U - Newton Free Library

• I 

( 

I §

NEWTON FREE .LIBRARY 

1 

3 1323 00537 380 / 

\ 

- r_ r - 

-ft'. 

•m 

A. 

> 

H 

t>//3// 

3-7

»' 

J- 

* 

J! 

J 

WALTER B. RANDLETT, 

CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT.

H ISTORY 

I IHI 

FIRE DEPARTMENT 

»l 

N K\YT< >N, MASS. 

COMA: 

NC 

\ ( ( >MPLI -TE RECORD OF FACTS AM) EVENTS PI RTAINING 

TO THE FIR1 SERVICE FROM THE SI I II EM! NT 

OF THE TOWN TO THE PR1 :SIAII ' TIME. 

• I »MPILED m 

H. H. EAS7ERBROOK. 

PUBLISHED BY THE 

NEWTON VETERAN FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 

1897.

E l' I- 

C ; \ 

n 

PRESS. 

B€)^fON. 

* * 

* « * 

e * • • 

6 * * 

• * • » » * r 

« c * • 

O « 

r • \ 

' » 

« » 

• r 

TO THE 

.\U-A\< )\

INTRODUCTORY. 

THE Newton Veteran Firemen's Association, 

realizing that there was a wealth of material 

of absorbing interest in a record of Newton 

fire annals, and desiring to preserve the same in 

substantial form, have prepared this volume as 

a History of the Newton Fire Department. 

Careful research has been made among all the 

old records, for the purpose of getting together 

everything bearing on the subject, and thereby 

making the history complete from the settlement 

of the town to the present day. 

Many 

incidents of personal recollection have been preserved 

and utilized, and the committee having 

its preparation in charge is confident that the 

book contains as faithful a record of everything 

pertaining to the fire department as is possible 

to make. 

Much more valuable material has been discovered 

than at first was thought possible to obtain, 

and in consequence the book has been made as 

concise as was deemed consistent with a faithful 

record of events. 

This volume is therefore presented with the

6 INTRODUCTORY. 

hope and belief that it may not only be found 

interesting to all the older residents of Newton, 

but that it will serve as a medium for preserving 

many facts and incidents that time would 

surely obliterate. 

The Association desires to thank all who have 

manifested an interest in the publication of the 

book, without whose assistance it might never 

have been issued. 

June, 185)7.

CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

HISTORICAL SKETCH 13 

ORGANIZATION 20 

THE OLD COMPANIES,— 

Cataract No. 1 70 

Washington No. 2 87 

Triton No. 3 97 

Mechanic No. 4 110 

Nonantum No. 5 124 

Empire No. 5 142 

Eagle No. 6 14(5 

William Clafiin Chemical No. 1 159 

Monitor Chemical No. 2 160 

Other Companies 1(54 

PRESENT DEPARTMENT,— 

Engine No. 1. 1(5(5 

Engine No. 2 174 

Engine No. 3 180 

Hose No. 4 184 


Hose No. 6. 190 



Truck No. 1 198 

Truck No. 2 203 

FIRES 207 

MISCELLANEOUS, 

Fire-Alarm Telegraph 220 

Firemen's Relief Association 223 

Henry L. Bixby 224 

Hand-Engine Contests 226 

Earliest Record 230 

NEWTON VETERAN ASSOCIATION 232

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

WALTER B. RANDLETT 

Frontispiece 

F. H. HUMPHREY Page 27 

HENRY L. BIXBY 55 

CHIEF ENGINEERS 68,69 

CATARACT NO. 1 83 

ENGTNE NO. 2 HOUSE 91 

TRITON NO. 3 HOUSE 104 

MECHANIC NO. 4 117 

NONANTUM No. 5 131 

EAGLE NO. 6 153 

NONANTUM NO. 1, 1872 169 

ENGINE NO. 1 172 

NEWTON NO. 2, 1873 175 


WILLIAM BEMIS 181 


HOSE No. 4 185 

HOSE NO. 5 188 




TRUCK NO. 1 201 

TRUCK NO. 2 204 

PERMANENT RELIEF MEN 206 

G. W. ULMER 222 

VETERAN ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS 233 

VETERAN ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 230 

VETERAN ASSOCIATION ENGINE OFFICERS 237 

VETERAN ASSOCIATION BANNER 239 

H, H. E ASTERBROO K 240

HISTORY 

OF THF 

FIRE 

DEPARTMENT 

( >F 

N EW'TON, \ I ASS.

HISTORICAL SKETCH 

f INETEEN years after the Pilgrim Fathers 

landed at Plymouth (1620), and 

nine years after Boston was settled 

(1630) by Governor John Winthrop 

and colony, Deacou John Jackson came from 

London and purchased of Miles Ivers, of Watertown, 

a house and eighteen acres of land on 

Brighton Hill, and in 1639 became the first permanent 

white settler of what is now the city of 

Newton. 

Prior to his coming, some half a do/en houses 

had been erected in that vicinity, including the 

one he purchased; but if they ever had tenants 

they were only temporary, and had gone when 

he arrived. 

His house was located on the southwest 

corner of Washington Street and Waverly 

Avenue. 

He died January 30, 1675, at the advanced 

age of 75, leaving five sons and about 

fifty grandchildren. 

Samuel Holly owned a dwelling and lot of land 

close by Deacon Jackson's in 1639, and it is 

probable that he was a resident there at one 

time. 

He is recorded as a citizen of Cambridge,

14 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

of which Newton was then a part, as early as 

1636. 

The second permanent settler w r as Deacon 

Samuel Hyde, who also came from London, and 

in 1640 settled on what has ever since been the 

Hyde estate, at Centre Street and Hyde Avenue. 

Edward Jackson, a younger brother of the 

first settler, was the third to permanently locate 

here. 

He came in 10-13, and located near or on 

the present Jackson estate, on Washington near 

Adams Street. 

John Fuller came next, in 1644, and located 

,near Crafts Street, on what has ever since been 

• 

known as the Fuller homestead. 

In 1647 Jonathan, a brother of Deacon Samuel 

Hyde, located on Homer Street, Newton Centre, 

and Richard Park on the Seth Bemis estate, near 

the bridge, at Nonantum. 

In 164-9 Captain Thomas Prentice located on 

the present Harbach estate, at Waverly Avenue 

and Ward Street. 

Six new settlers came in 

1650, — John Ward, John Hammond, John 

Parker, Vincent Druce, and John and Thomas 

Prentice, 2d, —all of whom located at Chestnut 

Hill. 

Thomas Wiswall located on the Luther Paul 

estate at Newton Centre, in 1654 ; John Kendrick, 

on Nehoiden Street, near Kendrick Bridge, 

Oak Hill, in 1058 ; Isaac Williams, at West Newton, 

in 1601; Abraham Williams, near Water-

HISTORICAL SKETCH. 15 

town bridge, in 1662; James Trowbridge, near 

Rnllonghs Pond, John Spring, and John Eliot, 

Jr., son of the Indian apostle, near the old cemetery 

in Centre Street, in 1664; and from that 

time on a number came nearly every year. 

When the town was incorporated in 1688, the 

number was fifty-three, which had increased to 

seventy-one in 1700, sixty-one years after the 

town was settled. 

Many of the descendants of 

the first settlers now reside here, some of them 

occupying the original homestead sites. 

Newton was originally a part of Cambridge, 

which was settled near Harvard College, December 

28, 1630, and known as Newtown. 

In 

L636-37 the General Court established Harvard 

College, and in 1038 John Harvard added eight 

hundred dollars to the amount appropriated, and 

the college was then named in his honor. 

The 

same year the General Court changed the name 

of the town from Newtown to Cambridge, in 

compliment to the college town of Cambridge 

in England. 

That portion of Cambridge which is now Newton 

was first known as "South Side of Charles 

River," "South Side," "Nonantum," "Cambridge 

Village," and "New T Cambridge." 

January 11, 1688, Newton was incorporated a 

town, called New Cambridge, which in December, 

1691, was changed to Newtown, which it 

retained until March 3, 1766, a period of seventy-

16 - HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

five years, when the town


Waban Hills, 

the Ponkapog tribe, of which Nahaton was sagamore, 

at the Upper Falls, on the banks of Charles 

River, or Quinobequin, its Indian name, which 

signified "crooked river." 

It was at Waban's wigwam, near where the 

Eliot memorial monument now is, that Rev. 

John Eliot, the famous apostle, commenced his 

successful work of christianizing the Indians, 

October 28, 1646. 

In 1651 this tribe, with other 

converts to the Christian religion, located at 

South Natick, where Eliot's labors were continued 

for many years. 

For two hundred years, until the advent of 

the Boston and Worcester railroad in 1831, the 

town was largely devoted to agriculture. 

The 

coming of the railroad — the first in New England— 

rapidly changed the northern portion 

through which it ran from a farming to a residential 

community, many of Boston's business 

men coming here and establishing homes. There 

were then three stations, Angier's Corner, now 

Newton, Hull's Crossing, now Newtonville, and 

Squash End, now West Newton. 

