Colton Fire Department History

In the Spring of 1890, a group of community-minded citizens agreed that there was a need for a fire company in the village of Colton. Up until this time all fires were fought with the Old Bucket Brigade. This resulted in several costly fires which proved this method to be lacking in efficiency.

On April 23, 1890, Supervisor M. B. Hawley purchased from C.M. Peck, Village Treasurer of Potsdam, a used hand pumper which had been replaced by a steam fire engine. This old hand pumper cost $300.00 and paid for itself many times in property saved. L. Hepburn remembers some of its mechanical details. The wood steel shod wheels supported a box-like body in which was mounted two plunger type-single acting pumps with air chambers end connections for suction and pressure hoses. There was a walking beam structure to which were attached two long hand rails. To operate the engine, eight to ten men stood on a side and worked these hand rails up and down. The man-power thus applied through connecting rods to the pump plungers. When this was vigorously operated, a powerful stream was projected from the 2 ½-inch hand nozzle.

At this time, 600 feet of 2 ½-inch single jacket, brass pin mineralized hose was purchased from William Eacutt. Also 100 feet of 2 5/8 single jacket hose was purchased by a committee composed of J. T. Smith, H. Manson, and Herb Russell. The latter size did not fit the 2 ½-inch and was of little use.

On November 22, 1894 the Colton Board of Supervisors established our first fire district, to which was added many years later in February 1938 a Fire Protection District, with a radius of two miles in Colton township or to the north and west town lines.

On January 22, 1901 Fire Commissioner Hector Manson called a meeting M. B. Hawley, Chairman; P. E. Beswick, Secretary, A. E. Farmer and J. T. Smith, Tellers, at which a resolution was passed to appropriate $500.00 to purchase the Henry Dun lot, and the Carding Mill from Orson Harvy. A foundation was built on the lot whereupon the building was moved, repaired and equipped for use as an Engine House. The building is located at 15A Gustin Square. At this same meeting plans were made for the construction of two water tanks, one near M. B. Hawley's and the other at the Stewart Corner. There were four more built at a later date near the Chevron Station, B. Howe and Steben Hurley's and Bert Farmer's. All are still in use.

At a meeting held at the Engine House on January 5, 1915, Chairman George E. Libby appointed a committee, composed of E. E. Bancroft, L. W. Remington and John Dailey to draft by-laws. Also, Eugene Moore was elected Chief, Michael Hayes, First Assistant, L. W. Remington, Second Assistant, Hal Schwartz, 3rd Assistant, George Libby, Treasurer and A. E. Farmer, Secretary. This was our first Fire Company and boasted twelve members.

It was during the winter of 1900 that L. Hepburn can remember that fire was discovered in the Empire Exchange Hotel. “The Hotel, a large three story wooden structure, stood on the site of the present Hepburn Library and together with its barns covered the entire area which is now the library lawn. As the flames rapidly gained headway that night, everyone realized that the entire business section of the village was in grave danger. The hand pumper was drawn to the river and placed on the ice, just above the bridge, where water was obtained through a hole in the ice. Hose was laid to the Hotel and the battle was on. While relays of men kept the pumper rocking on its wheels, nozzle men shifted their single stream from one danger point to another, with such good results that all buildings of any considerable value on all four sides of the fire were saved; although some were badly damaged. A bucket brigade consisting largely of youngsters and women, extended from the well at the rear of the former McEwen Store, up the back stairs of these buildings to the roof and played an important part in saving these buildings from destruction. Words of mine cannot properly describe the battle waged that night by the people of Colton” L. Hepburn.

On December 14, 1904, a pulp mill burned; Dan Sullivan was burned to death and Julius Gardner badly burned. Whenever a fire broke out, the alarm was sounded by rapidly tolling the Zion Church bell. Men ran to the Engine House and hauled the engine and two wheel horse cart to the scene of the fire. Lionel remembers “One cold winter day in 1905 or 1910 that a serious fire threatened the village of Parishville which did not have a fire company at that time. The old outfit was loaded upon heavy sleds and drawn over the snow covered roads to that village. Teams of horses were used in relays over the nine or ten mile trip. Good time was made as the teams were driven at top speed. Several school boys, including myself, made the trip and remember well of frost bite suffered as the zero air whistled about us. The horses however, had no trouble in that respect." The middle of the village of Parishville burned.

In the years between 1901 and 1920 there was talk of buying a fire engine. There were new water tanks built in Colton during this time and others repaired. Little equipment was added to the Engine Company during these years.

On January 1, 1925 a committee was appointed to obtain prices and specifications on a motor driven fire engine. About one year later, on January 6, 1925, at the Annual Fire Districts meeting a vote of 23 for and none against for the purpose of raising $ 4,000 to purchase a fire engine and hose and repairs to the engine house. The committee elected to purchase this equipment were as follows: Richard Brown, W. W. Hawley, Ernest Bancroft, Cassius Paneter and Michael Hayes. After due consideration this committee purchased a Stewart truck with a Hale pump complete from the O'Benchain Boyer Co. of Logansport, Indiana, J. Horner Agent. A loan was obtained at the Citizens National Bank and the seller was paid in full on date of delivery, July 14, 1925. At this time 1,000 feet of 2 ½-inch D. J. fire hose was purchased at a cost of $1,150.00 which was paid for in full by January 24, 1927.

