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Watertown Fire Department
Established 1857
The Watertown Fire Department: 1857-2007
492 pages, $29.95 +
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The 150 year history
of the Watertown Fire Department is now available. This comprehensive reference book is filled
with images and details on the history of the department, fully indexed and
also documents the major fires that have occurred in the city.
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Watertown Historical Society, 919 Charles St., Watertown, WI 53094.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SUPPLEMENTAL
AND UPDATING INFORMATION
1853
07 09 Hackett Blacksmith Shop fire Democratic State Reg
1855
05 20 Vulcan Iron Works
destroyed WD
07 12 Anson
Brewery fire WD
07 19 Slaughter
house fire J. H.
& J. Martin WD
1857 Watertown Fire Department established
1858
07 15 Rent for engine house paid Jacob
Jussen WD
11 18 Examine all stove pipes and buildings by
fire wardens WD
1859
01 27 &
05 05 Rent for engine room,
paid F. Gebhardt, $6.50, [Pioneer fire dept] engine room 1 month WD
05 26 Rent of engine room,
contract with Peter Seibel for WG
Pioneer
Engine Company No. 1
09 08 Whereas, Edward
Johnson, James McHugh, John Campbell, and their associates, have petitioned the
Common Council to be formed into a Fire Company, and also have the Fire Engine
belonging to the city placed in their charge [a pumper had been obtained in
1858], Therefore
Resolved,
That the said Edward Johnson, John Campbell, James McHugh, and their
associates, be and they are hereby formed into a Fire Company, to be known at
No. 1, and that the engine belonging to the city be delivered to the said
Company. [Would become Pioneer Engine
Company No. 1] WD
09 15 Pioneer Engine Company No. 1: This is the name of the new Fire Company that
has recently been organized in this city, and has now possession of the Engine
[pumper]. The members are all active, strong,
healthy men, capable of rendering whatever services circumstances may demand .
. . Last Saturday evening the “machine” was brought out, and judging from the
admirable manner in which it was handled and worked, it can be relied upon if
an emergency should arise, when real duty will be required. We understand it is the intention of the
Company to attend the State Fair and compete with the second class machines of
this state. Whether the Pioneer gets the
prize or not, we are sure the “boys” will make a good show, and if they do not
win, will deserve success. WD
1860
01 12 Sanford fire; two stave
dry houses consumed WD
01 26 D. Kusel for stove pipe for Fire Engine Co., $3.04 WD
02 09 First Annual Ball of
Pioneer Engine Co. No. 1 WD
02 16 Western
Star Hotel destroyed by fire WD
04 12 Dept officers
chosen WD
05 17 Pioneer Engine house;
site selection WD
06 28 Exhibition for
July Fourth celebration WD
07 19 Annual election of Engine Company No.
1 WD
1868 Mayor’s Inaugural Speech: “Our Fire Department has been shamefully
neglected . . “ 05 07
1871 Glue factory [former Plank Road Brewery] burns to the
ground
Rising moon mistaken for fire, memory
of WG of 03 05 1909
Great
Peshtigo Fire: An Eyewitness Account
1872 Habhagger Brewery fire
1873 Parade
cancelled by tornado 07 04
1875 Bay State House fire
1876c Alarms sounded with stick and old tin pan
by Charley Huber Sr
1876 Phoenix Fire Co, No. 2. Organized 1876. 127 N Water St
Charles Kerr, charter member, fire engine
driver.
1877
Washington’s Birthday in 1877; second
appearance of Phoenix Co. clad in new uniforms; S. M. Eaton having the contract
for hauling the “Phoenix steamer,” and Mr. Mannegold of the east side had a
similar arrangement with the city for hauling the “Pioneer” to fires WG, 02 26 1909
Fierce fire broke out in a warehouse
at the C.&N.W.Ry. depot and spread rapidly WG, 02 26 1909
The officers and engineers of engine
companies in 1877 WG, 02 26 1909
1880 Fred Newmann
retirement (discharge certificate) from
fire department (WHS_005_480)
“ . he shall be hereafter, so long as he
shall reside in this City, exempt from Poll Tax and from Serving
on Juries and from
Military Duty, except in case of insurrection or invasion . “
Henry Bieber City Clerk
William H Rohr President, Watertown Fire
Dept
Carl Goeldner Treasurer, Watertown Fire
Dept
1887
06 23 Junction fire;
rail mill, machine shop, carpenter shop and blacksmith shop of the C. M. &
St. Paul RR WD
1888
07 20 John E. Weissert, 1847 – 1888; Department in funeral
procession for WG
1889
01 11 Charles
Hoeffner funeral; the Phoenix Fire Co turned out in uniform.
