Rock Island Fire Department
The old "Bucket Brigade" was followed by the regular Volunteer Fire
Department, which was organized in 1856, and a Land engine purchased, and
named "Western No. 1." The engine when received was housed in a new
two-story brick building on the north-west corner of Court House Square.
Frazer Wilson was elected president, and George E. Biddison foreman. The
company was limited to seventy-five members.
Later another company was formed and took the name of "Aquarius No. 2"
-motto "Water Bearer." The company having a membership of sixty-five, with
George L. Carlton as foreman. The second company organized was the "Rescue
No. 2," in 1858, and a double-decker hand engine purchased, named "Rescue
No. 2," and stationed in a new engine house on Jefferson Street, between
Orleans and Rock River Streets, afterwards Walter Dauber's old blacksmith
shop.
The old primitive ladder wagon was a rough convenience, the ladders
likewise; the sides being of good sized gin poles, sawed lengthwise in the
center, and heavy enough to take eight or ten men to raise them. The first
modern Hook and Ladder Truck was purchased in 1874; named the "Reveille,"
and housed in the Western No. 1 engine house. The Wide Awake Hose Company
was expected to run this truck, but arrangements were made for quick word
to a livery stable for a span of horses, often running their street hack
on the jump to furnish the horses.
The first steam fire engine was purchased in 1869 and named the William
Eggleston, and housed in Western No. 1 house. The second fire engine was
the Reserve. No. 2, purchased in 1871, and housed in Rescue No. 2 hand
engine house.
In 1876 the department consisted of five hose companies, one hook and
ladder truck, and one steam engine held in reserve, and one hose carriage.
The hose companies were the Phoenix No. 1, Wide Awake No. 2, Hope Hose No.
3, Rescue No. 4, Neptune No. 5. The old volunteer chiefs have been George
Carlton, Elton C. Cropper, William Kale, S. B. Stoddard, A. Roswog, C. B.
Knox, Jacob Wollenhaupt, Thomas Yates, Patrick Kennedy, Thomas Bollman, in
1876. Harry Hall assistant chief, and James Johnston.
September 2, 1891, the paid Fire Department of the City of Rock Island was
organized. Honorable William McConochie, mayor Daniel Corken, B. F. Knox
and Winslow P. Tindall fire and light committee. William Ramskill was
appointed chief, and Bernard Brahm assistant chief. The department at that
time consisted of eight men, including officers. The apparatus included
one two-horse hose wagon, and one two-horse ladder truck, that was
formerly used by the Volunteer Fire Department. On March 8, 1892, the
department was increased by three men, making the total number eleven men.
On May 26, 1894, two sub-stations were installed; No. 2 hose company
located on Eighth Street, in the building formerly occupied by the Phoenix
hose company; and No. 3 hose company located on Twenty-sixth Street; these
hose companies consisted of three men each and one two-horse hose wagon.
At this time T. J. Medill was mayor, and appointed Bernard Brahm chief of
the department, and J. D. Collier assistant chief. In 1895, as mayor, B.
F. Knox appointed James Johnston as chief and J. D. Collier as assistant
chief. Mr. Johnston had served the old volunteers as their chief with
honor and credit to him-self and the city. In May, 1897, T. J. Medill
being again elected mayor, J. D. Collier was appointed chief, and Peter
Frey assistant chief.
In 1899 Charles Hastings was appointed chief under Mayor McConochie's
administration, and Peter Frey assistant. Mr. Hastings served as chief
without interruption from 1899 until June 1, 1905, when he resigned. Mr.
Fred L. Tubbs was appointed chief September 9, 1905, and served until the
Spring of 1907, when Mr. Hastings was again appointed chief, and Peter
Frey assistant chief; and both are the present incumbents. The recognition
of both Mr. Hastings and Mr. Frey bespeak their merit and efficiency. Mr.
Frey has been in continual service as assistant chief since May 5, 1897.
As one of the new chiefs says, "a kind word of praise for the volunteer
firemen of bygone days should not be amiss; too much praise or credit can
not be given these men who in the faithful, voluntary discharge of their
duty often endangered their lives and health, while responding to alarms
of fire; often contracting serious illness and permanent disability; never
receiving one cent of compensation for their services; these heroes of the
other days deserve the same credit as the volunteer solider, but the
public as usual in such cases withholds the reward that is due."
At the present time the department force consists of nineteen men;
eighteen men being paid full time, and one man acting as substitute when
men are laying off through sickness or injuries, or on their annual
furlough.
The apparatus of the department consists of three two-horse hose wagons,
one two-horse hook and ladder truck, and one chief's buggy.
The truck and chief's buggy are new; the new truck replacing the old
Babcock truck which had been in service for thirty-one years.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908