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Representing Lima’s Fire Fighters Since 1932
Early History of the Lima Fire Department
(*Editor’s note: this history was penned in the late 1960's and is being reproduced verbatim)
April 21, 1847, was a very important date to the Lima Fire Department. It was on this date that the “Town of Lima” with a population of 600 people suddenly realized that they were without fire protection of any kind. In answer to this public awakening, at a meeting of the Common Council of the Town of Lima on Wednesday, April 21, 1847, it was resolved that it be expedient to take some measure to prevent fires from breaking out in town. A committee of three was appointed to examine the condition of chimneys, etc., and to make a report at the next meeting. The committee was composed of Orrin Curtis, Samuel Musser and William McHenry.
Then, two years later, definite action was taken at a meeting of the Common Council on April, 6, 1849. On a motion, Thomas Dalzell and John Fay were appointed as a committee to procure for the use by the town in case of fire: three ladders, one to be 25 feet in length, one to be 18 feet in length, and the others to be 14 feet in length, and one-half dozen fire hooks to pull burning thatch from roofs. On a motion of John Fay, Charles Baker and T. K. Jacobs were appointed to examine the houses in town and have the same secured properly to prevent danger of fire.
In 1865, a volunteer fire department was organized and men listed as original members were David S. Fisher, D. C. P. Terrell, William Timberlake, Joseph G. Davis, John P. Lipsell, William Havel and Timothy Shroyer. On July 4, 1866, the volunteers went to Bucyrus to enter a water throwing contest and they came away with top honors.
The first piece of fire apparatus owned by the Town of Lima was a hand pumper purchased in 1865. This hand pumper was named the “Pacific” and remained the first line of fire defense until 1871. The “Pacific” was succeeded by the Steam Fire Engine known as the “Clapp S. Jones Engine”, which name was changed at a meeting held at City Hall, Lima, Allen County, Ohio, on September 24, 1872. The minutes of this meeting state: “Pursuant to previous notices, a number of citizens met for the purpose of organizing a company to take charge of the Steam Fire Engine heretofore known as the “Clapp S. Jones Engine”. In the absence of S. P. Hughes, Chief of the Department, Mr. T. Shroyer, Assitant Chief, took the chair and called the meeting to order. The chair announced that the first order of business would be the selecting of a new name for the Fire Steamer and by which name the company would be known. The following names were suggested: Huasa Citizens’ Gift - Lima Chief - Lima King - Trogan. After the votes were counted, the name “Lima Chief” was declared the winner. Other men mentioned as being present were: D. M. Fredricks, H. S. Prophet, Elizah Dalzell, J. A. Crawford, D. C. P. Terrell, Theodore Mayo, Sylvestor Miller, Mathew Atmer, James Coons, J. A. Carpenter and William McComb.
At the next meeting held on October 1, 1872, the company was officially named “The Citizens’ Gift Fire Engine & Hose Company Number 3 of Lima, Ohio”, with the charter members being: H. S. Prophet, J. G. Davis, R. R. Lawther, K. N. Fredericks, Jeremiah Finn, F. M. Mauk, William Gore, N. Spencer, Sylvestor Miller, J. C. Blacher, H. Suber, W. McPheron, Joseph M. Goodman, Foster C. Walell, G. H. Leedom, F. L. Newcomer, T. B. Johns, J. B. Lipsett, H. P. Hanthorn, J. N. Haller, J. F. Burnet, William Schuler, O. A. James and John McGuire. This company had a state-wide reputation for efficiency and won many prizes at firemen’s conventions, especially during the fall of 1872, when they won the State Championship at the convention held in Defiance.
In 1872, the Lima Volunteer Fire Fighters went to Delphos where a conflagration was sweeping the business district of the town; the Pacific #1 Hand Engine was loaded on a flat car on the Pennsylvania Railroad and hurried to the scene; it was a terrific ride, the firemen holding the engine on the flat car with much difficulty; they had a hard workout at Delphos. Fort Wayne also sent a steam engine to assist. The town was almost wiped out by the fire - sixty-eight buildings in the business district. The women of the town rallied to the situation and served meals to all the visiting firemen. The townspeople were most appreciative of the assistance of the visiting firemen.
On July 15, 1875, S. Havel contracted to build 3 fire cisterns: 1 on North Elizabeth Street, 200 feet south of Grand Avenue; 1 at Wayne and West Streets on the south side of Wayne Street; and the other on West North Street, 300 feet west of Metcalf Street. The cost of these cisterns was 60 cents per barrel, including rings and covers. The total capacity was not to exceed 125 barrels per cistern. All traces of these cisterns have vanished, although one of the same type still exists on North Central Avenue just south of East High Street on the west side, which was used by this department for testing the apparatus for draft for many years until recently.
There has been an organized Fire Department in Lima since 1865, and on January 1, 1893, the department, by ordinance of City Council, became a full paid department with the following personnel and salaries:
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Chief James Ogden |
$60.00 |
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Charles Dailey |
$50.00 |
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Bert Coats |
$55.00 |
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Thomas Fitzpatrick |
$50.00 |
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John Maurer |
$55.00 |
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William Sullivan |
$50.00 |
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G. Tamberton |
$55.00 |
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Charles Cowles |
$20.00 |
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R. D. Routson |
$50.00 |
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E. B. Cunningham |
$15.00 |
Horses came on the scene in 1878 and at one time there were twenty-one head in the department. The Lima Fire Department was motorized March 1, 1916, and when the motorized equipment was installed, many of the fire horses went on the market and some were used in the public service department. When a fire alarm was heard, it was with great difficulty they were restrained from responding, although drawing a street-cleaning apparatus.