Newtonville 

and Auburndale owe their existence and growth 

to the railroad. 

Upper and Lower Falls were always manufacturing 

villages. 

In 10

18 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

saw-mill, and continuously ever since a manufacturing 

plant has existed on that spot. 

For 

many years prior to a half-century or more ago. 

this was the largest village in Newton, and it 

controlled the affairs of the town. 

John Huhhard of Roxbury established tinfirst 

industry at the Lower Falls—iron-works— 

in 1704. 

Up to 1820 the only post-office in the 

town was located in this village, and here in 

1812 was organized its first fire company. 

The Charles River railroad, now the Boston 

and Alhany and New England, from Brookline 

to Upper Falls, was built in 1852. 

Unlike most other cities, Newton is made up 

of a dozen villages, circuitously located from one 

mile to two miles apart. 

First on the north side 

next to Boston comes Newton proper, the largest 

and oldest of them all. It was originally known 

as Bacon's Corner, in honor of Daniel Bacon, 

who settled here in 1669. 

Afterwards it was 

Angier's Corner, for Ensign Oakes Angier, who 

in 1731 opened a tavern on the site of the recent 

Nonantum House, which he kept for fifty years. 

When the Boston and Worcester railroad came, 

it changed the name to Newton Corner, which 

it retained until 1869, Avhen the "Corner" was 

dropped. 

Next is Newtonville, originally Hull's Crossing, 

then West Newton, originally West Parish, afterwards 

Squash End until 1844; a mile beyond is 

Auburndale.


Leaving the railroad and following the river, 

Newton Lower Falls and Newton Upper Falls 

follow in turn; and hack again towards Boston, 

on the south, lie Newton Highlands, Newton 

Centre, and Chestnut Hill. 

Eliot and Wahan 

are young communities. 

Nonantuni, originally 

North Milage, is a manufacturing village. 

many years it was known as Tin Horn. 

For 

In 

olden times, before the days of mill-hells and 

whistles, the employees of the Bemis Mills were 

summoned to work by a mammoth tin horn. 

Oak Hill is the only remaining exclusive farming 

section. 

This brief historical sketch of Newton, while 

having no particular bearing on matters pertaining 

to the fire department, was considered essential, 

as giving an. epitome of the settlement and 

early history of the town, and of its quiet 

transformation into the Garden City of New 

England.

ORGANIZATION. 

j]HE first movement for protection from 

fire in Newton was made before the 

town, or even 

the mother town of 

Cambridge, was settled. 

On the sixteenth day of March, 1631, the second 

year of its settlement, occurred Boston's first 

fire of importance, which started at noon in the 

wooden chimney of a dwelling-house, and extended 

to the thatched roof of the next dwellinghouse, 

both of which were entirely destroyed. 

Lieutenant-Governor Thomas Dudley, who was 

one of the original settlers of Cambridge, the following 

summer wrote, immediately after that 

fire: "God so pleasing to exercise us with corrections 

of this kind as he hath done with others; 

for the prevention whereof in our new town, 

intended this summer to be budded, we have ordered 

that no man there shall build his chimney 

with wood, nor cover his house with thatch, 

which was readily assented unto ; for that 

divers other 

houses have been burned since 

our arrival (the fire always beginuing in the 

wooden chimney), and some English wigwams,

ORGANIZATION. 21 

which have taken fire in the roofs, covered with 

thatch or boughs." 

The records of the third meeting: of the settiers 

of the new town mentioned 1>\ Governor 

• 

Dudley, now Cambridge, Newton, and Brighton, 

in part read : "Further it is agreed that all 

houses within the hounds of the town shall be 

covered with slate or board and not with thatch." 

At a general town meeting, held October 3, 

1636, it was ordered: "That no child under the 

age of ten years shall carry any fire from one 

house to another, nor any other person unless it 

be covered up on the forfeiture of twelve pence 

a time for every such fault the one half to the 

person that sees, the other to the constable." 

Matches were not then, nor for almost two 

centuries later, invented, and it was customary 

to procure a burning ember from a neighbor's 

tire with which to start new fires. 

At a meeting of the select townsmen (now 

selectmen), held December 9, 1650, the following 

was unanimously adopted: "Whereas dreadful 

experience shows the inevitable danger and great 

loss, not only to particular persons, but also to 

the whole town, by the careless neglect of keeping 

chimneys clean from soot, and want of ladders 

in time of need, the select townsmen taking 

the same into their serious consideration do 

therefore order, that every person inhabiting 

within the hounds of this town before the tenth 

- •

29 ORGANIZATION. 

day of next month provide one or more sufficient 

ladders at all times in a readines- to reach 

up to the top of his or their house, and forthwith, 

and at all times hereafter see that their 

chimneys 

be kept clean swept at least nc 

every month, upon the penalty of two shillings 

six pence for every month's neglect herein." 

December 25th the select townsmen appoint* d 

John Knssell "to take notice of nil defects for 

want of ladders, and present the same to the 

townsmen; and give all such persons as are defective 

from time to time, notice to attend the 

town meeting to answer for themselves. 

And 

he is to he allowed for his pains four pence of 

each person that the townsmen shall 

judge 

worthy to pay their 

fine." 

No other action was taken by Cambridge relative 

to fire protection until after Newton became 

a separate and distinct town, in 1688. 

For one hundred and thirty years after its in- 

» • 

corporation, Newton as a town did not make a 

single law nor take any action whatever for the 

prevention or extinguishment of tires until 1818, 

when it appointed Solomon Curtis a fireward at 

the Low 7 er Falls. 

Five years prior to this time 

the first fire company had been organized and 

apparatus purchased, hut not by the town. 

Itmembers 

were appointed by the selectmen, l»\ 

authority of the legislature. 

There was no necessity for the town to make


any laws or provide any fire extinguishing appliances 

during that long period, as it was then 

a sparsely settled farming 

community, with 

buildings so far apart that if one were burned 

there was no danger of the fire spreading to 

others; and the best fire extinguishing appliances 

then in existence could not save a building 

when once well afire. 

Buckets, pails, and vessels 

of any sort that could convey water, and ladders, 

were the only suitable appliances then adapted 

to the needs of the town, and most families 

possessed them. 

Before manual fire-engines were used, almost 

every dwelling-house possessed two leather firebuckets, 

with the owner's name and number 

painted thereon, which were kept in a conspicuous 

place near the door, ready for immediate 

use. 

When a fire occurred, the buckets were 

employed to carry water for its extinguishment. 

Two lines of bucket passers were usually formed 

from the nearest water supply to the fire, one 

line passing along the full buckets, the other 

line passing them back when empty. 

After the 

fire, the buckets were placed together, and each 

person picked out his own, and returned them 

to their proper places, where possibly they might 

remain unused for many years. 

A bed-key to 

take down the old-fashioned rope bedsteads, and 

clothes-bags to carry clothing from burning buildings, 

were also provided and used.


As Newton's earliest settlers were well-to-do 

people, it is not probable that any of the houses 

were built with wooden chimneys or thatched 

roofs, which only the poorer classes elected. 

Newton's first fire-engine was located at the 

Lower Falls, and was purchased by the residents 

of that village on both the Newton and Needham 

now Wellesley) sides of the river, prior to 1812. 

At that time that was one of the most densely 

populated sections of the town, — a thriving, 

progressive manufacturing village. 

For authority to organize a company to operate 

this engine, its owners sent the following 

petition to the state legislature: — 

"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives 

in General Court assembled on the 

last Wednesday of May, A. D. 1812. 

"The subscribers inhabitants of the towns of 

Newton and Needham humbly represent that 

they together with others are the proprietors 

and owners of an engine which they are desirous 

may be employed for the benefit and preservation 

of the paper-mills, dwelling-houses, stores 

and other buildings situated at the lower falls 

part of which are in the town of Newton and 

part in the town of Needham; whereupon they 

pray that the selectmen of the towns of Newton 

and Needham may be respectively authorized 

and empowered to appoint enginemen from their


respective towns to take charge of and manage 

the same, and as in duty bound &c. 

SOLOMON CURTIS. 

PETER LYON. 

ISAAC HAGAR. 

EPHRAIM JACKSON, JR. 

EDWARD FISHER. 

NATHAN HYDE." 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and 

June 18, 18L2, the following enabling act was 

passed and approved: — 

" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and 

House of Representatives in General Court assembled 

and by the authority of the same, That 

the Selectmen of the towns of Newton and Needham 

be, and they hereby are respectively authorized 

and empowered to nominate and appoint, 

as soon as may be after the passing of this act, 

and ever after, in the month of March annually 

so long as there shall be a good engine, at or 

near the lower falls, so called, on Charles River, 

any number of suitable persons, not exceeding 

ten in each of said towns, to be a company of 

enginemen, to take charge of and manage said 

engine; who shall be subject to the same duties, 

and vested with the same powers and entitled to 

the same rights, privileges and exemptions that 

all enginemen now by law are. 

