FireDept. Was Organized in August 1894
Rushville’sMost Disastrous Fire Was in Jan. 1924

The RushvilleTimes
October 7, 1948

In National Fire Preventionweek, and in connection with the old time stories being printed in thisCentennial Edition of The Times, it is appropriate to make mention of theorganization of the city’s volunteer fire department.

This department was organizedon August 21, 1884, with 20 members, and a picture, taken a few years later,showing the old horse-drawn house cart, is printed in this edition.

In the first organizationH. B. Roach was elected president, William Frizzell secretary, Thomas Nobletreasurer, and William Kistler foreman. Members were Arthur Parrott, GeorgeMead, John Branstool, James Denny, James Rippetoe, Edward Beatty, PulaskiDay, Harry N. Frizzell, Ralph B. Easley, Rollo Peters, John Dodge, HerbFoote, Otto Angell, Bert Dennis, and Asa Finch.

Soon after the organizationthe town board ordered 500 feet of three-inch hose and a hose cart. Onseveral occasions of practice drills, a stream of water was thrown to thetop of the court house, and with the full pump pressure on, the streamshot up above the clock in the tower, which was a convincing test thenthat Rushville had fire protection.

Built Waterworks In 1894

It was in that same yearof 1894 that the city’s first waterworks plant was completed and acceptedby members of the town board on August 14. A bond issue of $17,000 wasvoted and the present water tower was built at that time, along with apumping plant. This tank is 100 feet high and holds 115,000 gallons. Atotal of 18,328 feet of water mains were laid to complete the system.

Rushville has had severaldisastrous fires in its history, the worst of which was the night of January4, 1924, when several buildings on the north side of the square, includingthe Bank of Rushville, were destroyed by flames, and five persons werekilled. The five who lost their lives in this fire were John Stover, ElmoByrns, Raymond Briggs, Maurice McFeeters, and George T. Purcell.

A little more than a yearlater, on March 15, 1925, Rushville had another disastrous fire that wreckedthe George Little three-story building on the northwest corner of the square,along with two other adjoining buildings. Property lose was estimated at$140,000.

The largest recent fire wasin February, 1945, when the Hotel Schuyler building was burned with twoadjoining buildings, causing an estimated property loss of $125,000.

West Side Has Escaped

In earlier days there weredisastrous fires, one on the south side of the square in 1882, one on thenorth side in 1884, and one on the east die in 1892. Only the west sidehas escaped the ravages of fire.

Since the big fires in 1924and 1925 Rushville has greatly improved her fire-fighting equipment, whichincludes two modern pumpers, one of which is owned by the Rural Fire associationand which answers calls to the country for all members. The complete listof members of the present day fire department is given in an ad in thisissue of The Times, where several business houses are co-operating withannouncements in support of National Fire Prevention week.

Your Rushville Fire Department:

Wayne Rinehart, President
Vail Foster, Fire Chief
William Edwards, Secretary

John Keeney
Karl Strong
James Strong
Willard Greer
James Kelly
Kenneth Toland
A. E. Rebman
Glen Knous
Harold Beck
Fred Edwards
Roy Schieferdecker
Sterling Swearingen
 

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