A splendid team of dapple grays (Dick and Dock) were sold to a farmer, and when the dinner bell rang, they escaped with the plow and went to the fire, which happened to be in the kitchen range. A fine bay-matched team was sold to a Kenton liveryman, whose barn burned with forty head of horses in it, the Lima horses being the only ones saved because they were used to fires and were easily led from the burning building.
While efficiency is the watchword in the department, the passing of the horses was the removal of most of the sentiment from the fire department - the men are there yet - the horses are gone, but shall never be forgotten.
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History of the Lima Fire Department
The town of "Lima" was on the map before any local record of June 6, 1831, but it was not fully organized until March 29, 1842, and a mayor was elected. In this same year, the Common Village Council gave an order to blacksmith, William Andres, to install a clapper in the courthouse bell at a cost of $1.87. This is said to have been the first move to establish an organized fire department, since the bell was used to assembly common pleas court, church and school meetings, and to summon citizens who would arm themselves with buckets, dishpans, and any sort of container that would hold water, and formed bucket brigades to fight a fire.
Five years later, on April 21, 1847, another important date in regards to fire prevention and fire protection, at a meeting of the Common Council, the "Town of Lima," with a population of 600 people, realized the need for fire prevention, and the Common Council resolved that it be expedient to take some measures to prevent fires from breaking out in town. A committee of three was appointed to examine the conditions of chimneys and other fire hazards and to make a report at the next meeting. Then two years later at a Common Council meeting on April 6, 1849, on a motion, authorized the purchase of three ladders and six fire hooks to pull burning thatch from roofs. A committee was also formed to examine the houses in town and have the properties secured to prevent danger of fire.
In 1865, a volunteer fire department was organized and the first piece of pumping apparatus, a hand pumper, was purchased second-hand from Dayton, Ohio, and was known as the "Pacific Engine #1." After a large fire in 1871, two more engines were purchased, the "Champion Steam Fire engine and Hose Co., No. 2" and the "Citizen’s Gift Fire Engine and Hose Company, No. 3." The old "Pacific" engine was sold to Spencerville, Ohio. History tells us there was much rivalry between these two companies in trying to be the first on the scene of a fire.
A city building was built in 1868, on West High Street, just west of Main Street on the south side, and housed the City Jail and the Volunteer Fire Department on the ground floor with other city offices on the second floor. This would be the first of several "Central Stations" in the department's history. It is not known what the status of the volunteer companies were from this time on until 1890, when the department was fully organized and the community was protected by "Minute Men," which was part paid or "call department." The men were paid for each fire call or for services rendered.
At this time, there were 2 steam fire engines, one hose reel, 2 hose wagons, and 1 hook and ladder in service. These were all horse drawn, since horses had been used in the department from 1878 on, and at one time consisted of 21 head of fine stock. In August, 1893, a fully paid department was organized and went into service the following month. This followed the City of Lima building the water works system in 1886, with water being first delivered through the mains on February 1, 1887. The system consisted of 34 miles of street mains, 213 fire hydrants and nearly 2,400 service taps. A second fire station was completed and occupied in 1888, at 216 E. Kibby, and a third firehouse was built at 776 N. Main St. in about 1901. The city's fourth fire station opened in 1908, at 1174 W. High Street. Also, in 1906-07, a new safety building was built and occupied at High Street and Central Avenue. This was the second location of the Central or No. 1 fire station.
Early in 1915, the department was motorized, when five pieces of equipment were delivered. At this time, many of the fire horses were sold and some were issued to the Public Service Department. It is reported when the fire bell was heard, it was difficult to restrain the horses from responding, although drawing a street cleaning apparatus. On July 8, 1918, No. 5 Station at Lincoln Park, Shawnee and Elm Streets, was completed and opened for service, and No. 6 Station, on S. Main Street and Lafayette was opened as well. The fire department operated out of these six fire houses until about 1944 or 1945 when the No. 2 Station was closed. Two new fire stations were built in 1961. One was No. 3 Station, which moved to its new location at 1199 N. West St., and No. 4 Station, which moved to it's new location at 1440 W. Spring St. No. 6 Station was built in 1975, at a new location, 700 E. Third St., and a new Central Station was built at its third location, 433 S. Main Street. These stations, along with No. 5 Station at Lincoln Park, are the current fire houses in Lima.
The department was placed on a 2 platoon system in 1920, with each platoon working 24 hours and then being off for 24 hours. On September 7, 1939, the "Kelly Day" was established, and this meant an extra day off every 14th calendar day, lowering the average work week from 84 to 72. The "Kelly Day" came about as a result of legislation lobbied for by Mayor Edward Kelly of Chicago. This system was replaced in 1969, with a three platoon system, or 56 hours a week, and follows what is known as the California Plan, or one day on, one day off, one day on, one day off, one day on, four days off. Another hour’s reduction took place in the late 1980's, and the average work week is 53 hours a week today.
Four firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty over the years. John Wolfe and John Fisher died in the Allen County Courthouse fire in 1929, Frank Kinzer, as the result of a fire in the 400 block of North Main Street in 1933, and Cloyd R. Webb died at the Marshal Sporting Goods fire in 1954.
The above information is excerpted from the "Early History of the Lima Fire Department 1865 – 1975," compiled by former Fire Chief George K. Kelley. It contains a wealth of information which is too lengthy to list in it's entirely here. Anyone interested in looking at the entire document can read the 1976 History of Allen County at the Lima Public Library.
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