On July 31, 1925, pursuant to a call by the fire commissioners of the fire district of the Village of Colton for the Organization of a Volunteer Fire Company. Chosen to preside at this meeting were Harold Smith, Chairman, H. H. Reed, Secretary, J. T. Smith and James Sullivan, Tellers. Twenty-two persons enrolled as Volunteer Firemen as follows: Homer Barclay, Alex McEwen, Morris McEwen, John Daily, John Thomas, Lucian Remington, Otis Schofield, Hollis Schwarz , Albert Farmer, Neal Farmer, Homer Reed, James Sullivan, H. H. Reed, Jason Fisk, Erwin Stowe, J. T. Smith, Peter Foster, William Clark, Harold Smith, A. W. Hawley, R. Harold Swchwartz and Archie Collins. Elected as Chief was William Clark, Alex McEwen, 1st Assistant, Homer Barclay, 2nd Assistant, John Daily, Secretary, John Thomas, Treasurer, Wardens - John Daily, Hollis Schwartz and John Thomas. The Chief and his 1st and 2nd Assistants were designated as a committee to draft the by-laws.

October 31, 1925, the first money raised by this Department. was by a dance, which netted $5.30. On March 3, 1926, elected were Chief William Clark, Floyd Enslow, 1st Assistant, James Sullivan, 2nd Assistant, John Daily, Secretary and John Thomas Treasurer.

During 1926, $61.51 was turned into the new Department from the old Company for the purchase of fire coats. These first rubber coats were purchased on March 1927.

The first dues paid to the Northern New York Volunteer Fireman’s Association were in 1932.
On October 11, 1932 the commissioners voted to pay Mr. Brown $160.00 to rebuild a Dodge car into a truck, to carry the extra ladder and equipment of the department. This turned out to be too small and was sold in 1935.

In April of 1936 an agreement was entered into with the Town of Colton for outside fire protection. It was agreed that the Fire Commission would purchase a truck to cover the property outside the fire district. June 22, 1936, Fire Commissioners A. W. Hawley, Roy Gotham, Erwin Garlough, Alex McEwen and A. E. Farmer agreed to purchase from the Sanford Motor Fire Equipment Co. a Dodge truck 1 ½ ton 400 gallon triple combination pumping engine for the sum of $2,900.00. This was delivered on September 18, 1936. When the above truck was purchased it was found that the fire company was outgrowing its present quarters in the old Carding Mill, and the Barclay building or Libby Store on the island was purchased from A. E. Farmer for $550. This building was located across from the Colton Hotel. The old fire house was sold to A. E. Farmer for $200.00 leaving a balance of $350 for the new building. An addition was later constructed to hold all the equipment.

In April of 1938 the members of the Volunteer Fire Dept. purchased a 1929 'Packard 8 touring car which was rebuilt as a squad car. This was taken to the parades and fires and served as an auxiliary transportation. In the Field Day event of 1938 the Fire Company made a profit of $206.14, held on the Catholic Church Field on the Wildwood Road. J. Hawley, Chief.

In May of 1939 the Department put on a Memorial Day program under Chief R. Ames and netted a profit of $77.05. Another Gala Day of Sports was held in July which brought in $15.90 was turned into the St. Patrick’s Church for use of the Field.

In September 1940, the board of Fire Commissioners raised $1,000 to build an addition onto the Engine House. New doors were put on and the western wing of the building was then used as an office and meeting room. In 1940 under Chief M. McEwen a Decoration Day Program was put on which netted the Company $79.99.

On December 21, 1941 need for an enclosed cab fire engine with booster equipment for out or town fire protection, influenced commissioners, J. E. Jenner, William Sandford, A. W. Hawley, Homer Reed and A. E. Farmer to purchase from Levi Rogers Agent for Sanford Fire Engine Co., a GMC truck with full equipment at a cost of $4,350.00. The old Stewart engine was traded in for $700.00. The GMC was delivered on April 15, 1942. The first fire this engine attended was at the Langdell place on High Flats with good results.

In Oct. of 1942 the fire district entered into a contract with the Town of Colton for outside fire protection at a cost of $500.00 per year. In March of 1942 The Colton Vol. Fire Dept. purchased its first Defense Bonds. We were starting into our war years with the membership starting to decline as the members went into the service. The first bonds were five $100 Defense bonds. Two meetings later $400 more worth of bonds were purchased. From here on through the war years, most of the money that was raised by this Department was put into war bonds or given to the Red Cross. It was not until November of 1948 that the Department started buying new equipment. Then a Stevenson Resuscitator was purchased. The need for this piece of equipment had arisen at fires and drownings in the area.

On April 15, 1943 the old Colton High School burned.

