bucklin, at 86, was called the Father of Marlborough's Fire Department.
With Marlborough growing larger, more factories were being built, generating jobs for the townspeople. Marlborough was known as the shoe and boot capital of New England.
In 1855 the Marlborough Fire Department was formed. A Board of Engineers directed affairs. The department was a call force of 87 men in 1860, thanks to the efforts of Sylvester Bucklin, who worked day and night for the formation of the department. Being 86 years old I 1854, he was given the title of "Father of the Fire Department". William Frost, 61, a well known citizen served as Chief in 1859 and was instrumental in the purchase of the Union Ladder Co. #1. Thomas Campbell served on the first committee in the negotiations for the purchase of the first hand tubs. He served as a regular member up to Chief Engineer, 1872 - 73. He also formed Hose Co. #1. He was a great believer in modernization and introduced a fire alarm system and used horses for the first time in the fire service. In 1860, the Union Ladder 1 was put into service and had a new station on Prospect Street, just below the present Immaculate Conception Church. The station was moved in 1887 to Liberty Street.
Marlborough was growing, and the need for new equipment was necessary. Newer and larger pumps were replaced at the Torrent Co. 1 and Oko Co. 2. Older pumpers were used as back up pieces. 1867 saw three new buildings for the City's engines. In 1871 the Veteran Fire Association was organized.
The Great Boston Fire was in 1872, and Marlborough sent a group of firefighters to stand by in case they were needed. This possibly could have been the beginning of a mutual aid system. In 1874 the Chemical Engine #3 was accepted by the department and put into service and housed on Gay Street. In 1875 the force had risen to 286 men, with 80 in the Torrent Co., 80 in Oko Co., and 30 in Veterans Co. 3. The Mechanic Engine Co. assigned 30 men, and 25 men were in the Chemical Co. Forty men made up the Hook and Ladder Co. They were paid $15.00 a year for their services.
The Mechanic Co. #4 was born through the efforts of Levi Taylor and Joseph Manning with their associates in Mechanic Square. The Torrent No. 1 was rusting away, unused and charged for storage. Many felt it was more valuable to be sold as junk. They made a formal proposal to restore the old Torrent #1 to its original value, and build, at their own expense, a house to store it in, provided the Board would appropriate the sum of thirty dollars. It was accepted and the sum was increased to thirty eight dollars. In a short time the equipment was restored to its pristine condition. The friends of the enterprise organized anew company called the Mechanic Engine Co. The engineers assigned the number "4" and received an elegant bell from private sources. Even restored, the engine carried the. original name, "Torrent". It wasn't until its completion that the name "The Mechanic" was given to it. The name was never changed on it:
The Torrent Co. in 1876, upgraded their nine inch pump for a ten inch Class 1 style and sold the old one to Lubec, Maine. In 1877, the Mechanic Engine Co. ceased operation after only five years of service. A telegraph alarm was requested in 1881, and in 1884, with the completion of the water works system, firefighting was a bit easier because of the local water supply. The system contained over 37 miles of under
ground pipe, carrying water to 227 hydrants. The water came from a large man made reservoir located off Broad Street, near Stevens Park atop Sligo Hill.In 1885 a complete reorganization was seen. New engine and hose companies were formed. Each hose company had 20 men, engine companies 50 men and ladder companies 35 men. An independent Hose 4 was formed in 1885 and in one year, later was added to the department.
With fire being a constant enemy, the Phoenix Block on Main Street fell prey to its destructive force; along with many homes and buildings:
Two new engines, hand pumpers, were put into service They were the Uncle Sam, and the, revival of an old company, Veteran Co. 3. In 1887 the telegraph fire alarm was finally installed. Two pumpers were sold in 1889, the Torrent, the third to carry the name, and the Okommakamasit. Records show the Oko was purchased by the Veterans Fire Association of Marblehead Mass., and is still owned by them today. No records can be found to discover where the Torrent went. The first Torrent was purchased by a collector on the South Shore who bought it around 1910. The City's first pumper was stored awaiting a time where it could be properly displayed with others in his collection. World War I delayed ideas for a museum, so many of these old hand tubs were stored for many years. The collector's failing health in 1989, forced him to liquidate his collection. The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities was selected for the task, and they were instructed to notify the original owners of these fire pieces and offer them first choice for their return. Marlborough was notified of the sale of their first hand. tub of 1849 vintage. The Ancient and Honorable Fire Brigade of Marlborough purchased and restored the piece. Due to lack of display space, it is now privately stored
Horses were first used for fire service in 1888 on the Union Hook and Ladder Truck stationed on Liberty Street. In 1891,all apparatus became horse drawn which meant a reduction in manpower for each . piece. Using horses instead of men to arrive at the fire scene meant quicker response and each company was reduced by two thirds. The central water system facilitated hose wagons to tie directly into the hydrants.
Hand pumpers were used on the out lying areas where no hydrants were available, but water holes serviced these dwellings. ,When Marlborough became a City in 1890, municipal methods became a reality in the department. , The celebration lasted all summer. A new ladder truck was bought and a new deluge pipe, a major advancement in nozzles in fire service. A Chronology of fires and advancement in firefighting follows:
In February, 1890, fire destroyed the Forrest Hall at the corner of Lincoln and Winthrop Streets. A fire in the Hose 1 House on Bolton Street in 1891 destroyed the building. It was rebuilt and used for another 15 years. In April 1894, the Burke Block on Main Street fell prey to fire. The new Pleasant Street fire station was completed in 1895 in the west part of the City at a cost of $17,000. With the new station, apparatus was reassigned. Union Ladder #1 was moved from liberty Street to the new West Station with Hose 2. The standpipe water system, servicing 36 high pressure hydrants was put into service. Another devastating fire in 1897 saw the Corey Building reduced to rubble.
With the turn of the century, many new ideas and equipment would be put into service. There would be a new Chief as well. Many things would still be handled in the traditional way but results were better because of the constant upgrading of equipment Under Chief J. Henry Gleason, the Combination 1 was put into service with William Berry as Foreman.
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