Details
Object ID 004879
Object Name Display-Fire Department and History
Object Desc Fire Department Display Cabinet See NOTES tab to view the document
Collection Museum Collection
Accession # 20140921.160605.00
Alternate ID
General Category Documents
Category Documents - General
Source Wheeling Historical Society
Source Category Society Property
Accession Date NOV 14,2018
Credit/Acknowledgement
Location M-DC-04
Object Date
Start Year Range 1896
End Year Range
Status In Collection
Object Keywords Fire Department,History,
Notes
Date NOV 22,2018
Notes Internal Use Only
Date NOV 22,2018
Notes WHEELING'S FIRE DEPARTMENT
According to research, the first move toward fire
protection was made on April 6, 1896. On that date, a
committee of three was appointed to investigate the subject
of fire protection and its estimated cost. With nothing
accomplished by June, another committee was selected to
investigate various chemical and other fire extinguishers and
report back to the Village Board. The committee consisted of
ir. Christ Metz, John Forke, and William Fassbender.
Following the recommendations of these men, the Board
ordered certain equipment and on September 11, 1896, it was
delivered at the Wisconsin Central Railway freight office.
The Fire Department was to be allowed the use of the Village
Hall for their meetings and a fire bell was purchased from
Fassbender and Arnold for $27.40.
The Constitution and By-laws of the Wheeling Fire
Department, as adopted on September 30, 1896, allowed for the
following fire bell signals: Regular or Special Meetings...
ringing of bell and three strikes of alarm hammer; Company's
practice... ringing of bell and five strikes of alarm hammer.
Fire alarm...continuous fast rapping of the bell, then signal
for the division of the Village.
The Divisions of the Village and signals were : From the
Southern line to crossing of Mr. E. Wagner's residence...
ringing of bell and one strike of alarm hammer; From center
of Village to corner of Dundee Road..ringing of bell and two
strikes of alarm hammer; From corner of Dundee Road to
Northern line...three strikes of alarm hammer; From corner of
Dundee Road west... four strikes of alarm hammer.
At the inception of, the Fire Department, most of the towns
prominent citizens participated as Volunters which was a
tradition for many years. The first officers of the Wheeling
Volunteer Fire Department consisted of the following; Mr.
Christ F