"SECTION 2. 

Be it further enacted, that all


N 

rules and regulations respecting their duty as 

enginemen shall, before they be established, be 

approved by the selectmen of said towns; and 

all penalties annexed to the same, may be recovered 

by the clerk of said enginemen, before any 

Justice of the Peace in the county where the 

person who may forfeit shall reside. 

"Provided however, that nothing herein contained 

shall be construed into an authority to 

appoint by the selectmen aforesaid any man to 

the engine company aforesaid, who shall reside 

more than half a mile from the established house 

of said engine, nor to reduce the number of men 

in any military company to a less number than 

sixty-four rank and file."' 

This special act failed to accomplish what was 

desired, as explained in the following petition of 

the engine owners to the next legislature: — 

"To the Honorable the Legislature of the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

"The subscribers proprietors and owners of 

an engine at the Lower Falls in Newton and 

Needham, humbly show ; that by an act passed 

at the last session of the Legislature the towns 

of Newton and Needham, were authorized to 

nominate and appoint ten men from each of 

said towns to take charge of said engine, provided 

the same did not reside more than half a 

mile from the place where said engine should be

[ : . H. HUMPHREY, 

ASSIb fANT < Mil I •


located, and provided also that no militia company 

should be reduced to a less number than 

sixty-four rank and file; by which provision they 

have not been able to get said enginemen appointed 

in the town of Needham, there not being 

to the number of ten suitable persons living 

within that distance of the place where said 

engine is located, and the militia companies in 

said town not consisting of more than sixty-four 

men rank and file; wherefore they pray that 

your Honors would pass an addition to said act 

authorizing the town of Newton to appoint a 

number not exceeding fifteen, the town of Needham 

not exceeding eight enginemen notwithstanding 

they may reside more than half a mile 

from said engine and notwithstanding thereby 

the militia companies may be reduced to a less 

number than sixty-four rank and tile, and as in 

duty bound &c. 

SOLOMON CURTIS. 

PETER 

LYON. 

"NEWTON, Oct. 9, 1812. •>' 

ISAAC HAGAR. 

EPHRAIM JACKSON, JR. 

Again the prayer of the petitioners was granted, 

and February 23, 1813, the following new act 

was approved: — 

" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and 

House of Representatives, in General Court as-


semhled, and by the authority of the same, That 

the Selectmen of the towns of Newton and Needham 

be, and they hereby are respectively authorized 

and empowered to nominate and appoint, as 

soon as may be, after the passing of this act, 

and ever after, in the month of March annually, 

so long as there shall be a good engine, at or 

near the lower falls, so called, on Charles River, 

any number of suitable persons, not exceeding 

twenty-one in the whole, thirteen of whom shall 

always be of the inhabitants of Newton, to be 

one company of enginemen, to take charge of, 

and manage said engine; who shall be subject 

to the same duties, and vested with the same 

powers, and entitled to the same rights, privileges 

and exemptions, that all other enginemen, 

by law, now are, or hereafter may be. 

"SECTION 2. 

Be it further enacted, that all 

rules and regulations respecting their duty as 

enginemen shall, before they be established, be 

approved by the Selectmen of said towns; and 

all penalties annexed to the same, may be recovered 

by the clerk of said enginemen, before 

any Justice of the Peace, in the courts where 

the person who may forfeit the same shall reside. 

"SECTION 3. 

Beit further enacted, that the 

act which passed the eighteenth day of June, in 

the year of our Lord eighteen hundred 

and 

twelve, entitled 'An act to empower the Select- 

I

30 . ORGANIZATION. 

men of the towns of Newton and Needham to 

appoint enginemen,' he, and hereby is repealed." 

In May the selectmen of Newton and Needham 

appointed the enginemen in compliance with this 

act, and Newton's first tire company. Cataract 

No. 1, was immediately organized, and continued 

to exist until succeeded by the present Hose Co. 

No. 6, in 1877. 

The first engine used by this company was 

purchased by its proprietors of Hnnueman & 

Co., then, and for many years afterwards, the 

famous fire-engine builders of Roxbury, Mass.. 

May 3, 1808. 

It was a small snctionless tub 

affair, such as was in universal use at that time, 

and until suction engines came, early in the 

twenties. 

The second company was organized at Newton 

Upper Falls, November 8, 1820, and known as 

Newton Engine Society No. 2. 

Its engine was 

owned by the Rnfns Ellis iron-works, located at 

the Boylston Street bridge, and was best known 

as the Ellis engine. 

In 18'24 the iron-works, 

then known as Newton Factories, purchased of 

Hunneman another and better engine, with suction 

hose, which was the first, and until 1842 

the only, suction engine in town. 

This company 

went out of existence in L842. 

At West Parish, now "West Newton, in 1822, 

was organized Engine Co. No. 3. Its engine, the


Dispatch, was owned by numerous stockholders. 

It was afterwards known as West Newton and 

Triton, and was disbanded to make way for 

Steam Fire Engine No. 2, in 1871. 

The Elliot Manufacturing Company of Upper 

Falls procured a hand fire-engine for the protection 

of its extensive property, now the silk-mill 

corporation, on Elliot Street, and March !>, lsi>±, 

the selectmen appointed a company to man it. 

It was officially known as Engine Co. No. 4, hut 

generally called the Elliot engine. 

This company 

existed only a few years. 

About ls:>


and to offer a reward of three hundred dollars 

for information that would convict any one of 

setting any of the recent numerous incendiary 

fires. 

Early in January, 1828, the following petition 

was sent to the state legislature: — 

"To the Honorable Senate and Honorable the 

House of Representatives of said Commonwealth 

in General Court assembled. 

"We, the subscribers composing the Bemis 

Manufacturing Co., humbly represent that we 

have been at great expense in procuring a Fire- 

Engine upon the most approved plan, for the 

security of our mills and other property situated 

in the towns of Watertown and Newton, on 

Charles River, the river being at that place the 

boundary line between such towns, and we are 

desirous it should be employed for the benefit of 

both said towns, and be used at any tires that 

may happen in either, but as the engine is located 

in Watertown aforesaid, the selectmen of 

Newton cannot without an act of your Hon- 

« 

orable body empowering them, appoint men to 

said engine, and as the Bemis 

Manufacturing 

Co. have not in their employ a sufficient number 

of men in either of said towns to work said engine 

effectually, we therefore pray the Honorable 

Court to pass an act empowering the selectmen 

of Newton aforesaid, to appoint men to said en-


gine, the whole number from both towns not to 

exceed thirty. 

LUKE BEMIS. 

SETH BEMIS. 

THOMAS CORDIS. 

JOHN BILLOWY. 

. 

' 

WATERTOWN, January 24, 1828. 

"We the subscribers of the towns of Watertown 

and Newton request that the above petition 

be granted. 

LEVI THAXTER, 

JOHN HUNTING, 

WALTER HUNNEWELL, 

Selectmen of Watertown. 

JOSEPH N. BACON, 

ROBERT MURDOCK, 

ELIJAH ADAMS, 

Selectmen of Newton." 

March 12, 1828, the following act became a 

law: 

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 

Represenatives in General Court assembled, and 

by authority of the same, that from and after 

the passage of this act, the selectmen of the 

towns of Newton and Watertown shall have the 

power to appoint one half of the enginemen to 

an engine belonging to the Bemis Manufacturing 

Co., located in Watertown, near the boundary 

line of said towns."

34: ORGANIZATION. 

This engine was located at Bemis Mills, Nonantnni. 

If tbe selectmen appointed Newton 

members, they did so but a few years, as none 

were appointed after 1 s:->7. 

There is no record of 

this engine ever doing any duty in Newton, 

although it is probable that it did in that section 

near where it was located. 

At the annual town meeting held March -2, 

1835, a committee, consisting of Lemuel Crehore 

and Matthias Collins of the Lower Falls, Elijah 

Story and Otis Pettee of the Upper Falls, and 

Joseph N. Bacon of Newton Corner, was appointed 

to take into consideration the subject of 

furnishing the town with lire-engines, to report 

at a future meeting. 

At a special town meeting held June 1st, this 

committee reported ''that they deem it necessary 

* 

that the sum of one thousand dollars should be 

raised to put the several engines in repair or 

purchase new, together with hose. 

They therefore 

recommend the appropriation of that sum, 

to be expended under the direction and superintendence 

of the committee." 

The recommendations of tbe committee were 

adopted, and the money appropriated. 

Three 

new engines were purchased of some now unknown 

builder, not of Hunneman. 

There is no 

record as to where these engines were located, 

but as Newton Corner, West Newton, and Oak 

a 

Hill had new engines about this time, it is


most probable that they were located in those 

places. 

When the engines were delivered they were 

given a public exhibition test at the Boylston 

Street bridge. Upper Falls, the old Ellis or No. 