1895
09 11 Tremont
house fire, on West Main Street; one doubts that it was of incendiary
origin
1903
Christian
Becker is Secretary of the Fire Department and Treasurer of the Pioneer
Fire Company.
06 20 Ordinance, gunpowder, dynamite,
nitro glycerin . . .
1906 It is reported that at the time
of the fire at the residence of Robert Brennecke [813 Western Ave] a lady
living in the neighborhood discovering the fire by the reflection of the flames
through a window, telephoned to the central office asking that the fire
department be notified. She was told to
go to an alarm box and turn in an alarm which would have required several
minutes, even if she had known where the alarm box was located. If the report
is true, it is to be regretted, for every person in the city is anxious that an
alarm of fire should reach the department at the earliest possible moment, and
as the city has given the telephone company a valuable franchise and its
employees go upon the roofs of buildings at all times to string wires leaving
wire and nail holes in the roofs, it certainly would be but a simple matter of
courtesy to aid in the preservation of property from destruction by fire. The
writer does not wish to be captious nor critical in the matter and only refers
to it that the company in the future may cooperate with other citizens in
extending all possible aid in case of fire.
01 02
1906 Three weeks ago, the Republican in the issue following the
fire at the Brennecke residence contained a general criticism of the Telephone
Company for not turning in the alarm to the fire department telephone to the
central office. Immediately following the appearance of the article in the Republican, the Daily Times of January 6th contained the following
“explanation”: 01 27
An
erroneous impression has gone abroad regarding the turning in of a fire alarm
at the time of the Brennecke fire. The
telephone manager wishes it corrected.
He says that since the introduction of the fire alarm system the
telephone central has never been requested by the authorities to turn in fire
alarms as previously done. On the day in
question, however, one of the operators was called up and told to turn in an
alarm. The manager claims the girl tried
the west side house but got no response and she then notified the person
calling that it might be quicker to turn in the alarm from the box and not
wait. If this be true the published
statements regarding the affair are unjust to the operator. Hereafter when persons wish to send in an
alarm in case of fire and when the fire alarm box is not in the immediate vicinity
they may send the alarm by telephone to the central station, giving the
location of the fire and central will notify the fire department and both
houses simultaneously. This matter has
been arranged with the telephone management by Chief Clafer, who requested that
the public be notified through the press of the change.
1906 The Silsby fire engine which was
sent to Seneca Falls, N.Y. some time ago to be repaired arrived back Thursday,
and was tested Saturday by Chief Glaser and assistants and found to be all
right, and is hoped that its service will not be needed. 02 18
1906 A trial of old fire engine No. 1
was made yesterday afternoon, the scene being on the river bank back of the old
brewery. The trial was under the
direction of Otto Biefeld, former chief and was for the purpose of instructing
the new engineer of fire engines, August Schmidt with the duties of the
position to which he was recently elected by the council, which was formerly
held by Mr. Biefeld. Despite the fact
that the engine has been in service in Watertown for a period of thirty years
this summer, the former chief declares that it does just as good work as ever
and that during the trial yesterday, it threw a stream across the river. It is
said Mr. Schmidt takes hold of the work with much credit to himself. The first
engineer was Ferdinand Bursinger and the first chief William Schuette. 05 18
1906 F. Kahlpacker of Cincinnati,
Ohio, in the employ of the LaFrance Fire Engine Company, with headquarters at
Chicago, reached here yesterday morning and put a new pump on the fire engine
Phoenix No. 2, which was repaired by said company and received back about four
months ago. After the new pump was attached the engine was tested by the chief
and assistants and furnished the required quantity of water and it appeared to
be serviceable, throwing a strong, steady stream of water without the aid of
parts, with which it keeps the boilers supplied with water. Mr. Kahlpacker took
his departure last night, feeling quite confident that the engine would be
accepted by the city council at the regular meeting tonight. 06 22
1906 The final test of the Silsby
engine was made yesterday afternoon, perched on the river bank near the Cady Street bridge and subsequently on the Main
Street bridge. The first test was based with three lengths of hose and water
was thrown nearly if not quite across the river at that point. Afterward with the Siamese twin coupling,
water was sent across the river without any trouble. The engine was then taken
to the
1906 A 1906 Gamewell automatic
system, on display at the Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National
Firefighting Hall of Heroes, located in Phoenix, AZ, is believed to be that of
Watertown.
