A History of the Charleston, Illinois Fire Department

When the Gong Rings
A Learning On-Line Resource Page by Howard Taylor

A Story of the Charleston Fire Department ca. 1875-1985
from the Historical Files of Chief Melvin H. Taylor

 
Original Book By: Howard B. Taylor, 1994
Web Page Authored, June of 1998 by Howard Taylor
Updated with additional Yearly Fire Logs in 2004
This web site is dedicated to "The Gong" which was used on the front of the 1870's Babcock Fire Wagon and warned many a pedestrian to watch out.  The fire wagon was being pulled by a crew of dedicated volunteers, or later would be electrified to wake the professionals to an impending alarm.  The old gong now rests quietly in the officer's office at the 10th & Madison Firehouse in Charleston, Illinois.
 The Story Begins
    Charleston is a city of 20,000 in Central Illinois.  Since the 1890's the city has served as home for Eastern Illinois University.  The Fire Department at Charleston has a long history.  My father, Chief Taylor, served for them since the inception of the first professional "Civil Service" department of 1949.  He retired in 1985 and died in 1990.   During his career as firefighter, captain, assistant chief and chief, the chief collected historical items including news clippings, pictures, memorabilia, and  carefully sealed all in envelopes.  After his death of a "big" heart attack in April of 1990, I opened each and discovered an orderly history of the department since 1875.  What especially interested me was the references and pictures of the fire horses and the Babcock hook and ladder.  The horses names were Tom and Alex, according to a 1940's Charleston Daily News report by reporter Lee Lynch.
    I would like to share some of the pictures and a few of the stories of the history of this small town fire department.  Many "great fires" occurred in Charleston, but the interesting stories are in the daily activities and personalities within the firehouses.

 
Fireman Mel Taylor pictured above engineering the '38 Boyer at a fire scene. He was a . member of the Charleston Fire Department from 1948 until 1985, and would serve as Fireman, Captain, Assistant Chief and Chief.  
This website is the result of the book "When the Gong Rings" history book by Howard Taylor
Check out the following links within my site Including photos, stories and
Learning Activities from the old & recent days


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