In 1949 Mrs. Jane Jenner donated to the Department a new set of Syracuse Pottery China sufficient to serve 216 people. This was for the exclusive use of the Department only by her wishes and not to be loaned. The members were trying to purchase from the Theron Hewitt family the present fireman’s field. Work had already been done on this field as to clearing of trees and fixing of a baseball diamond.

In March of 1950 under Chief H. Reed the first uniforms were purchased for the members for a price of $667.65. The Fire Department helped by giving $300.00. Uniforms composed of trousers, cap and shirts. On September 1, 1950 one of the First members of this Dept. A. E. Farmer died. He served as Secretary of the Dept. and of the Fire Commissioners.

In October of 1952 the present fireman’s field was purchased from the Hewitt family for a sum of $1,000.00. At this time there were no permanent buildings. A few days before Labor Day the men would put tarps over frame structures and after the days celebration all this would be taken down again.

On March 4, 1953 the members seeing a need for a newer tanker truck proceeded to buy one for $2,500.00. The fire district then purchased this from the Dept. on a yearly basis so that they could stay within their yearly budget.

At the annual election of officers in 1953 John Potter and L. Hepburn asked to go on the exempt list. Lionel had been Secretary for this dept. from 1946 to 1953, a total of seven years service. Also in 1953, we received our first ambulance from the Buck funeral home. This was to be used within the fire District and no fees to be charged for its use.

In 1954 it was talked of having another fire Company in South Colton and a new fire house in each community. This was worked upon by the Fire District Commissioners as to the size and locations of the two buildings. The Department then decided to put up a permanent dining hall on its field and appropriated $500.00 to start work on it.

In April of 1957 the commissioners purchased the 1956 Ford pumper with a Darly 500 GPM pump on it.

In 1956 the Colton Fire District was enlarged to include all the township of Colton, north of the so called blue line, near the Cold Brook school house on Route 56 to the Town line below the Village of Colton. A referendum was held and carried to allow the Board of Fire Commissioners to spend $45,000 to build two new fire stations, one in Colton and one in South Colton. Also, to expend $15,000 for new equipment (trucks). The buildings were contracted out to Fisher & Rexford and the trucks to Blitz Buggy Co., Old Forge, New York, for a pumper and tanker. The buildings were completed in 1957 and the two trucks delivered. The new 1956 tanker and the old 1942 GMC pumper were housed in the Company #2 station at South Colton. The Town of Colton spent $5000.00 for new equipment; raincoats, boots, portable pump, 1200 feet of 2 ½-inch hose, 800 feet of 1 ½-inch hose, water thief and nozzles of both sizes.

Company #2 was formed with an active membership of 25 men with the same by-laws as Company #1. Both Companies joined together to put on the annual Field Day. In May of 1957 the first official meeting was held in the new fire station under Chief M. Clohosey. At this meeting new uniforms were ordered for 31 members and delivered to the Department in June for the price of $1,922.00.

In 1963 Company #1 purchased a 1960 Cadillac ambulance from the Barnes Hearse and Ambulance Service, Inc. at a cost of $5,000. In order to protect the Department and members from a malpractice suit, a Red Cross First Aid Course was set up and attended and completed by 20 members from Companies #1 and #2. Refresher courses have been held in recent years to keep the men up on new procedures and practices.

In 1965 Company #2 purchased a Cadillac ambulance for their Department to replace their old one. Company #1 agreed to loan Company #2 what money they needed to purchase this ambulance at no interest until they could repay.

In 1965-66 there was much work done on the building and grounds on the fireman’s field; a new fence around the horse show rink, floors in Refreshment stands 1 and 2. In 1967 we built a new addition onto the dining hall. The Fire Commissioners agreed to put up a concrete block building to be used as a storage building. New dining hall tables and a children’s car ride were built by H. Stowe, Sr.

In 1966 it was decided that our old ambulance was in bad shape and the membership voted to buy a new one. The search for one continues into 1967 and was finally decided to buy the International ambulance for a sum of $8,085.70. Delivery was accepted in September. The old ambulance was put up for bids, but was not sold.

In 1968, Companies 1 and 2 entered into an ambulance service contract with the Town of Colton for $1,000. The Town officials realizing that both villages were in need of this service and that the equipment to provide it was very costly. At the present time both Companies have over $16,000 invested in equipment to provide this service and 40 trained men.

In 1966 we started the 4-H Fire prevention and control courses for the younger children in the two towns. If the number of house fires can be any judge of the program, it must be a success, for house fires have dropped in the past three years.
The old ambulance is now being fixed up, so that it can be put back into service.

Company # 1 is the sponsor and financial backer of the Colton girl scouts. Each year Company # 1 puts on a Christmas party for the children and Company #2 puts on the Halloween party. Both companies send a boy to the Conservation Camp each summer.

So much now for what this Department has done and was in the past. The Colton Volunteer Fire Department Companies #1 and #2 are composed of 75 active members, 8 pieces of equipment; two pumpers, two tankers, three ambulances.