Whitewater fire departmentThis is a featured page


This is a brief collection of articles on some of the early fires in the City of Whitewater, and information on the beginnings of the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department formed in October of 1871.

By Roy Rockwell

From: The Whitewater Register- Bicentennial Edition July 1976

Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department Started In 1871
On April 27, 1871, the Village of Whitewater Board passed an ordinance creating a Fire Department. Later that year on October 28, the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department was first organized. Today, 105 years later, a dedicated group of men are still serving the community as volunteer firemen. During its first 100 years, the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department has always maintained an efficient department. The department has grown with the area and today it serves the City of Whitewater and five surrounding townships. The department has evolved from the bucket brigade of 1871 to the handdrawn carts of 1889 to the first motorized trucks of 1915 to today’s fleet of all types of modern firefighting and rescue equipment. The Department also has a modern Rural Fire Department, which is entirely independent of the City Department. All of the equipment for the Rural Department has been purchased from funds raised by the Department. In case of a bad fire in the City, any of the rural equipment can be used for the fire.

First Home The first home of the department was a small brick building located near the Mill Pond. The volunteers pumped water to the five hydrants located in the business district. Today the department is housed at the Public Safety building in one of the most modern fire stations in the area. The first alarm system used in 1871 consisted of an iron triangle located on the top of the Wagon Shop. Some years later a bell tower was erected on the City Hall corner. This means of notifying the community of a fire was used for many years. Today a modern siren system, located at the Public Safety building, is employed. Two companies – a hose company and a hook and ladder – made up the first department, which consisted of 100 volunteers most of whom were employees of the Wagon Company. Today’s Department consists of four companies – Companies One, Two, Three, and the Hook and Ladder Company – totaling 48 men. The modern equipment of today is a far cry from the old fashioned equipment used back in the 1870’s and 1900’s. Training programs have also revolutionized the department and made it one of the finest in the area. Today the department has a training officer who holds monthly training sessions during the year employing the newest possible fire fighting techniques. Elaborate charts, diagramming all of the buildings in the City are used and kept up-to-date so that plans of action can be developed and used in the training sessions. In addition, the department has also enlisted in many state fire training schools to further train its members. Another service of the department today is the rescue squad, which handles numerous calls each year and has given much service to the community. Modern equipment for almost any type of emergency is owned by the Department.

1871 Consideration was given to the purchase of a Silsby’s third class Rotary Steam Engine and attached equipment for a total cost of $7,200. The fire engine was capable of pumping 450 gallons of water per minute. A special election of the voters was held, and the proposal was defeated. A water wheel and pump force was installed in the engine house near the flour mill owned by Byron Brown, and sufficient hose was to be purchased to fight fires anywhere in the Village. The building cost a total of $641.11 and the entire project could not exceed $3,500. The first chief fire marshal was Matt Allen. Joseph Vanderwater was the first assistant fire marshal. The first report of the department showed that the equipment was in good working order, but 500 feet of hose was needed. The village Board purchased 350 feet. The department first consisted of Hose Company No. 1 and Hook and Ladder Company.

1872 Financial report consisted of: Company No. 1 – 19 cents on hand. Hook and Ladder - $11.29 cash on hand. Penalties and fines for firemen included: refusing to perform duty, 25 cents fine; being intoxicated, $1; neglect of duty, 50 cents; absent from meeting at roll call, 20 cents; loud conversation or profane language at meeting, 10 cents. Uniforms consisting of red caps and shirts were purchased.

1889 The waterworks were installed in 1889 and Company II and Company III were formed. Company I had their equipment in the East Side Hall, Company II in the Old Pump House, located east of the Old Stone Mill, Company III on the old high school lot on Center Street, and the Hook and Ladder Company in the lot next to the Dairy Supply Company on Whitewater Street. Upon completion of the City Hall in 1900, it was arranged to house the fire department there, and the city also provided rooms for the firemen’s meetings on the second floor. The department consisted of a hook and ladder company of 20 men and three hose companies of 15 men each. Three hand-drawn carts with 1,500 feet of hose, pipe connections and other equipment arrived on September 6, 1889. By 1891 a team was hired to draw the hose carts.