*J engine competing with them. Of tins test a 

resident of that village who witnessed it recently 

said: ' k I well remember how jubilant 

the 

nail-factory [Ellis iron-works] boys were when 

they threw up a taller stream of water, and 

more of it, with the 'old squirt-gun,' as they 

called the Ellis engine, than could he done with 

the new machines." 

Some time prior to L837 a hand-engine was 

purchased by the inhabitants of Newton Centre, 

and a house elected for its shelter, and July 20th 

of that year the Eagle Engine Co. No. (> was organized, 

which existed until l s 7:5. 

The engine 

at this time was in the selectmen's charge, and 

the new company at its second meeting, held 

August 1st, voted to make application for its 

use, also instructed a committee "to take such 

measures as they think best to try and procure 

a new engine." 

The selectmen granted them the use of the 

old engine, and referred the request of the committee 

for a new one to the town, which was 1 

disposed of at a town meeting held November | 

13th by referring it to a committee with instructions 

to examine this and all other engines, and 

I


report at the next town meeting. 

The committee 

consisted of Samuel Langley of Newton 

Centre, Lemuel Crehore of Lower Falls, and 

John Mead of West Newton, and they reported 

at a town meeting held April 2, 1838, in favor 

of the town purchasing of its owners, at its cost 

price, the old No. 6 engine. 

Another engine was at once purchased for the 

Centre, which the company at its April 17th, 

1838, meeting voted to name Eagle, and to have 

it painted green, with words "Newton Centre" 

on the rear end. 

The engine at Oak Hill never had a company. 

It was kept in a small building owned by Calvin 

Rand, on Dedham Street, near the present schoolhouse 

location. 

Its principal use was for the 

storage of beans and other farm products. 

It 

was sold in 1857 for five dollars, and the purchaser 

probably thought twice before he purchased 

it even at that price. 

The selectmen were instructed, at a town 

meeting held May 7, 1838, to exchange the two 

engines at the Corner for a more suitable one, 

and a month later Avere instructed to dispose of 

the two engines at West Newton and procure 

one of larger dimensions if they considered it 

expedient. 

They did not consider it expedient 

to make either of the exchanges. 

Newton Corner was persistent in its demand 

for a new and better engine, and had articles


• > < 

therefor inserted in the warrant for the annual 

town meetings of is4-0 and 184:1, which was 

refused both times. 

All of the engines at this time, with the exception 

of No. 2 at the Upper Falls, were small, 

crude affairs, which were filled by means of 

buckets, and the water pumped from the tub or 

body of the engine through a short line of hose 

on to the fire. The No. 2 suction engine was 

but little better than the others, and all were 

entirely inadequate to meet the service required 

of them. 

Their inferiority was made signally manifest 

at the Otis Pettee big machine-shop fire at the 

Upper Falls, November 25, 1839, which was the 

largest fire Newton ever had. 

Many engines 

from neighboring towns were present, including 

the Hydrant No. 4 of Cambridgeport, a new 

Hunneman suction engine, which did its first 

duty at this fire. This engine was much larger, 

more powerful, more quickly put to work, and 

much more easily operated than the old diminutive 

Newton engines, and easily won for itself 

the admiration of every one present, and the 

desire of the firemen as well as the citizens to 

possess similar engines. 

The demands for new suction engines 

for 

Newton Corner, West Newton, Upper Falls, 

and Newton Centre were now imperative, but 

as in most towns in such matters it required


two or three years to convince the voters in 

their favor. 

Article 11 of the warrant for the annual town 

meeting held March 7, 1812, read : "To see what 

measures the town will adopt relating to furnishing 

fire-engines in different sections of the 

town." 

It was voted to refer it to a committee 

to consider and report at a future meeting. 

The 

moderator appointed Thomas Small wood of Newton 

Corner, Samuel Stone of Newton Centre, 

Luthur S. Raymond of Upper Falls, William 

Curtis of Lower Falls, and Nathan Crafts, Jr., 

of West Newton, the committee. 

At an adjourned meeting held March 21st, the 

the committee made the following report : — 

"The committee appointed at the last town 

meeting to examine the different engines in the 

town of Newton submit their report. 

"At Newton Corner we find two engines; one 

of them Avas bought by subscription a number 

of years ago. 

The hose is in a bad state, the 

pipe broken, and the engine out of repair. 

It is 

on a very bad principle, and cannot be kept in 

order without much labor. We consider it of no 

use to the town. 

It has not been out to a fire 

for many years, and has no company to work it. 

The other is a very small engine, bought by the 

town ; would answer very well for a private insurance 

or a garden engine, but is in no wav

ORGANIZATION. ;> 

proper to be kept for a town engine. 

It is in 

the care of small bo vs. 

" At the West Parish of Newton we find also 

a small engine of the same kind as the small one 

at Newton Corner, and also a subscription engine, 

very old, with about fifty feet of tolerably 

good hose. 

It has only six or eight very old 

buckets, all bearing the mark of 1822. 

It has 

a very good company to work it, but they complain 

loudly of the badness of the engine, and 

your committee think very justly too. 

"At the Upper Falls we also find one of the 

same family of small engines, with some suction 

hose, and that on the very worst possible 

principle, being in four straight joints, and one 

short joint to bend it, maybe considered useless. 

The other is an engine belonging to the Newton 

factory, and entirely out of repair, and has not 

been at a fire for seven or eight years, and no 

regular company can be found to work either of 

them. 

We consider both nearly useless. 

'' At Newton Centre there is one engine on an 

old plan. 

It has a very efficient company, which 

keep it in good repair, and is well supplied with 

hose and buckets; but a new engine at this place 

is very desirable. 

"At Oak Hill there is another of the small 

engines, and we think it is all that part of the 

town requires. 

"At the Lower Falls the inhabitants are satisfied 

with their present engine.


"Your committee are therefore of opinion 

that the town requires four new engines with 

suction hose, of as good a kind as those lately 

purchased by the adjoining towns of Watertown 

and Waltham ; viz., one to be placed at the 

West 

Parish, and one at Newton Corner.'" 

The report was accepted, and it was voted 

'' that a grant of six hundred dollars be made to 

the people of the Upper Falls village, the same 

to the West Parish, the same to Newton Corner, 

and the same to Newton Centre, provided that 

the people of each of said sections of the town 

shall add two hundred dollars to each of the 

sums of six hundred dollars in and for the several 

places mentioned"; also, " that three persons 

from each of the four sections of the town 

where the engines are to be located be chosen as 

a committee, nominated from the chair, to carry 

* 

the above vote into effect." 

The chair nominated 

as members of the committee Thomas 

Small wood, Stephen W. Trowbridge, and Otis 

Trowbridge of Newton Corner ; Nathan Crafts, 

Jr., Samuel S. Kilburn, and William P. Houghton 

of West Newton ; Eleazar P. Winslow, Jesse 

Winslow, and Joseph C. Everett of Upper Falls; 

Luther Paul, Manley Lothrop, and Alexander H. 

Randal] of Newton Centre. 

This committee was also empowered to collect

ORGANIZATION. .±1 

the two hundred dollars from each village, and 

to dispose of the old unnecessary apparatus after 

the new had been received. 

A contract was at once made with Hunneman 

& Co.. of Roxbury, for four latest improved suction, 

five-and-a-half-inch cylinder hand-engines, 

and hose-carts, at a total cost of £-2,427.42. The 

first engine delivered was Nonantum No. .">, April 

23d. This engine was built for a North Carolina 

town, hut for some reason was returned t7) in existence, doing active duty, and in

!•_' 

ORGANIZATION. 

irood condition. 

It had six-inch cylinders, one 

half ;in inch larger than the others had, and 

larger in capacity every way, requiring a large 

number of men to operate it. 

It was a very 

hard-working machine and did its last duty at 

the Wales hotel tire, June , L868, and subsequently 

went to the junk heap. 

Mr. Thayer, its 

builder, retired from business soon after it was 

built. 

He built most of Boston's engines and 

many others in the early part of this century. 

When the new engines arrived the old ones, 

xcepl the one at Oak Mill, went oat of service, 

and were sold 01' otherwise disposed of. 

Two of 

them at least iiK-t their fate hv fire in the build- 

[nes where they were stored. 

The No. 2 engine 

.ii the Upper Falls was placed in charge of a 

company of boys, who for a few years did some 

\ en excellenl service wit h it. 

The department 

at this time was partially 

under the management 

of a hoard of sixteen 

firewards, elected at the annual town meeting, 

11id partially under the select men. 

The firewarda 

had charge at fires, and the selectmen al 

othei times. 

The elect men appointed the firemen, 

and the firewards had charge of the town 

ipparatus,— a most unhusiness like and unsatisfactory 

met hod. 

Early in tin fear 1843 the following petition 

w.i- senl to the state legislature, all its signers 

I.


u To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives 

of Massachusetts assembled, w 7 e the 

subscribers of Newton humbly petition your 

Honorable body that the authorities of Newton 

may be empowered to organize a fire department 

agreeably to an act of the revised statutes passed 

April 9, 1839, to regulate fire departments according 

to the law in such cases provided, as in 

duty bound will ever pray. 

