When the Gong Rings A Fire History of Charleston, Illinois Compiled by Howard Taylor

CHIEF OLLIE SPROUT GIVES REPORT, 1925
A History On-Line Page by Howard Taylor

ACTIVITIES OF 1925 (As reported in the  Charleston Courier)
    The Charleston Fire Department, under the leadership of Ollie Sprout, John Rauch, Earl Lang, and Bro. Thomson saw a tremendous amount of action. This was the period of its history in which the only truck it had was the old REO Speedwagon. Old Courier clippings tell of a two year period in which the chief in 1925, made a visit to the Jefferson School building at 9:00 AM to sound the school's alarm for a drill. The school was a combination grade school and high school. Some 100 of the 300 students were "tiny tots". The children did perfectly in coming down the sometimes 30 steps to rapidly and precisely exit the school grounds in short time. The entire building of students and teachers were emptied in one minute. The article praises the teachers ". . .for their most excellent drill and for the fine handling of the situation which to them was a real fire alarm."

CHIEF OLLIE SPROUT CONDUCTS INSPECTIONS
    (October, 1925) Ollie F. Sprout, chief of the fire department, finished several days of inspecting and examining the basements and flues as well as the electrical wiring of the various business houses on and near the public square. Mr. Sprout found that basements were well cared for and that the flues were being taken care of in splendid style. The city of Charleston has always borne the reputation of being well preserved against fire hazards as compared with other cities its size or larger.