1898 “Whitewater of today,” a souvenir publication published sometime around 1898 notes the following about the department: Our fire area at all times under protection of the department is about 1,200 acres. The city ordinances have been most carefully framed, where relating to fire protection, fire limits, investigation of fires, etc. The most rigid system of inspection for the prevention of fire is enforced. To this and the efficiency of the work of our fire department, as shown by the records kept by the insurance companies, is due the fact, that the insurance rate in our city have been several times reduced, until they are now lower than most cities similarly situated. Their equipment, which is strictly up-to-date, is 4,500 feet of the best two and one-half inch rubber hose, three hose carriages, two hook and ladder trucks carrying a full line of ladders, hooks, buckets, extinguishers, etc. All the men are volunteers, but their discipline and drill is such that few paid departments in the larger cities are equal to them in the practical work they do. The Whitewater department is known far and wide, and now holds the permanent hose championship of Wisconsin, having won it for the third time at the state tournament in 1898.

1931 Service to the rural areas was instituted with the department contracting for fire fighting services with the townships of Cold Spring, Johnstown, Lima, Richmond, LaGrange, Koshkonong, and Whitewater.

Other Facts In 1870 the first annual Ball was held in Bower’s hall, with supper at the Exchange Hotel. In later years these dances became annual masquerade parties. Recently, the Annual Easter Monday celebration has been the Department’s main fund raising event. Funds raised by the department are used to buy equipment. The Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department has had only nine fire chiefs in its first 105 years. They are: Ed Pollard, 1891-92; C.F. Allen, 1892-94; H.S. Salisbury, 1894-1904; F.B. Goodhue, 1904-06; D.F. Zuill, 1906-1931; Ben Kraeplin, 1931-48; C.J. Hickey, 1948-64; L. Lein, 1964-68; and Joe McCormick, 1968-present. Throughout the years the Whitewater Volunteer Fire Department has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the top-rated volunteer fire departments in the state. This reputation is the result of the service and dedication of many men who have strived to keep up the efficiency and tradition of the department. The department has always worked to give better service to the community.

From: The Whitewater Register Sept.. 6, 1883
Whitewater Fire Department bought 300 feet of new hose. There was a fire in the store of the Richardson Bros.

From: The Whitewater Register Sept.. 13, 1883
Whitewater Fire Department bought new coats and uniforms.

From: The Whitewater Register Nov.. 28, 1883
The Whitewater Fire Department ball of Hose Company #1 drew a record crowd