1907
10 20 Steam heating plant; Phoenix engine
house WL
11 02 Twenty crates of matches source of
fire WL
11 06 Proposed new building for storage of
city property including the No. 1 fire engine
WL
1908
04 22 No. 1 fire engine
was taken out of its storage and tested
05 20 Lehmann
& Schroeder fire
06 27 Wisconsin State Fireman's Assn, Lake
Mills
08 07 Beals & Torey false fire alarm. WG
08 07 Letter
of Nic Bruegger on his time with
H&L Co. WG
10 16 Gus Neitzel
recollection WG
11 27 Fire insurance
agents of city elect officers WG
12 11 Hook
and Ladder Co. No. 1 elected officers for the ensuing year: WG
12
18 Phoenix Fire Co. grand ball at Turner
opera house WG
1909
01 01 Anchor Volunteer Hose
Co. No. 1 elected for the ensuing year; Phoenix Fire Co. grand ball WG
01 08 Copeland-Roach Motor
Co purchased former fire engine house/emergency hospital WG
01 15 Officers elected WG
02 05 Winter storm shuts down fire alarm system WG
02 05 Reeseville nearly wiped out by fire;
Watertown Fire Dept arrives by train WG
02 26 Fire at L. H. Cordes’ home on Third
Street WG
03
05 Improvements at Water Works Plant;
pressure increased for fire fighting WG
03 19 Fire
Chief and officers elected WG
03 19 Hose team of c.1895
remembered WG
04 02 Clyman Fire Company
organized WG
04 30 Circus performance
to benefit volunteer firemen WG
05 14 Bids for hauling fire apparatus WG
05 29 Officers elected,
Phoenix
Hose Co No. 2
WG
06 04 Amoskeag fire engine owned by city of
Columbus, Dornfeld-Kunert secured contract for new boiler on WG
07 09 Elevator at Richwood destroyed WG
09 03 Names of Fire Companies: For the benefit of an inquiring subscriber in
Milwaukee we will state that the names of the Watertown Fire companies are:
Anchor Hook and Ladder
Co. No. 1.
Anchor Hose Co. No. 1.
Phoenix Fire Co. No.
2. WG
09 03 Overhauling Waterloo’s Silsby steamer WG
09 10 Alarm of fire test WG
10 01 Letter from Ernst Wood; Phoenix Fire Co
recollections WG
1910
01 07 You are invited to the
Phoenix Fire Co’s ball at Turner Opera House Saturday evening, Jan. 29, 1910. WG
01 14 Officers re-elected WG
03 11 Wisconsin House fire WG
03 11 Fire Dept elections, Glaser reelected
chief WG
04 05 Money receive from insurance companies WG
- Phoenix Co, 35 men; Anchor Hose Co,
34; Hook and Ladder Co, 33 men.
04 22 Robert Kerstell, Engineer Fire
Engine; Standing committee, William Schimmel, John Kehr,
Charles Kohn
04 29 Statement on condition of dept by Mayor
Grube WG
06 17 Brandt-Dent factory fire WG
07 08 Max Naatz
electrocuted, employed fixing fire alarm wires WG
08 12 Homecoming celebration, fire apparatus parade part of WG
08 19 Louis C. Ullrich [1850-1910],former member
of old Pioneer Fire Co. WG
1912
10 04 Charles
Straw, 1851-1912
1915
07 01 Barker Lumber Co. destroyed By Fire; “every fireman
from the chief down did heroic work” WG
1916
03 31 Captain Charles Otto,
chief 1886-1887, death of
1920 Junction House fire
1924
05 06 Benke
Bros greenhouses fire
WDT
1936
Feb Emil Luther funeral;
volunteer fire dept, tribute paid WDT
1940
02 19 Former Phoenix Engine House returned
to Christian
Becker estate WDT
1956
11 08 Emil Doerr, 1879-1956; City Hall flag
flown at half staff for Mr. Doerr; had been a member of the old Watertown
Volunteer Fire Department WDT
1957
07 11 Schnappsie, the dachshund mascot,
has a birthday WDT
07 23 Watertown's new
fire truck, a 7 1/2 ton American-LaFrance, arrived in Watertown yesterday
afternoon and was unloaded this morning at the freight yards of the Milwaukee
Road at the foot of South Fifth Street.
