Authoring, Researching, Reporting, and
Other Work
Charleston Fire Equipment 1917-1949
A Learning On-Line Resource Page by Howard Taylor
-The
REO
Speedwagon-
Acquired 1917--the first gasoline fired engine for Charleston,
Illinois
It was bound to happen! The horse wagon was mixing more &
more
with those newfangled model T's and other motor driven vehicles.
The
Interurban was moving all over Charleston on tracks laid into the brick
streets. The horses had a tough time retiring.
Stories
can be told of retired fire horses (turned into milk wagon
horses,
farm horses, etc.) responding to their familiar fire Gong in quick
style
and taking their "new load" to the fire were not fiction. Check
out
the books by Chief W. Fred Conway including Those
Magnificent Old Steam Engines for some really good
stories.
The last mention of the old Babcock horse driven (formally manually
pulled)
wagon was in the minutes of the CFD Volunteer Association, as to
selling
the wagon for a small amount of money ($15.00). The specialized
fire
section of the wagon was simply attached to the chassis of a ca.
1917
REO Speedwagon truck.
Here's specs for this
first motorized fire engine for CFD:
The REO Truck Company, Lansing Michigan, in
the
mid and later teens, produced a 1 ton truck with a 30 hp 4-cylynder
petrol
engine, 3 speed transmission and bevel drive. The transmission
was
chain driven, and the engine was hand cranked. These early
vehicles
were notorious for stalling and being cantankerous to start again.
The volunteers can travel in
style.
The REO had hard rubber wheels with perforations to allow for a
smoother
ride. The 50 gallon soda acid tank is under the seat.
Ladders
are now fastened to the sides to give the appearance of a modern
motorized
truck. Note the
Model T Ford in the background. The old "Gong" no doubt by now is
retired.
Note the modern chromed siren on the driver's side.
The new firehouse a few
years
after the acquisition of the REO. This photo was taken from the
tower
of the Coles County Courthouse. The time period must be the
thirties.
The small white building in the foreground is the "Snappy Service"
hamburger
stand. This web author ate many a sausage sandwich with chocolate
milk (in bottles) before going to school, and after spending time at
the
firehouse playing on the fire engines. The old REO kind of
disappeared
in history as did all CFD retired vehicles. Coming were true
booster
pumpers. CFD needed modernized.
1928,38
The Boyer Pumpers
The 1928 high pressure pumper
(Above) Fireman Mel Taylor a
the wheel Picture in the late 1940's
In 1928 and, then in
1938 the
City of Charleston would purchase booster pumpers from the
Universal
Fire Apparatus Corp., Logansport, Indiana. This company would
often
use chassis provided from the Available Truck Co. The engine on
top
is the '28 version being driven by Chief Taylor (ca. 1948). The
lower
truck was the '38 version. The manufactured name of these pumpers
was BOYER. I can remember when these trucks were the only fire
engines
for the City of Charleston. A big fire on the square in 1952,
would
prove that larger and better pumpers were needed. Fire Insurance
raters
would dictate the requirement, or citizen fire insurance rates would go
sky high.
A display of CFD
equipment
and volunteers in the late 1930's, including the Model A Chief'scar
Chief
Taylor recorded in the log book for 1948, after he was hired that he
had
taken the newer Boyer to Indiana to have it worked over. In the
background
is "Old Main" of EIU.
John Rardin, publisher
of
the Charleston Daily News
gave an account of the performance of the Boyers at the great Alexander
Department Store Fire of 1952:
"Fire Sidelights"
...Approximately 3,000,000 gallons of water was pumped
from Charleston's two trucks during the Alexander store fire Wednesday
night...
One of the pumpers, a 1928 model, pumped nearly 160,000 gallons in
about
eight hours, according to firemen's estimates ... The other truck of
1938 vintage, pumped nearly 140,000 gallons... The pumping motors of
the two
trucks ran the equivalent of 255 miles, and the motors were running at
high
speeds... mileage on the older truck Wednesday night amounted to 103
miles,
and the motor never missed a beat... Firemen are still praising
volunteer
firefighters and the men who carried gasoline to the pumpers, and to
the
ladies who again and again brought coffee and sandwiches to the men...
A nice view of the
inside of
the small 500 Jackson St. Firehouse. At the left in a civilian
shirt,
but new fireman's hat is rookie Melvin Taylor. The Boyer on the
left
is the '28, the one on the right is the '38. The pipes on the
ceiling
are for filling the booster tanks. A hose rack was on the rear
left
wall. In front of the men and to their left would be the brass
pole
and the "Gong" now electrified to announce alarms. The CFD was
also
dispatcher for CPD (the only City Phone for emergencies for
Charleston).
Up until the 50's firemen would ring the big Alarm Bell for
curfew.
In the 50's, or earlier, a house siren was installed. Chief
Taylor
related that he never like the brass pole. It made his legs
sore.
These firemen, and many more into the 60's would be smoke eaters.
They also would work 24 hour (every other day) shifts. In the
60's
a "Kelly Day" would be allowed once a month to allow the men to leave
town.
All this for $200+ a month. No wonder my mom always worked.
Transition to
the
Modern Days
Charleston suffered a terrible fire in
1951. After seeing the small 4-man and two-truck department, with
help of volunteers attempt to fight the great fire, the City government
decided to purchase
a new Quad-- combination pumper and ladder carrier. The Illinois
Insurance inspection team had a bit to do with Charleston's decision to
enlarge.
Until the late 1950's, the CFD would have to call on nearbye
Mattoon and other communities for mutual aid at any big fires.
I personally can remember riding on the back and in the
front
seat of the old '38 Boyer. I always thought these trucks were the
biggest and best. I was only 12 years old, though.
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"When the Gong Rings"
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