From: The Whitewater Register Jan. 7, 1867
Another Destructive Fire. - On Friday night last, about eleven o’clock the machine shop, furniture manufactory and turning establishment of Esterly’s Reaper Works, was discovered to be on fire, the alarm was immediately given, and a crowd of people hastened to the scene, but too late to save the building or much that it contained. The efforts of the people were mainly directed to saving of the work-shops, and the reapers already made and in process of the construction, and the lumber which lay about loose, of which there was quite a large quantity. The fire spread with alarming rapidity, and in two hours after it was first discovered all the injury was done and the mass of people were either at home or on their way there. The conflagration, while it lasted, was truly terrific, owing to the inflammable character of the materials of which the building was composed, and which it contained. The lumber was all very dry, and the heavy tarred roof burned like turpentine. Clouds of embers filled the air, and many were next day found a mile or more distant from the factory – carried to remote points by the current of the air superinduced by the intense heat of the burning material. By strenuous exertions the fire was confined to the one shop where it originated, or where it is supposed to have originated; because as to its real origin there are many opinions, none of them based upon any thing better than conjecture, and all of them open to criticism. We do not propose here to traverse this matter, but to give the facts connected with this unfortunate affair, leaving speculation to those who have a talent that way. A very small part of the machinery was saved, probably not to exceed $3,000 worth, while the value of that destroyed maybe estimated, perhaps at $20,000. The entire loss we understand, is set down by Mr. Esterly at $40,000. There were insurances to the amount of $15,500, we believe in responsible companies. There were about 130 Reapers completed, ready for delivery; 170 in a forward state, which would have been finished within this month; and a large number besides for which the lumber had already been got out, and which would have been finished in time for the company harvest. Mr. Esterly has made all necessary arrangements for the completion of those 170 nearly finished, but will be unable, probably to go on with the others. It will be seen that this loss – over and above the insurance, and not taking into account the loss of time or prospective profits on the work that would have been turned out before the end of the season, - will amount to something like $25,000. This loss will fall very heavily upon Mr. Esterly at this time, and still more heavily upon the 120 men whom he had in his employ, and upon their families. It is also a terrible blow to the business interests of the whole town, and especially to the real property of the east side of the village. The sympathies of all our people are given heartily to Mr. Esterly under his misfortune; and our people feel, almost universally, as though his loss was their own. Meantime, we hear it intimated that he is not likely to rebuild. We hope this is not correct. This town cannot afford to lose so valuable an institution as Esterly’s Reaper Works. It virtually supports nearly one-sixth of our people; and once taken from us, no energy of ours can replace it. Every effort that our citizens can make to have it rebuilt should be made. The present value of our property, real and personal, depends very greatly upon it. We sacrifice our own best interests when we fail to have these works again put in successful operation. It remains to be seen whether our people are or are not so blind to their own interests as to lose so necessary an establishment, and so valuable a citizen.

From: The Whitewater Register May 18, 1868
Paper Mill Burned. – On Sunday morning last, about five o’clock the Whitewater Paper Mill, owned by Denison & Tanner, was discovered to be on fire, and by eight o’clock its destruction was complete. The fire broke out, it is understood, in the engine room, and was speedily communicated to the main building, after which all efforts to save it would have been unavailing. There was a watchman in the building at the time, but he is supposed to have been fast asleep while the fire was raging around him. The accident is believed by many to have been entirely due to his carelessness. The property was insured for $20,000 as follows: Phenix, of New York ………………… $5,000 North American, Philadelphia …………. 2,500 North American, New York... …………. 3,000 Enterprise, Cincinnati ………………….. 3,500 Lumberman, Chicago ………………….. 3,000 Home, New York ……………………… 3,000 There was quite a quantity of paper and stock in the building, and the insurance will not nearly cover the loss. We understand it is the intention of the proprietors to rebuild at once, which they are perfectly able to do.

From: The Whitewater Register March 10, 1921

WHITEWATER PAPER MILL WAS FIRST IN STATE


From The Paper Mills News printed at Ladysmith we clip the following item that is both instructive and interesting.

After several weeks of investigating we feel that we have learned the location of the first paper mill in Wisconsin although some places have claimed the honor, such as Neenah and other present paper mill cities but we are now satisfied that Whitewater deserves the honor. In a letter just received from E. Pollard, who still lives in Whitewater, he writes that a man named Crombie built the mill in 1857 starting in on print paper with a production of one ton per day. The paper machine was 44 inches wide, consisting of six dryers, each 28 inches in diameter and three calendar rolls. Steam and water was used, and as the writer has visited the site, it would be estimated that they had about fifty horsepower from the dam. The speed of the paper machine was 60 feet. Later the mill burned down and was not rebuilt again for a few years. Mr. Pollard states that he came to Whitewater in 1885 and put in new machinery with a capacity of twelve tons a day, making straw ham wrappers. The mill was later sold to the Coulmbia Steam Paper company and closed down in 1893 and never started up again. A few years ago Libby, McNeill & Libby built a large, modern condensary on the site. Since the paper mill closed down, Mr. Pollard has lived in retirement at his Whitewater home and is in fairly good health.