The new truck replaces the city's first motorized fire truck, a
Seagrave, which has been in use here 32 years.(*) The new truck was shipped from the
American-LaFrance Co. headquarters at Elmira N.Y. and arrived somewhat ahead of
schedule. It cost $18,448, based on the
bid specifications. WDT
(*) The city’s first motorized
fire truck was a 1917 Seagrave. The
second was obtained in 1928. Both were
in service into the 1940s, with the 1928 Seagrave in use until 1957. (p 198 of
fire history book)
12 31 Fire losses in 1957 WDT
1958
08
14 Fire protection of rural townships, first
steps toward new contracts WDT
09
02 New fire station proposed . . . again WDT
09 27 Safety conditions at City Hall; special
emphasis on the Fire Department's quarters
WDT
09 29 Christmas
toy project preparation WDT
09 30 Question of a future fire
station; City Council WDT
10 21 Schnappsie,
the dachshund mascot, banished from City Hall WDT
11 26 Family Welfare Assn, Fire Department
repairs and turns over toys for distribution
WDT
1959
12 07 Christmas toy project
WDT
1960
06 17 Watertown Civic Center, Fire Dept station would be
part of plan WDT
1964
11 26 Rank of lieutenant created WDT
1967
04 01 Patrick Theder joined
force. Filled vacancy by retirement of
Jerome (Whitey) Donahue. WDT
07 06 1982
Flood, Fire Department pumps water from basements and businesses [WHS_005_548] WDT
12
11 Fire truck gets a new engine and
transmission to “improve roadability and pumpability.” WDT
1983
02
05 Transfer trauma patients to Madison and
Milwaukee hospitals by EMS WDT
05
05 Riverview Commons apartment complex
to be rebuilt following fire WDT
12
13 Fire broke out at The Office tavern,
damage estimated at $100,000 WDT
1984
03
24 Watertown Outboarders Club
destroyed by fire early WDT
1985
02
03 Pumping capacity of city's wells
could be exhausted WDT
03
26 Duck rescued from river WDT
1986
Earl Nienow, firefighter for 29 years, retired in
1986 as lieutenant
1994
Chief
Ron Weavel Sr. resigned WDT
1996
02 10 Michael J. Knope,
1960-1996 WDT
1997
05 09 Proposal to fill area underneath floor to
increase load carrying capacity WDT
07 09 Expansion of
the Watertown fire station has been recommended by the public works committee
of the Watertown Common Council. The
committee endorsed the construction of a building addition, 28 feet by 60 feet,
in the south driveway of the fire station.
The addition will have room for storage of four of the department's
largest vehicles. Currently, the
department is unable to store its heaviest equipment in the fire station
because the floor's load capacity is inadequate. The floor, which is deteriorated, wasn't
designed to hold the larger fire vehicles being built these days. WDT
08 18 Lenius building fire WDT
1998
07 11 All fire hydrants
sandblasted and repainted WDT
08 13 Larry E. Sterwald,
1938-1998 WDT
09 30 Henry Butts started as
captain in the training division of the WFD
WDT
11 25 A railroad engine spilled more than
2,000 gallons of diesel fuel near a wetlands area WDT
1999
05 15 Largest volume of calls received since
first formed, Q1 1999 WDT
2000
01 27 Police dept space problem, municipal bldg
renovation, three police/fire precincts WDT
03 19 Fire Chief Richard Olson retires;
succeeded Ron Weavel as chief. Weavel held
the post from Dec 1985 to 1994 WDT
03 24 On-call
firefighters for staffing needs; reinstate inter-facility transport
program; Chief Olson WDT
06 29 Joel Edwards
retirement, began in the 1970s WDT
2001
09 11 9-11 image
2002
07 11 Lights
‘N Sirens event WDT, article & pics
2005 Tire
fire: Settlement up to
date on second anniversary of fire, WHS_005_550 July 19-24
2006 City reaches deal on fire contracts with
townships, Doc WHS_005_549
2007
03 21 Lights ‘n Sirens, plans for announced
07 27 Listing of all fire department personnel
08 07 Fire
at 116 W Main, above Rico’s Pizza
08 12 Book on
150-year history of the Watertown Fire Dept released.
09 08 Controlled
burn, training event
10 12 Keith
Knollenberg hired as full-time firefighter/paramedic
11 12 Watertown
Head Start visited to promote fire safety.