LORING WHEELER. 

CYRUS EVERETT. 

OLIVER PLYMPTON. 

JESSE FISHER. 

NEWELL ELLIS. 

RUFUS ELLIS. 

FRANKLIN PUTNAM. 

CHAS. F. PETTEE. 

JOHN A. WHITNEY. 

BENJAMIN DAVENPORT. 

JAMES TAYLOR. 

WILLIAM E. CLARKE. 

SAMUEL B. EVERETT. 

JOSEPH W. GAY. 

JOSEPH C. EVERETT. 

EDWARD J. COLLINS. 

EBEN CHENEY. 

HORACE BACON. 

MOSES ALDEN. 

MARTIN P. STURTEVANT."


N 

The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and 

March 18th the following act passed: — 

"An Act to establish a fire department in the 

town of Newton. 

"SECTION 1. 

The selectmen of the town of 

Newton are hereby authorized to establish a fire 

department in said town in the manner and according 

to the provisions prescribed in an act to 

regulate fire departments, passed on the ninth 

day of April, in the year one thousand eight 

hundred and thirty-nine, and the said fire department 

when so established, and the several 

members thereof, and all the officers and companies 

appointed by them, and the said town of 

Newton, and the inhabitants thereof shall be 

subject to all the duties and liabilities, and be 

entitled to all the privileges and exemptions 

specified in such act so far as the same relates 

to them respectively." 

The act of April 9, 1839, referred to in the 

petition and the above act, provided that the 

selectmen of towns should annually, in April, 

appoint a board of fire engineers, not to exceed 

twelve in number, who should have the entire 

management and control of the department, appoint 

and discharge all its members, expend the 

appropriations made for its maintenance, and 

ill special appropriations therfor, unless otherwise 

specially provided; to have absolute com-


maud at fires and of the department at all times. 

The hoard was required to meet annually in May, 

and organize with the choice of a chief and clerk. 

This act was adopted hy the town at a meeting 

held November 13, 1843; and April 2, 1844, the 

selectmen appointed a hoard of twelve engineers, 

who met the first day of May, and organized 

with Luther Paul of Newton Centre as chief 

engineer, and Simeon Grover of Upper Falls 

clerk of the hoard; and from that time until 

Newton became a city, January 5, 1874, when 

the city charter provided otherwise for the government 

of the fire department, it was managed 

absolutely by a board of engineers. 

In May, 1854, the town voted to build its first 

reservoir for fire purposes in Newtonville Square, 

and at the same time refused to purchase and 

locate a hand-engine in that village. 

At the annual March town meeting in 1858, 

the selectmen were given power to procure firehooks 

and ladders. 

They subsequently purchased 

one ladder and a large fire-hook for each 

village, which they located so as to be of easy 

access at all times. 

Where there was an enginehouse 

they were hung on the outside, and the 

ladders were oftener used to wash windows and 

for other domestic work than for fire duty. 

Newton Corner increased so rapidly in population, 

that in 1S


appliances were necessary. 

July 11th of that 

year the carriage-shop of E. M. Mosher and several 

other adjoining buildings occupied by blacksmiths, 

painters, etc., on Centre Street, were 

consumed by tire in the early evening, many engines 

from this and surrounding towns attending. 

That the Nonantum No. .~> hand-engine was not 

adequate to meet the requirements of this fastgrowing 

village was made manifest 

on this 

occasion; and at a subsequent meeting of the 

citizens of the Corner, held at Eliot Hall, to consider 

the matter of increased lire protection, a 

fund was raised by voluntary subscription to 

purchase another hand-engine to use until it 

was considered expedient to purchase a steam 

fire-engine, and assistant engineers James \Y. 

Bailey and Orrin Harris were empowered to 

make the purchase. 

They at once purchased of the city of Lynn 

the Empire No. 5 hand-engine, which the introduction 

of steam fire-engines had retired from 

service, for which they paid seven hundred and 

fifty dollars, and subsequently an additional expenditure 

of seventy dollars was required for 

repairs. 

The Empire was a very large, powerful 

engine, with seven-inch cylinders, built by 

Edward Leslie of Newburyport. 

It was entirely 

too heavy and cumbersome for the service Newton 

required of it, and was not a success. 

It 

was first used after its arrival at the Royal Grilkey


lumber-yard fire at Watertown, August 16th. 

The company attached to the Nonantum No. 5 

was transferred to the Empire, and a volunteer 

company organized to man the Nonantum, to 

do duty at fires in Newton Corner only, with 

the veteran George Daniels foreman. 

While working at a tire in North Brighton, 

October 17th, some one closed the Empire's outlet-gate, 

causing its air-chamber to explode, and 

thus completely disabling it. 

The town voted to purchase the Empire of the 

people of Newton Corner, at a town meeting held 

November 0, 1806, with the house erected for it, 

and to pay the cost of a new air-chamber and 

other repairs already made or necessary to be 

made. 

The town paid $750 for cost of engine, 

$20 for cartage from Lynn to Newton, $500 for 

the house, Hunneman & Co. $60 for new airchamber, 

$30 for new suction hose, $109.20 for 

other repairs, making a total of $1,468.20, which 

in reality was as good as wasted. 

They also 

purchased some hose, but this was subsequently 

used elsewhere. 

The selectmen, in their annual 

report issued in 1867, said it was unsuitable because 

of the large number of men required to 

work it, and in May of that year the company 

was disbanded, as was also the volunteer company 

of Nonantum No. 5 ; and neither had an 

organized company thereafter. 

They remained 

at the Corner until the steam fire-engine arrived,


and were operated when necessary by volunteers. 

They subsequently did relief duty with other 

companies, and the Empire finally went to the 

junk heap. 

At the annual town meeting held March 4, 

1867, the question of purchasing a steam fireengine 

for Newton Corner was referred to the 

selectmen and the two assistant engineers at the 

Corner. 

To demonstrate the workings and capabilities 

of a steam fire-engine, Hunneman & Co. exhibited 

one at Newton Corner Saturday, July 13th, 

which fact had been officially announced in the 

press, and a large number of people from all 

sections of the town were present to witness it. 

The exhibition test, like all such affairs, was a 

success, horizontal and perpendicular streams 

being thrown through one and two long and 

* 

short lines of hose. 

The principal test was an 

attempt to empty the reservoir in depot square, 

which the engineer said could be done in twenty 

minutes. After two hours 1 work, almost to the 

extent of the engine's capacity, it succeeded in 

Lowering the water only a few inches. 

The committee was satisfied with the test, 

and appointed a subcommittee, consisting of 

selectmen Thomas Rice, Jr., and Orrin Whipple, 

and Assistant Engineer Greorge Daniels, to examinc 

the different patterns of engines and make 

the purchase. 

September 4-th they made a con-


tract with Hunneman & Co. for a second-class 

machine; and November 30th purchased the site 

of the present No. 1 engine station, and January 

11, 1868, provided for the construction of a building 

thereon, 

money for that purpose having 

been appropriated at the previous November 

town meetin 

January 11, 1868, the engine was ready for 

delivery, and on that day it was given a test 

before the selectmen and engineers at Hunneman's 

factory in Roxbury, and was accepted by 

the committee ; but as there was no place provided 

to house it, and would not be until the 

new station was con^leted, it was not delivered 

until nine months later, October 19th, when the 

new house was ready to receive it. 

In the mean 

time it had been doing relief duty in other places. 

The engine had double, four-and-three-eighthsinch 

pumps, eight-inch stroke, with a capacity 

of five hundred gallons per minute. 

It was a 

straight-frame engine, and weighed five thousand 

eight hundred pounds. 

It was painted 

carmine, and December 7th was named by the 

selectmen Newton No. 1. The engine was given 

a public exhibition test a few days later, and 

Thursday, November 5th, the new station was 

dedicated under the auspices of the committee. 

The first fire at which the new engine did duty 

was the burning of W. W. Wright's house at 

Auburndale, November 11th, at eleven o'clock,


p. M., at which it performed most excellent and 

effective service. 

It has been said that Newton was never ready 

to receive a new piece of fire apparatus when 

it was ready for delivery. 

It was not ready to 

receive engine No. 1. 

Its arrival was delayed 

all summer because its station was not built, 

and when it did arrive, there was neither a company 

for it nor a hose-carriage to go with it. 

It was not until December 19th, two months 

after its arrival, that a company was formed, 

and not until April 21, 1869, six months after 

its arrival, that the hose-carriage was received 

from Thomas Peto of Philadelphia, — a large, 

magnificently made, four-wheeled hand hosecarriage, 

— which is now in service at Dedham. 

The carriage was run some time by hand, and 

succeeded in reaching fires in distant parts of 

the town the same day the engine did, which 

was drawn by town highway horses. 

Subsequently 

it was made a horse carriage. 