From: The Whitewater Register Feb. 19, 1869
Another Fire. - On Wednesday evening, about eleven o’clock, a fire broke out in the basement of the Episcopal church, in this place; and the building, together with all that it contained, was entirely destroyed. There was a new and fine organ in the gallery, a new bell in the belfry, and the carpets, furniture, communion service, etc., were mostly new. The church itself had lately been considerably enlarged, and was almost like a new building. The fire broke out in the basement, near the furnace. This being the season of Lent, we believe there had been almost daily service in the church; a fire had been made in the morning, and undoubtedly some of the wood had taken fire from the furnace and had been smoldering all day long. It was first discovered, we believe by Mr. Walker, the Rector, who was on his way home from the railroad station, having reached home just in time to ring the bell and save his library. Before the alarm was given, however, the fire had so far advanced that the building could not be saved. The Parsonage was only saved by a hard struggle, and owing to the fact that there was no wind to fan the flames. Mr. James B. Caward had passed the church not ten minutes before the fire broke out, and observed a light in the basement. He was on his way to Cresco, and knowing it was Lent season he thought nothing of it. The bell dropped through the burning mass so noiselessly that it is affirmed that no one knows it fell. The cost of the building and furniture was about $6,000, on which there was no insurance. We believe the preliminary steps have already been taken to construct a new church, and we presume it will be built of brick. The society is small, but it is abundantly able, we believe, to put up a new and better church.

From: The Whitewater Register Mar. 5, 1869
Almost A Fire – On Tuesday last the brewery took fire and before it was discovered, the roof was all ablaze. Mr. Klinger set his engine at work promptly, however, and in a few minutes subdued the flames and saved himself from a loss of several thousands of dollars. This demonstrates that an engine that can throw water is worth something. Mr. Klinger has saved enough, by this single experience, to buy half a dozen of them.

From: The Whitewater Register Oct. 15, 1869
Fire Engine – We have received a call from Mr. J. R. Smith, the agent of the United States chemical Company of Chicago, who has been here for the purpose of looking the ground over to see what the prospect is of selling to our town one of their wonderful fire engines.

He expresses surprise that a town the size of Whitewater should have no more adequate protection against fire than we have here, and thinks that we would consult our own best interests by providing ourselves with some machine capable of extinguishing such fires as we are really in danger of having. He will be around again in a short time, and we hope he will get our people waked up on the subject of purchasing a fire engine.



From: The Whitewater Register Dec. 3, 1869
The First Fire. - On Monday night last, our village was for the first time this season startled by the cry of “Fire!” It was about eight o’clock in the evening that the alarm was given, and as the streets at that time contained quite a number of people, it was only a short period before there was a large crowd at the place of the conflagration, the building which was afire being that used by Winchester, Partridge & Co. as a paint shop, just south of N.H. Allen’s lumber yard, and formerly occupied as a cooper shop. It was found, however, that even at that early stage of the proceedings, nothing could be done to save the building or its contents as the fire was then almost at its height. In fact, so suddenly did the fire break out and spread, that the half dozen workmen who had been engaged in their labor of painting, were obliged to rush outside the building with all haste in order to save their lives, not daring to spend the time necessary to gather up their personal effects, in the way of coats, etc., which they had taken off in order to work more freely. The cause of the fire is rather remarkable, for in no other way can its origin be accounted for than in the explosion of a certain kind of gas which had been generated, by the proper conditions, from the oils, etc., which were in store in the building at the time, which gas had probably filled the building until it had of necessity reached the entrance of the stove, where of course it came in contact with the blaze. It seems rather difficult to credit this explanation of the cause, but the evidence of the workmen leaves its origin unaccountable in any other way, and we must, therefore, accept this theory. At any rate, there does not appear to be any traceable carelessness in the case, and for that reason, if no other, the cause of the conflagration is somewhat remarkable, as it is not often that some carelessness cannot be detected at the bottom of such an affair. The building contained, at the time of the fire, besides paints and oils, the whole or parts of about thirty wagons, upon none of which was there a cent of insurance; so that the Company’s loss will be about $2,000. The building, however, belonging to Mr. Geo. Hall was insured for $500, and his loss was therefore not very great. There was a strong south-westerly wind during the evening, but as it did not carry the sparks over the business part of the village, and as everything was wet from the then drizzling rain, there was no great danger of the fire spreading, which fact put many minds at rest and eased considerable anxiety. For if there is anything which Whitewater has to dread, it is a fire in any one of her business blocks. We should be entirely at its mercy, as we have no apparatus whatever, to effectually subdue the destructive element. But we hope this first fire of the season will be a warning to our people for the observance of a proper care during the coming winter, and the unusually lively business prosecuted by the insurance agents of the following day shows that some of them at least are fully aware of their danger, which we hope they will constantly bear in mind. Altogether, we escaped pretty cheaply, and beyond the loss by those who are perfectly able to bear it, we have not much to report.

