THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The village of Hebron, having grown to three or four places of business in 1874, so there was a call for fire fighters, and a bucket brigade was formed. The buckets were of wood, and had a tendency to fall to pieces just when needed. The Rawson fire was the first frame house burned. The boys had unique uniforms of red shirts and black pants. It is impossible to get a roster of the old brigade, as the records are possibly destroyed, but there are four yet living, viz., Deb Kelso, Andrew Bethscheider, W.B. Hughes and William Galbraith. There was a well at the northeast corner of 4th St. and Lincoln Ave., and a hand pump with hose for use on buildings close in. In 1879 the company was reorganized and a hood and ladder wagon was installed, and a house for same was erected, just east of the city hall (the hook and ladder wagon is still on duty). Insurance seems to hold good for fires in ye auld times, for in 1884-85 the north and south side of Lincoln ave., between 4th and 5th Sts., was burned in a succession of fires, starting in a millinery store owned by Mrs. Surbaugh. One of the thrilling experiences of the south side fire was that while pulling down a roof with hook and rope, Deb Kelso was placing the hook, and a mistake in signals caused the boys on the rope to pull too quickly, and Deb fell into the fiery furnace, but held to the hook and was pulled out, safe and sound. There were seven buildings burned at this fire, Mrs. Surbaugh's millinery store, John Segin's restaurant, general store, Phebus' store, Hebron Journal office, Willy's music store and bakery. One of the amusing experiences of the fire that brought tragedy into the lives of property owners was when Mrs. Phebus started to rush bak into the flames for her bird cage. She was detained by a citizen who calmed her hysterics and risked his life to save the cage; which contained a pretty little canary--made of stuffed cloth. The firemen did some hard work, and managed in each instance to save the corner buildings. The methods were to tear out some old building in the path of the fire to save the others. There was a second firehouse built on the northwest corner of the block which is now Roosevelt Park, and the old fire bell, which calls the boys to save a foundation to the present day, was placed on top of this house. Later this apparatus, which was the property of the members, was sold to the city for $100, and consisted of hook and ladder wagon, pump, hose, pails and hose houses. In 1891 the company was again reorganized by the city and took the name of the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department, with two new hose carts and 1,000 feet of hose, and the standpipe for water supply. The department has moved on down the line of time, saving as many foundations as any department of its size. The first exhibition of the new outfit, including uniforms of caps and belts, was performed on July 4, 6 P.M., 1891; also a big dance that night for firemen's benefit. William Galbraith, as first chief and succeeding chiefs as follows: W.H. Frame, 1894; William Griffin, 1895; W.B. Hughes, 1896; W.H. Ellison, 1897; William Galbraith, 1898; M.R. Peery, 1899; H.L. Boyes, 1900-01-02-03; Frank Crook, 1904; W.B. Hughes, 1905; H.L. Boyes, 1905-17; Fred I. Bergan, 1918-1920. Time passed on the same old line till the year 1918, when a crusade for a modern truck and outfit was started, and plans were made in 1920 by the chief appointing a committee of eight, F.A. Bergan, chairman; James McDonald, Herman Mantuefel, George Hayes, J.G. Albers, C.J. Roberts, Fred McGrew and Paul Matheson, that was divided into four teams to solicit for funds. After the committee had started the city council called them to bring a resolution to the council, and it was voted that the council give the chief of the fire department authority to purchase a modern fire truck for the department, which is one of the most complete apparatus in the state for its size. F.I. BERGAN
Chief Fire Department
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