The old Cataract No. 1 hand-engine collapsed 

completely at the Wales Hotel fire in June, 1868, 

nd a relief engine was borrowed for temporary 

< * 

use. 

In November the town granted the selectmen 

and engineers full power to purchase an 

engine for that place. 

They purchased a latest 

improved Hunnenian squirrel-tail suction engine 

with five-and-one-half-inch cylinders, which arrived 

Mav 8, 1869, and was acknowledged to be


by far the best duty hand-engine Newton ever 

owned. 

In January, 1870, citizens of Newtonville organized 

the Newtonville Protective Association, 

with W. L. Frothingham president, George J. 

Curtis vice-president, and S. W. Lang secretary 

and treasurer, and purchased, at a cost of one 

thousand dollars, a most elaborately constructed 

and handsomely painted and embellished Gibbs 

and Gordon chemical engine, 

named William 

Claflin, in honor of ex-Governor Claflin, a resident 

of that village, 

This engine was entirely 

unlike the chemical engines of to-day, and was 

a sort of combined hand and chemical engine on 

a small plan. 

No acid was used to generate 

force, as in modern chemical engines, only bicarbonate 

of soda being used in the water, which 

had to be forced with a small pump similar to 

those used on a ship, operated by half a dozen 

men. 

The engine was very light, only six or 

eight men being required to work it ; and one 

man could draw it quite easily almost anywhere. 

The new Claflin on its arrival gave public exhibitions 

of its ability to extinguish fire February 

10th and 23d, which was a success, and 

made many friends for the ; ' soda-tank." It 

attended a few fires with success, and chemical 

engine stock in 187 was hig&j ;t*wG' years later 

it was almost worthless. 

The selectmen and engineers were appointed 

» > 

~> "•> 

• 

J ) i 

' 

I 

> 

> 

>


a committee, at the annual March meeting in 

1869, to consider the purchase of fire extinguishers 

for all the public buildings. 

They reported 

at the March meeting in 1870 in favor of purchasing 

two portable extinguishers for each 

village, fourteen in all, to be located in some 

central and accessible place, under the supervision 

of the engineers ; also in favor of the purchase 

of a hand chemical fire-engine, similar to 

the Claflin, to be located at Auburndale. 

The report, which was a lengthy one, eulogized 

that style of chemical engines, and predicted a 

great future for them, and further said : '' With 

the fire-engines we now have, and fourteen of 

the portable and two of the hand extinguishers, 

the town, in our opinion, would be well protected 

against fire ; and in the practical use of the 

extinguishers you will be led eventually to consider 

(as soon as they are better known) whether 

it will not be advisable for the town, on the 

score of efficiency as well as economy, to substitute 

them entirely in place of your present hand 

and steam fire-engines." The committee also 

recommended no further outlay for reservoirs, 

etc., until the chemical extinguishers had been 

given a trial. 

The .recommendations of the committee were 

addj^te/l; ^nd fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated 

for fourteen portable and one hand ex- 

* 

J 

• r 


The Auburiidale extinguisher, Monitor No. 2, 

cost one thousand dollars. 

It arrived and was 

given a public exhibition June 23d, in the presence 

of the selectmen, engineers, and 

many 

others. 

A little less than two years later it was 

retired from service, a failure; and about the 

same time the Claflin also went into perpetual 

oblivion. 

nothing. 

They were afterwards sold for almost 

They were entirely too small for practical 

use, and were only serviceable at very small 

fires. 

With the exception of a few ladders distributed 

throughout the town, Newton had no ladder service 

up to 1870. 

Several efforts to induce the 

town to purchase ladder-carriages had been defeated 

in town meetings, or in the hands of a 

committee to whom the matter was referred. 

The need of such a service was apparent at 

almost every fire of any magnitude. 

In the fall 

of 1870 Mr. George D. Merriam of West Newton 

converted a vehicle he possessed into a laddercarriage, 

to be drawn by one horse, which he 

furnished and kept at his own expense in his 

stable on Highland Street. 

The town ladders 

were used. 

Henry L. Bixby, afterwards chief 

of department, was foreman of its company of 

volunteers. 

It was first used at the burning 

of T. H. Carter's barn on Highland Avenue, 

Newtonville, November 5th, and rendered excellent 

service, as it did at the numerous other


hres it attended until the arrival of the new 

hook-and-ladder truck No. 1, purchased by the 

town. 

In September, 187, the town referred an article 

in the town meeting warrant for a hookand-ladder 

truck for Newtonville to the selectmen 

and engineers, to consider and report at the 

next annual town meeting. 

April 3, 1871, they 

reported inexpedient to purchase a truck, but 

recommended that ladders be purchased and located 

in that village, which was done. 

At the 

same meeting a proposition to purchase a ladder 

truck for West Newton was defeated. 

November 

13th the ladder-truck question again came 

before a town meeting, and the engineers were 

authorized to purchase a truck and equipments, 

to be located at Newtonville, and a sum not to 

exceed one thousand dollars was appropriated 

therefor. 

A contract was at once made with Chapman 

and Strangman, carriage builders of Milton, for 

a one-horse modern truck, which was delivered 

about the first of March, 1872, and located in 

the new house built for the Claflin chemical, on 

Austin Street, where it remained until the present 

ladder-house was built in 1875. It was later 

changed to a tAvo-horse truck, and in 187i> the 

city had outgrown it, and it was sold in part payment 

for the present No. 2 truck, which was built 

for No. 1 by Messrs. Buckley and Merritt of New

- - -—• •—r«- 

**r 

- . 

>y. 

''•:::< :.•'•" '•:'•'•: •/?/;.-•-'•• —..•.- -.-. ..-..;.• ;^>x---- •.:...—— 

•^••-Xfc 

HENRY L. BIXBY, 

CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT, February i, 1879. to June n, 1894


York. 

Old No. 4 hand-engine also went in part 

payment for this new truck. 

The present Babcock 

aerial ladder truck was purchased in June, 

18!> 1, and the old truck transferred to Newton 

Highlands, and truck company No. 2 organized 

and put in service July 1st of that year. 

West Newton made its first request for a steam 

tire-engine at a town meeting held March 1, 1869, 

when it was referred to the selectmen and engineers, 

who unanimously reported inexpedient 

at the annual March meeting in 1ST0. 

The following 

year a similar request was made, and at 

an adjourned meeting held April 3, 1871, it was 

granted, and 

October 2d the present engine 

No. 2, a second-class Amoskeag engine, arrived 

and was placed in temporary quarters under the 

old town hall, where police headquarters now 

are. 

The highway department horses which 

were used to haul it and the new four-wheeled 

hose-carriage which came with it were located 

in an old stable across the street. 

It was transferred 

to its present station June 14, 1873. 

In January, 1872, the selectmen received the 

following petition: — 

"NEWTON CENTRE, January 25, 1872. 

"To the Honorable Selectmen of Newton. 

" Gentlemen,—We the subscribers, citizens of 

Newton Centre, hereby request your honorable 

board to have inserted in your warrant for our


approaching annual March meeting an article to 

see if the town will furnish a steam fire-engine, 

and all the necessary apparatus to be used with 

it, also a building in which said engine shall he 

kept, all to be located at Newton Centre, and to 

appropriate money therefor. 

GEO. H. ELLIS. 

J. M. WHITE. 

J. C. FARRAR. 

J. G. SANDERSON. 

HORACE COUSINS. 

E. C. DUDLEY. 

W. 0. KNAPP. 

B. F. TYLER. 

J. H. SANBORN. 

CHAS. E. LANE. 1 ' 

The selectmen granted the request of the per 

titioners, and March 11th an appropriation of 

twenty-five thousand dollars was made therefor 

. 

An engine similar* to No. 2 was ordered of the 

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, 

N. H., which was ready for delivery 

before the town was ready to receive it, because 

of delay in the erection of a station, made 

necessary by delay of the city of Boston in deciding 

where to locate the line of the Sudbury 

River conduit through that village. 

At the time Cole's block, Newton Corner, was


burned, January 14, 1874, engine No. 1 was 

undergoing repairs at Manchester, N. H., and a 

relief engine borrowed of the Boston department 

became disabled at the commencement of the 

fire. 

Engine No. 3, which was then, as it had 

been for some time, awaiting orders at the Amoskeag 

shops in Manchester, was telegraphed for, 

and arrived the next day, and at once placed in 

service in No. 1 station, where it remained in 

service until that engine was returned, February 

5th. It was then stored there until May 2, 1874, 

when it was transferred to the Centre and placed 

in service. 

' The hose-carriage for engine No. 3 was located 

in the room vacated by engine No. 2 in the town 

hall building, West Newton, in June, 1873, and 

a temporary Hose Co. No. 3 organized, with 

Henry L. Bixby as foreman. 

It was transferred 

to the Centre when the engine was. 

A new Hunneman horse hose-carriage was 

received by Engine Co. No. 1 June 19, 1874, ami 

their old Philadelphia carriage transferred to the 

truck-house on Austin Street, Newtonville, and 

Hose Co. No. 4 was organized and placed in 

service in August. 