From: The Whitewater Register Dec. 24, 1869
A Hard Case. - None of our citizens can have forgotten that, two years ago next spring, the row of wooden buildings on the north side of Main street were burned down, including the Mosher House, Bassett’s grocery, (occupied by J.C. Mason), two buildings owned by Mrs. Dahlen and Christenson & Nelson, and a building occupied by one Edward Ryan as a dry goods store. The fire broke out in the store of Ryan, who it was found, was heavily insured, we believe for $10,000; and a large majority of our people were decidedly of the opinion that the building was set on fire. There was much talk, at the time, of disputing the claim of Ryan for the insurance, but whether he was paid or not we do not know. Ryan remained in town for some months afterwards, availed himself of the benefits of the bankrupt law, and finally departed, greatly to the relief of most of our people. The supposition that Ryan was implicated in the burning of the building here is strengthened by some late occurrences that have taken place in Ottumwa, Iowa, where, it seems, Ryan has engaged in business for a year or so past. The Ottumwa daily Courier has an account of a plot, sought to be carried out by one Edward Ryan, to burn down the building in which he was doing business, and so secure $8,000 of insurance money which he had taken the precaution to get on his stock, which is believed to be at least three times as much as his stock was at any time worth, and a large part of his goods were found secreted in his house besides. The Courier says there was probably not more than $1,000 worth of goods in the store at the time the arson was meditated. The building was to have been burned as follows: A barrel of coal oil was placed in the center of the shop, a large hole was cut in the top of it, a bale of cotton batting was inserted into this aperature, and then attached to this bale was a train of batting leading to a short candle affixed in a socket in a piece of shingle, the train probably being saturated with oil. Ryan had made arrangements with one McDaniels to fire the machine at midnight on Thursday, the 9th. instant, Ryan meantime, in order to deceive the public, having gone to Burlington in the evening. He went to Fort Madison Thursday night, and returned to Burlington on Friday morning to await the denouncement of his plot. McDaniels, however, had failed, and had notified the Mayor of what was going on. The Mayor was the owner of the block, and an investigation was made at once; and when he became satisfied that McDaniel’s statements were correct, officers were sent to Burlington to arrest Ryan, which they succeeded in doing, and returned with the prisoner to Ottumwa on Friday, where Ryan waived preliminary investigation, and in default of $1,000 bail he was committed to jail to await the final examination. It is affirmed that Ryan made efforts to increase the amount of his insurance, but did not succeed. The destruction of the building, the Courier says, would have involved the almost certain loss of the whole block annexed to it, including the Post office and other valuable property. Of course we do not affirm that Ryan fired his own stock here; but we say that the circumstances were just such as we might have looked for in case he had felt called upon to perpetrate such a crime. He had a large insurance upon his stock, when every business man felt morally certain he had not goods to the value of one-fourth the insurance. The fire was so rapid as to lead to the supposition that oil was purposely used in order that people should be prevented from entering the store and subduing the fire or removing the goods. We have never been able to understand why an effort was not made here to fasten the crime upon Ryan.

