SECTION 
TWO BRIGADES OF FIRE FIGHTERS.- pages 43-44 - HREE
days after the home of P. J. Schneider was burned to the ground—March
9th, 1890—the West Norwood Volunteer Fire Brigade took the field.
While the ruins of that house were smoldering, a subscription list was
passed around and the nucleus of the fund to equip the fire fighters
thus secured. The original membership roll of twenty-five has been
doubled, and the brigade continues its valued services as a stock
company. The shares are but $1.00, and the dues $1.20 a year. To the
original building on Mills avenue two additions were made. The village
provided a good engine and hose reel. The ladder wagon was made by
"the boys," for in the ranks are carpenters and blacksmiths.
West Norwood's ladies presented both a bell and a flag to the brigade.
Although out of the bailiwick the brigade distinguished itself at the
St. Aloysius Asylum conflagration. Early on the morning of March 6th,
1894, there was an alarm given and West Norwood brigade turned out only
to witness their own headquarters in flames. The origin of the fire was
a mystery, and nothing was saved. The
Aaron McNeill only whetted the appetite of the fire king, and
engines, hose and ladder were all licked up. The loss was $2,000, and
the committees on rebuilding got to work at once. Upon the site of the
destroyed engine house a two-story pressed brick edifice will prove the
handsomest home the brigade ever claimed. The second floor will be
converted into a hall. Contracts for the reconstruction were let the
last week in March and the work commence at once. The officers during
the late administration were: President, Joseph H. Lammers;
Vice-President, Edward R. Hall; Secretary, Chas. H. Weisenfelder;
Treasurer, William Jannings; Trustees, Frank Runnelbaum and Henry
Jostwert; Chief, Wm. Damen; Lieutenants, John W. Hall, Chas. Woertz,
Oliver Devoe and Charles Bielefield.A blaze that wiped out several houses on the pike above Harris avenue led to the Organization of Norwood Volunteer Fire Company, which is located in a cozy engine house on the main thoroughfare, below the bridge. They are well equipped for battling with the flames. T. J. McFarlan, President; Dr. C. W. Tidball, Vice-President; W. G. Betty, Secretary; and W. M. Langdon, Treasurer, are on the executive roster. The Chief is Philip Voelker, and John W. Tidball is his assistant. Thomas Morgan and Dr. J. P. Hastings are the lieutenants, and Charles Anderson, Custodian of the engine house. The members are divided into three companies, viz: HOSE, Dr. W. H. Hopkins, Captain; Richard Dallman, Assistant Captain; John Hercksall, William Hercksall, Ben Bick and William Hummell. ENGINE, Henry Gade, Captain; Gus Seave, Assistant Captain; George Hagene, George Hulsman, Harry Price, William Higdon and August Hindersman. HOOK AND LADDER, Edward Wiggeringler, Captain; John Smith, Assistant Captain; Edward Stout, Philip Tieferman, John Gloss, William Ellington and Charles White. The water works, with the fire-plugs so well distributed about town, affords Norwood much greater protection than it ever before enjoyed. ——— – ——— |