Hose 5 succeeded Triton band-engine No. 3 

at Auburndale, April 1, 1871. 

Hose *! succeeded 

Cataract No. 1 hand-engine at the Lower Falls, 

February 1, 1877, and Hose 7, band-engine Mei 

chanic No. 4 at the Upper Palls, February 1,


1878. Hose 8 went into service at Nonantum 

July 1, 1893. 

Chemical A went into service at No. 2 engine 

station, West Newton, June 25, issc. 

Chemical 

B and Truck 2, at Newton Highlands, July 1, 

1891. 

The first hose-wagon was received by Hose 

Co. 7 January 81, 189:;. 

Prior to that time, al! 

engine and hose companies were using 

fourwheeled 

horse hose-carriages. 

All companies 

are now provided with hose-wagons, the last to 

go into service being No.


FIREWARDS. 

1818. Solomon Curtis, — Lower Falls. 

181V). Solomon Curtis, Nathaniel Wales, — Lower Falls. 

1820. William Hurd, Nathaniel Wales, —Lower Falls. 

Nathan Pettee,— Upper Falls. 

1821. William Hurd, John Richardson, — Lower Falls. 

Nathan Pettee, Upper Falls. 

1822. William Hurd, Nathaniel Wales,— Lower Falls. 

Nathan Pettee, Caleb Haskell, — LTpper Falls. 

Joel Houghton, Joseph Stone,—West Newton. 

1823. Amos Allen, Nathaniel Wales,— Lower Falls. 

Nathan Pettee, Newell Ellis,— Upper Falls. 

Hezekiah Eldridge, Joseph Stone, — West Newton. 

Joseph Bacon, Robert Murdock, — Corner. 

1824. William Hurd, Nathaniel Wales, — Lower Falls. 

Nathan Pettee, Jonathan Bixby, Otis Pettee,— 

Upper Falls. 

Hezekiah Eldridge, Joseph Stone, 

— West Newton. Artemas Murdock, Ziba 

Bridges, — Corner. 

1825. William Hurd, James Fuller, Matthias Collins,— 

Lower Falls. Otis Pettee, Joseph Barney, M. P. 

Sturtevant, Elijah Story, Asa Williams, George 

Sanderson, — Upper Falls. 

Henry Crafts, Silas 

John Richardson, Nathan Trow r bridge,— 

Corner. Luther Paul, — Centre. Reuben Stone, 

— Oak Hill. 

1820. William Hurd, James Fuller, Nathaniel Wales, 

Lower Falls. Otis Pettee, Joseph Barney, 

M. P. Sturtevant, Elijah Story, Asa Williams, 

Upper Falls. 

Henry Crafts, Silas Ross, Seth 

Davis, Josiah Bigelow, — West Newton. 

Richardson, Nathan Trowbridge, — Corner. 

John 

Ross, Seth Davis, Josiah Biêlow, — West Newton. 

Luthur 

Paul, — Centre. 

Reuben Stone, — Oak Hill. 

1827. Same, except Matthias Collins vice Nathaniel 

Wales, — Lower Falls. Benjamin Davenport 

vice Joseph Barney,— Upper Falls. Joseph 

Faxon vice Silas Ross, —West Newton. William 

Jackson added, — (Joiner.


1828. Same. 

1829. Same. 

1830. Same, except Nehemit Carpenter added, — Upper 

Falls. 

1831. Same. 

1832. Same, except J. B. H. Fuller vice William Jackson, 

— Corner. 

1833. Same, except John H. Richardson vice John 

Richardson, — Corner. 

1834. Same, except Edward Collins vice Matthias Collins,— 

Lower Falls. Jesse Winslow vice N. 

Carpenter, — Upper Falls. 

1835. Joseph Foster, — Lower Falls. George W.Morse, 

— Upper Falls. Joseph Faxon, Nathan Crafts, 

Jr., — West Newton. John H. Richardson. Corner. 

John Ward, Asa R. Cook, — Centre. Samuel 

Stone, Jonathan Stone, — Oak Hill. 

1836. Same. 

1837. Benjamin Neal,— Lower Falls. Elijah Story, T. 

W. Welling-ton, Paul Dewing Loring Wheeler, 

Upper Falls. John Mead, Joseph Stone, Joseph 

Foster, — West Newton. Edmund Trow- 

• bridge, Joel Adams, — Corner. Marshall S. Rice, 

Samuel Hyde, — Centre. Moses Crafts, Samuel 

Stone, —Oak Hill. 

1838. Same. 

1831). Same. 

1840. Benjamin Neal, William Curtis,— Lower Falls, 

Loring Wheeler, Otis Pettee, Barney L. White, 

Upper Falls. S. S. Kilhurn, Adolphus Smith. 

William Adams, W. F. Ward, — West Newton. 

Joseph Bacon, Stephen Trowbridge, Harvey 

James, — Corner. Marshall S. Rice, John Ward, 

Luther Paul, — Centre. Daniel Stone, Samuel 

Stone, Moses Crafts, — Oak Hill. 

I 

1841. Same. 

1842. Same, except Isaac R. Scott vice Barney L. White, 

Upper Falls. 

1843.- Same. 

1844. Board abolished.

(52 ORGANIZATION. 

ENGINEERS. 

NEWTON 

CORNER. 

1844. Stephen W. Trowbridge, Otis Trowbridge. 

1845. " " George Hyde. 

1846. Sylvanns Wetherbee, "• " 

1847. " 

u 

Josiah R. Hodgdon. 

1848. Samuel F. Mower, W. A. Mansfield. 

1849. Francis Hall, Jesse A. Locke. 

1850. Stephen W. Trowbridge, Orrin Whipple. 

1851. " " William C Warren. 

1852. " " Orrin Whipple. 

1853. Joseph S. Jepson, 

1854. ' Edward H. Crowther, 

1855. " " Aaron Marden. 

1856. Harvey L. Vinton, 

1857. 

/ _LJ. \ 111 LI Ml. 

11 U « " 

1858. " " Dexter Whipple. 

U U U U 

1855). 

u 

a 

1860. George Daniels, 

1861. " " Joseph E. Saunders. 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

1862. 

1863. " 

u 

Henry Ross. 

1864. " " W. Parker Leavitt. 

a u u a 

1865. 

,_ rt „ \ Orrin Harris, T ,,, ,, ., 

1866. ] ~ T% • i James W. Bailev. 

( George Daniels, 

1867. " 

1868. W. Parker Leavitt, " 

186 ( J. " 

1870. " 

u 

u 

(Chief), George E. Bridges. 

James W. Hailey. 

1871. George E. Bridges, James W. Bailey. 

1872. W. Parker Leavitt, ' l u 

1873. " "


WEST NEWTOK. 

1844. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

1856. 

1857. 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862. 

1863. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

Samuel Lovell, Samuel S. Kilhurn 

Nathan Crafts, Jr., Seth Davis. 

u 

U 

u 

u 

.. 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

Capron C. Cook (Clerk), 

u 

u U 

.. 

.t 

James P. Snow 

(Chief), Milo Lucas 

u 

a 

u 

WW 

». 

.. 

Samuel Wells, William P. Houghton (Clerk). 

a 

U 

u 

u 

u 

u 

.. u 

Charles H. Jennison, George Fuller 

u 

.. 

.. 

u 

.. 

u 

.. 

a 

u 

Charles Cole. 

Francis W. Bacon, David C. Sanger. 

Samuel Wells, 

.. 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

Kodney ]\f. Lucas, 

Ik 

u 

Ik 

tt 

U 

U 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

u 

.. 

t. 

U 

U 

u 

CI. 

u 

u 

t» 

u 

It 

U 

Stephen F. Gate. 

it 

(Chief). 

u 

U 

it 

William P. Houghton. 

Charles H. Jennison, 

u 

u


LOWER FALLS. 

1844. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

1856. 

1857. 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862. 

1863. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

Benjamin Neal, William Curtis. 

u u u " 

Thomas Rice, Jr. (Clerk), Wyllis G. Eaton 

44 

44 

44 

U 

(Chief), 

u 

u 

(I 

u 

Isaac Hagar. 

Henry P. Eaton, Isaac Hagar, (Chief) 

u 

Stephen Cate, 

41 44 

4b 

44 

• 

44 

44 

Allen Jordan, 

u 

44 

ki, 

44 

4k 

U 

kk 

a 

44 

a 

4k 

44 

John P. Houghton, 

Riifns Moulton 

Henry P. Eaton, 

u 

ik 

W. W. Jackson 

4k 

4k 

4k 

U 

. i 

4k 

kk 

t. 

k4 

44 

44 

14 

44 

44 

44 

44 

U 

44 

44 

4< 

a 

44 44 

w» 

kk 

* ' 

u


UPPKH FALLS. 

1S44. Simeon Grover (Clerk), Isaac R. Scott. 