From: The Whitewater Register Feb. 11, 1870
A Good Measure – Whitewater has long needed some ample protection against the probable ravages of that most destructive of all elements, fire – There have been inaugurated numerous projects – or, rather, the same project a number of times – of providing some measure for the protection of village property in this respect; but upon every occasion, through the combined opposition of old fogies and men entirely lacking in public spirit, this most needed measure has been defeated, and we have been obliged to plod along, from year to year, laboring under heavy rates of insurance, and in constant fear of a conflagration which might in a few hours convert the entire business portion of our town into a heap of ashes. We have been extremely fortunate in this regard, heretofore; but our past good fortune is no criterion by which to judge of the probabilities of the future, and a fire is as likely to occur next week as at any time. It is, therefore, with pleasure, that we learn of a new plan being agitated by some of our clear-headed business men. It is that of putting in, at the Stone Mill, a force pump, by means of which water can be thrown upon any fire within a circuit of thirty or forty rods, thereby covering the central portion of our business town. The power used, of course, is that furnished by the fall of water at the mill, and hose will be used to convey the stream forced to any locality; so that, to the portion of the town that can be reached, this arrangement would afford an equal protection with an engine. The cost of this pump, according to the offer of a St. Louis firm, would be $2,000 – not including the hose, - and it seems to us that this amount might be raised in a few hours, by two or three energetic men who set themselves to work at it in earnest. It cannot be that our people fail to appreciate the danger of a conflagration, and if the facts can be presented to them in a logical manner, their good sense must dictate the proper course to be pursued in our case. For the protection afforded, this is the cheapest plan yet proposed; and for one that will supply the desired stream of water in the shortest space of time, none can equal it. Let our business men be prepared to contribute liberally to the formation of the sum necessary to the completion of the measure.

From: The Whitewater Register March 1, 1871
Fire Extinguishers – Since the recent conflagration, some of our businessmem have procured Babcock Fire Extinguishers for the protect of their property. Mr. H. F. Thiele has one ready for immediate use in his furniture rooms, and one may be seen in McBeath’s clothing store. These machines are a good thing to have in case of an emergency, but is it not a waste of money, when Whitewater possesses such an effective fore department!

From: The Whitewater Register June 14, 1871
We quote an item or two from the Whitewater correspondent of the Waukesha Freeman. He makes a readable letter, and if he can be found out we may be able to persuade him to spill his surplus words on our table instead of sending them to furrin parts. “Whitewater.- The water-wheel and force pump for Engine House No. 1, of the Whitewater Fire Department” have at length arrived and are being placed in position by W. G. Esterly Esq., of this place. The wheel is a turbine, five feet in diameter, from the works of O. E. Merrill & Co., Beloit, Wis., and of sufficient power to throw a three inch stream of water one hundred feet in the air. This fire extinguisher has been long talked of, long wished for concern: now that they have it we hope as a squirt gun it will prove a success. Water is to be conducted to various parts of the town by pipes laid under ground, hose being attached wherever necessary.