01 02 Perry Street
apartment building totally destroyed by fire by a mattress fire [WHS_005_555]
02 28 Brad Fox
joins dept as firefighter/paramedic
03 09 South
Tenth St home fire claims one
03 29 Vacant
home at 316
Summit Ave., owned by Mae Snell-Lynch Gloede, was declared a total loss. When firefighters arrived at the scene 75
percent of the home was engulfed in flames.
While battling the blaze, firefighters also had the task of keeping the
flames from spreading to an adjacent building and a number of cars parked near
the home. Twenty-three firefighters from
fire departments in Watertown and Ixonia battled blaze. No injuries reported. WDT story and photo
04 25 North Washington
St duplex fire caused by lightning
05 07 Mike
Meyers recognized by City Council for 40 years of service WDT,
includes pic
05 07 Watertown aerial ladder provided mutual
aid, Lake Mills apartment bldg WDT story
05 07 Fire in town
of Shields destroyed a two-story home and some records of the town
board. WDT
05 21 419 S. Washington St. resident
awoken and notified of blaze by his dog WDT
05 21 Mason Pugh
new firefighter/paramedic, replaces Ray Tessmann. WDT
07 07 Bottle
rocket likely cause of fire, 216 N Church [ former Kusel
Home ]. WDT
07 07 Lights ‘n Sirens safety fair held at Riverside Park. [no link] WDT
07 08 City teen, Ben Richter, killed by lightning WDT story Local teen killed by lightning
remembered WDT story
07 08 Permit
issued in June to install walls for lockers.
WDT
07 16 Department Commemorates 150 Years -
Elk’s Club gathering
07 21 Four-unit
apartment complex fire, 800
block Clark St; about $35,000 in damages
WDT
07 26 Husband,
wife injured in plane crash at Watertown airport; Plane tumbled into
hangar, then caught fire
00 08 Muscular
Dystrophy Assn collection by firefighters
08 18 Common Council resolution denying
request from firefighter looking for the city to pay a supplemental income WDT
08 20 Department opposes Heron
Landing subdivision due to length of response times WDT
09 02 Kraig Biefeld has been
promoted to assistant fire chief and director of EMS WDT
10 13 Fire damages detached garage
on Division St WDT
10 14 10-year-old helps family
avert tragedy, Cole St WDT
10 20 Villages of Lowell and Reeseville, EMS contracts for 2009. WDT
10 28 Fire Chief Butts talk about current role of
the fire department WDT
10 29 McDonald's is total loss after fire;
first use of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System WDT
11 13 Bill Adams hired by department WDT
11 14 Tanya Manke hired by department WDT
11 15 Rock River Pizza Co. and River City
Distributing Co.; a fund-raiser for the Watertown Fire Department WDT
12 18 Watertown Food Pantry donation; drive
sponsored by the Watertown Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 877 WDT
12 26 A garage in the Town of Watertown and
its contents were declared a total loss WDT
2009
02 06 Fire Department Auxiliary Schedule,
several firefighters exceeding 600 hours per year WDT
02 17 Fire Department rates for area towns set
by Common Council WDT
04 03 Lifestar Emergency Medical EMS considers
Watertown; EMS rates WDT
06 25 Lifepak 12 cardiac
defibrillator;
Review of paid-on-call firefighters to augment
fire services WDT
06 29 Earl Nienow, 1930-2009,
firefighter for 29 years, retired in 1986 as lieutenant WDT
07 08 Breast cancer awareness
and research, members be wearing pink T-shirts to support WDT
08 22 Combustible gas detector donated;
Chickens Unlimited WDT
09 15 Rich Nienow honored, 30 years as
auxiliary firefighter WDT
09 29 Fire Prevention
Week; open house; teaming with the Natl Fire Protection Assn; “Stay Fire Smart!
Don’t Get Burned” WDT
09 30 Fire Department visit to Public Library
at story time; Great Expectations Early Learning Center WDT
12 14 Rural fire rate hike on agenda WDT
2010
01 25 Ice training exercise, members of
department take part, on Rock River, near station WDT [pic]
02 03 Residents honored for rescues during May 2009
house fire, John Jeffery and Kyle West WDT [pic]
02 10 Town of Watertown residence declared a
total loss [$350,000, structure and contents] WDT [pics]
04 14 $1,000
donation from Golden Living for continued enhancement of services WDT [pic]
04 14 Fire
at 1307 South Third WDT
07 06 11th annual
Lights 'n Sirens event returns to Watertown July 8 at Riverside Park. WDT
Cross References:
Fuermann Brewery, Fire Dept occupies former site
of
