When the Gong Rings
 A Fire History of Charleston, Illinois
Compiled by Howard Taylor
Click Additional Pages to get photos or Details of Events
FIRE LOG 1950-1951      Return to 1949

1950

January 25, 1950- 6:00 AM., H.W, Lanman residential fire; sofa & living room, $1,000 damage; all were asleep upstairs, but got out OK

February 27— Saturday night. Fireman saved life: daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Walden (2 years old); •was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning; "2" other small fire calls the same night

November   9—  The   Fire/   Police   Pension   Fund established

October 30- 3:00, Sunday, Riley Coleman residence (trailer/wood frame home) W. Polk, completely destroyed

November 20- Monday, 2:00 P.M., Ezra Mock residential fire, 319 Madison; old floor furnace exploded and caught the home afire; fireman had to crawl under the house to get to the fire.

December 15- Friday, 1:00 PM. Coles-Cumberland Service Co,, W. of Coles County Fairgrounds; problem with lack of water (too far from city to connect with hydrant); water was hauled to booster pump; Mattoon Fire Department helped haul water; 100 tons of fertilizer was destroyed.

December 27- Wednesday, 9:30 A.M; Emery Ferguson Farm (residence); 5 mi. E. of Charleston; sparks from a fire being used to thaw cistern pipes ignited weatherboarding; house destroyed, some furniture & clothing was saved

 
1951

January 22, 1951- Fireman Edgar Wilson dies

January 28- Melvin Taylor reappointed to fire department

March 5— 8:00 P.M.; Mike Decker residential fire at 790 H. St.—gas furnace exploded; smoke damage; Later Sunday night the resusitator was taken to the home of Hugh Johnson at 835 7th St.; Early Monday A.M., fire at 211 W. Harrison, the Jasper Broofcins residence; flames probably started by defective wiring in the bathroom quickly spread throughout most of the inside: suffered smoke, fire and water damage; some furniture was saved.

April 23- Sunday, 1:15 A.M., the Piggly Wiggly was destroyed by fire;fireman Mel Taylor fell through floor and had to be pulled out

May 18— Charleston house fire siren fails test to serve as civil defense bomb-warning siren

June 28- Eves Quinn resigns from the fire department June 29- John Butler appointed as fireman

December 12- Major newspaper headline: Fire Insurance Rates to be Increased!

December 16- Sunday, 2:45 A.M.-  Pilgrim Holiness Church at 4th and Monroe burns; firemen suffer in below zero temperatures.


1959 Charleston Fire Crew including from left:  Melvin Taylor, John Butler and Buck Fleming.  These three men were responsible for the protection of all of Charleston, the rural area, as well as Eastern Illinois University.  In the background you can see the "Gong" and the brass pole to allow quick drops from the upper floor.   They were "smoke eaters" of the pre- Scott Air Pak Days.

1950-1951 Page Index:
Page Two    Page Three    Page Four

Return to My "When the Gong Rings" Home Page