From: The Whitewater Register Nov. 22, 1871
WHITEWATER WATER WORKS An Admirable Provision Against Fire. It has been the misfortune of our town in years past to suffer to an unusual degree from repeated and destructive fires, and more than once the best business blocks in the place have been consumed. These frequent and calamitous events have caused our citizens to anxiously consider the question of providing some adequate means for preventing the evil in the future. Of the various plans suggested however, none seemed to meet with general favor until a proposition was made last spring by Mr. James Merriman, of Chicago, general western agent for B. T. Babbitt, of Utica. N.Y., to put in the “Babbitt system of waterworks.” It was claimed that these works furnished an economical and effective means for extinguishing fires, and a contract was made with Mr. Merriman by the village authorities in accordance with which they have been introduced and put in operation. As the system is new and the machinery was set up here for the first time in the west some little difficulty was experienced at first in adjusting all the parts, but this was speedily overcome and everything now works satisfactorily and in a manner fully equal to all that had been claimed and required. The works themselves are very simple and easily managed. They are located in the lower room of the substantial engine house, which was built last season, just below the bridge, and which proves to have been placed most conveniently for their accommodation. A Houston water wheel, sixty inches in diameter, furnishes the motive power; it is connected by means of suitable gearing with a powerful rotary pump which takes the water through a six inch pipe from the flume, and forces it into a main of the same diameter. This main leads to the intersection of Center and Main streets, 300 feet distant, where it divides, and a four inch pipe is laid up each of these streets a distance of 300 feet further. Hydrants are located at the termination of the pipe, and also at their junction and immediately in front of the engine house; two lines of hose can be attached to each hydrant. As the water wheel can be worked up to 90 horse power, four lines of hose may be operated at the same time, efficiently and to advantage. Fortunately we have had no actual need to test the capacity of the works since their construction, but the several trials which have been made clearly demonstrate that in case of a fire in any of the business portions of the town only a very few minutes would be required to pour upon it a flood of water which could not fail to speedily extinguish it. Last Friday afternoon the boys were out for practice and within two minutes from the time of starting with the hose cart from the engine house, they had two streams flowing through a hundred feet of hose at the hydrant on Center street. The nozzles used were of the largest size, an inch and a quarter in diameter, but no difficulty was found in throwing the water over any of the adjoining buildings, and whenever it struck upon the roof, the flood which descended from them gave the most satisfactory evidence of the immense volume of water which was being thrown. The present supply of hose is only sufficient to carry water through the business portions of the town, but it is evident that the territory to be protected can be extended indefinitely by the addition of more hose or by continuing the pipes further; and it is estimated that the water can be thus carried three miles, and then thrown from fifty to one hundred feet high. The expense of keeping up and running the works is trifling compared with that required for a steamer, and in the rapidity with which they can be put into operation, in durability and in general effectiveness they have other and most important advantages. We do not hesitate therefore, in view of the entire satisfaction which it gives in our village to commend the system in preference to any other means of protection against fire wherever it can be made available, and there are but few towns where it cannot. Those in other places who may desire further particulars than we have given here can doubtless obtain them by addressing Mr. J. G. Merriman. No. 56 South Canal street, Chicago.

From: The Whitewater Register Jan. 5, 1882
Just as the Congregational service at Bower’s Hall closed last Sunday noon the cry of fire was heard. The cause was seen in a volume of smoke issuing from the Kinney House,a few feet below the apex of the roof. (This hotel was located on the north west corner of Main and First streets where the old dime store used to be. Today it’s a small shopping mall.) A crowd quickly gathered and in a few minutes enough water was carried in pails to extinguish the fire. Zit was a bad place to get at, being in the attic and only to be reached by way of a trap door. Had the fire started in the night it would probably have gained such headway before discovery that he building could not have been saved. The attic has been used for storing castaway articles and some suppose that the fire started spontaneously, from rags and cloths saturated with oil; others think that there were evidences of incendiarism. It is difficult to believe that any one would have what would be regarded as sufficient provocation, either towards the owner of the building or the landlord, to try and burn it up. As the fire department had got the Holly pump all in readiness to run, it was started up to test the mains and all was found to be in working order.

