Town's Fire Department
Rates High Among Volunteer Groups
The
Coshocton Tribune,
Wednesday, September 27, 1939
Adoption of
improved fire prevention methods in Newcomerstown during the
past 35 years has steadily reduced fire losses, judging from an
old newspaper clipping found recently by Russell Bicker, West
Church Street, who is a member of the local volunteer group.
The clipping, dated 1904, reveals that the total loss from 11
fires amounted to at least $56,963.81.
Fires were fought at the time by men with hose carts, which were
pulled to conflagrations by main strength and awkwardness. Two
alarms notified the village of fires. There was the "Wildcat," a
shrieking whistle located at the Newcomerstown Produce Company
on West Church Street and the bell in the town hall.
Locations of fires and losses suffered during 1904 follow:
January, O.A. Vogenitz building on Main Street (near Welsh and
Marlowe shoe store), housing the H.N. Rainsberger Greater
Syndicate and T.A. Banks grocery, loss, $37,600; March, D.L.
Lydick furniture store building, Main and River Streets, loss,
$16,433.81; April, John Sheely barn, east end, loss, $50;
William Mellor barn, loss, $40; Dan Patterson barn, Goodrich
Street, loss, $150; September, John Hinds dwelling, loss, $200;
October,John W. Ley outbuilding, loss, $50; November, Warner
Rogers building, loss, $200; December, A.M. Grewell planning
mill, east end, loss, $2,000; James H. Clow and Sons, tar fire,
loss, $15; Sylvester Sheets barn, Walnut and State Streets,
loss, $225.
Due to the Sterling Faucet Company fire in March, 1939, the fire
loss in Newcomerstown will exceed that of many years. During the
past 10 years, according to Fire Chief Ed Lee, the loss suffered
in a year would not amount to more than a small fraction of the
loss suffered in 1904.
Thru efficient organization and study, Newcomerstown's present
day fire-fighting group is recognized as one of the best of its
type in Ohio. The new Ahrens-Fox pumper truck and the old Reo
truck place Newcomerstown in the upper bracket in fire-fighting
equipment. In addition, members of the group have constructed a
modern life-saving boat carriage. |