From: The Whitewater Register April 11, 1889
Waterworks Notes – Mr. C. E. Gray, President of the Waterworks Company, is here this week and is rushing business all along the line. The line of main has been located and gives ample fire protection to nearly every dwelling place in the city, excepting only a few of the isolated buildings in the outskirts, the pipe, with necessary gates hydrants and branches, has been ordered from the manufacturers and the work of laying the main awaits only the completion of their manufacture. Meantime preparations have already been made for the active prosecution of the works of erecting pumping station, tower, reservoir, office etc. Two separate gangs of masons have been engaged for the more rapid progress of the buildings. At the pumping station the reservoir is to be located fifteen feet in depth and 100 feet in diameter. The excavation will be some eight feet in depth, the soil being chiefly of an almost impervious clay, this clay continuing some feet lower till lime rock is reached. A better foundation could hardly be imagined. The sides will be built of limestone from our home quarries, banked with the clay from the pit. The reservoir will be circular, with a capacity of nearly 1,000,000 gallons of water. This contains the supply of water for fire purposes. Adjoining on the same lot at the corner of Fremont and Pratt streets is to be erected the pumping station. This is to be an ornamental building of brick, with stone trimmings, fire proof in all parts, with double front, one upon Pratt street, the other on Fremont street. Its dimensions are 36 feet front by 65 feet deep, with addition for fuel room, where is located the pumping machinery, 32x36. In the rear is the furnace room 33x36, and in the wing in the fuel room. Located west of the pumping building and on the same lot is the office, a very ornamental two-story frame building, with office in front and work-room in rear, and sleeping quarters above. The plans for these buildings are here, and work upon them commences at once. Mr. Alff supervises the mason work on the pumping building. Upon the Prospect Park hill a plat of ground 100 feet square has been leased by the city to the Waterworks Company for the purpose of erecting a standpipe tower. This will be enclosed by a neat iron fence, and the grounds beautified. In the center will rise a tower of masonary about eighty feet in height and thirty feet in diameter. Upon it will rest a steel tank twenty-five feet in diameter and from twenty-five to thirty feet in height. Around the top of the masonry, eighty feet above the hill, extends a balcony, approached by stairs from within the tower, which makes an observatory higher even than the Normal School. Prospect Park hill, upon which the tower is located, is over fifty feet higher than the business streets of the city, and upon this is a stand pipe one hundred feet in height, giving a gravity pressure of one hundred and fifty feet. The standpipe tank, holding over 100,000 gallons will furnish water for domestic use, and as a fire protection during the incipiency of a fire, and until direct pressure can be brought to bear upon the mains from the pumping engines, which will then draw from the main reservoir. The ground is already being prepared for the erecting of the tower. The trees have been cleared from the site, and excavation is being made below frost line to receive the foundations. The footing stones are to be eight inches thick, not less than three feet long and as large as can be handled. Above, the walls are six thick, the outer surface composed of coursing stone of even width, five inches, and the tower to be octagon in shape. John Bonnett has supervision of this work. The Messrs. Gray have contracted from our home quarries for seven hundred cords for the building of these works, and a large gang of men will be at once employed in getting out the stone. Mr. Gray realizes to the fullest extent the justice of purchasing everything possible in the way of material and labor in the community where the works are located, and it is a comforting fact, that the ordinary rate of interest upon the sums which the company will pay in the city for the material and labor amounts to one-half of the whole expense to the people securing fire protection for their property. The company thus already show an appreciative interest in the future welfare of our city, where in fact their interests are identical with those of the rest of her people and indeed greater financially than most. The contract of the entire work has been let by the Whitewater Waterworks Co. to C. E. Gray, jr. & Co., of Chicago, consisting of C. E. Gray, jr. and Theo. W. Gray, who laid the water mains at Janesville, and who are also building waterworks at Marshall, Mich.; and Basanau, Montana, and Mr. C. E. Gray sr., is consequently taking present charge of the works here, pending their coming. To be continued as time permits!!


No user avatar
whitewateradmin 		Latest page update: made by whitewateradmin , Apr 26 2007, 9:16 AM EDT (about this update About This Update whitewateradmin to separate from police page - whitewateradmin

No content added or deleted.
- complete history)
Keyword tags: None (edit keyword tags)
More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

Anonymous  (Get credit for your thread)

There are no threads for this page.  Be the first to start a new thread.