1845. Ephraim Graver (Clerk), A. H. Randall 

1846. John A. (ioukl, 

IS47. 

u 

ls4S. .Joseph Barney, 

1.S49. 

1850. 

1851. Henry Billings, " 

" James Taylor. 

1853. " " Snmuel II. Hall. 

1854. (leorge \V. Keyes, " " 

1855. Willard Ma icy, 

1856. " " George Pettee. 

1857. " " - " (Clerk). 

1858. H. C. Hoyt, 

1859. 

.» 4k 44 44 

1860. James Nickalson, 

1861. •• " - 

1862. 

k * 

4 - 

tfc 

/ 44 14 

1863. 

/ John A. (ioiild, 

1864. H. W. Fanning 

1865. 

1866. " 

1867. 

1868. " 

1869. 

U 44 44 

44 44 44 

1870. Janus NickeJson, 

44 

1871. Samuel H. Potter, " 

1872. " " " 

1873. " " 

44 

44 .. (. 

44 

k ' 

hfc 

(Chief). 

u 

. . •. 

41 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

u 

44 

44 

44 

4f 

(4 

U


1844. 

1845. 

1840. 

1847. 

1848. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

1856. 

1857. 

1858. 

1859. 

1800. 

1861. 

1862. 

1803. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867. 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873. 

N K W TO X C E X T K E. 

(Josiah H. Moore and John Ward were additional 

engineers 1844-1847. 

Luther Paul (Chief), Marshall 8. Rice. 

Alpheus Trowbridge, 

William Aiken, 

Charles Ewell, 

H. B. Hazleton, 

Roswell W. Turner, Amasa Crafts. 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

U 

tt 

u u 

w. 

.. 

.. 

u 

». 

a 

a 

tt 

Timothy Randall. 

tt 

tt 

Samuel M. Jackson, Stephen Ellis. 

tt 

U 

tt 

tt 

tt 

*t 

Luther Paul, Jr., 

u 

tt 

tt 

u 

tt 

u 

tt 

tt 

u 

u 

u 

tt 

tt 

u 

a 

tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

u 

u 

u 

.» 

.. 

i< 

tt 

.. 

tt 

(Clerk), " 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

(Chief) 

\lpheus Trowbridge 

tt 

tt 

Joseph E. Cousins 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

tt 

.. 

tt 

f. 

It 

.» 

tt 

a 

ht 

tt


NEWTON V TELE. 

AUBURNDALE. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

A. H. Ward. 

W. L. Frothingham. 

U 

U 

1809. 

1870. 

1871. 

George L. Bonn 

u 

U 

U 

U 

1872. 

1873. 

CI 

u 

u 

u 

1872. 

1S73. 

u 

Samuel Cousins. 

u 

CITY OF NEWTON. 

1874 Orrin Whipple, Chief; W. Parker Leavitt, Ward 1; 

W. L. Frothingham, Ward 2; Henry L. Bixby, 

Ward 3; Henry P. Eaton, Ward 4; Samuel H. 

Potter, Benjamin Hopkins (May 14), Ward 5; 

Stephen Ellis, Ward 6, Assistants; W. L. Frothingham, 

Clerk. 

1875. Orrin Whipple, Chief; H. N. Hyde, Jr., Ward 1; 

W. L. Frothingham, Ward 2; Henry L. Bixby, 

Ward 3; John Exley, Ward 4; Benjamin Hopkins, 

Ward 5; Isaac R. Stevens, Ward 6, Assistants; 

Edwin O. Childs, Clerk. 

1876. Orrin Whipple, Chief; W. H. Parks, Jr., Ward 1; 

W. L. Frothingham, W. J. Parker (November 

10), Ward 2; Henry L. Bixby, Ward 3; Isaac W. 

Bird, Ward 4; Richard B. Dailey, Ward 5; 

Joseph E. Cousins, Ward (5, Assistants; Edwin 

O. Childs, Clerk. 

1877-78. George H. Ellis, Chief; Henry L. Bixby, Assistant. 

1*79-94. Henry L. Bixby, Chief; William Bemis, 1879- 

85, W. B. Randlett (March 16, 1885), Assistants. 

1894. Walter B. Randlett (July 11), Chief; F. H. 

Humphrey (November 6), Assistant.

V 

\ 

CHIEF ENGINEERS. 

LUTHER PAUL, 

MAN-SHALL S- RICE, 

May i, 1844, to May 1, 1845. • May 1, 184s, to Mav 2. JO 

NATHAN OAITS, Jk., 

Mav 2, 1849, to May 5, 18^1- 

I . THOMAS RICE, JR., ISAAC HACAR.JR.. 

t/AOv %W*X', . .0.. I8ST, •.. to Ma\ KA... 2. - -o-- i8ss- 

May 2, 1855, to May 6, 1861.

CHIEF ENGINEERS. 

GEORGE PETTEE, W. PARKER LEAVITT, 

Mav 6, 1861, to May 3, 1869 May 3. 1869, to Mav 2, 1870 

RODNEY M. LUCAS, 

May 2, 1870, to February 1, 1874. 

ORRIN WHIPPLE, 

February 1, 1874, to February i, 1877. 

GEORGE H. ELLIS, 

February 1, 1877. to

THE OLD COMPANIES. 

CATARACT No. 1. 

NEWTON LOWER FALLS. 

1813-1877. 

Motto: Faithful and 

Fearless. 

T Newton Lower Falls, in May, 1813, 

was organized Newton's first fire 

company, Cataract No. 1, named 

for the cataract in Charles River, 

within a few feet of the company's 

location for more than half a century. 

In compliance with an act passed by the state 

legislature, mentioned in the preceding chapter. 

the selectmen of Newton, May 3, 1813, appointed 

Francis Hoogs, Isaac Hagar, Ephraim Jackson, 

James Bunce, Edward Fisher, John Greenwood, 

Joshua Jackson, Jr., George Hooker, 

Henry 

Bartlett, Daniel Seaver, 

Amos Hagget, and 

Nathan Hyde enginemen to engine No. 1. 

At 

about the same time the selectmen of Needham 

appointed that town's quota ; but as the records 

of the company, and of the Needham selectmen 

at this time, cannot be found, there is no record

THE OLD COMPANIES. 71 

as to who they were ; neither is there any record 

as to who the officers of the company were until 

L843. 

In 1814 James Bunco and Amos Hagget withdrew, 

and Daniel Ware, Jr., William Durant, 

and Joseph Foster became members. In 1815, 

Henry Bartlett, Daniel Seaver, and John Greenwood 

retired, and Horace Starr became a member. 

There was no change in 1816. 

In 1817 nearly 

half the company withdrew, as follows : Ephraim 

and Joshua Jackson, Nathan Hyde, Horace 

Starr, and Daniel Ware, Jr., and Amos Lyon, 

Joel Ware, Timothy Richardson, Jr., Charles 

Crane, William Harden, and William and 

Edward Curtis were appointed. 

In 1818 Joel Ware, Edward Fisher, William 

Hay den, and William Durant withdrew, 

and 

Ephraim Jackson, Horace Starr, Thomas Small, 

and Adolphus Durant were appointed. In 181 j> 

Ephraim Jackson was succeeded by Timothy 

Woodcock. 

In 1820 Timothy Woodcock and 

Charles Crane were succeeded by Allen C. Curtis 

and Leonard W. dishing. 

In 1821 Isaac Hagar, 

Sen., and Thomas Small were succeeded by William 

Mills and Benjamin Neal, and Brandon 

Hooker was added to the roll. 

Estes succeeded Edward Curtis. 

In 1822 Reuben 

In 1823 Francis 

Hoogs, Timothy Richardson, Jr., and Leonard 

W. Gushing withdrew, and Joseph Greenwood, 

John S. Bartlett, and William Durant were ap-

7»_> 


pointed. 

In 1X24 Amos Lyon and Adolphus 

Durant withdrew, and Warren Curtis and Jonas 

Barnard were appointed. In 1825 Warren Curtis, 

Allen C. Curtis, John S. Bartlett, and Reuben 

Estes withdrew, and Horatio Wheeler, Henry 

T. Small, William Bigelow, and Luther Crane 

were appointed. In 1820 Henry T. Small, George 

Hooker, and William Bigelow withdrew, and 

Henry F. Bartlett, Hiram Hooker, Mortimer 

Lyon, Horatio Durant, Jeremiah F. Daniel 1, John 

Beers, and Silas Warren were appointed. 

The 

company was increased four members this year, 

making Newton's quota beventeen men. In 1827 

John Beers and Silas Warren withdrew, and 

Nathaniel Wales, Jr., and Otis Hunnevvell were 

appointed. 

For twelve years there is no record of members. 

May T, 18:»I>, the selectmen appointed Isaac 

Hagar, Sen., Joel Estes,Wyllis G. Eaton, Timotliy 

N. Fuller, Stephen Cate, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., 

Benjamin F. Martin, Lorenzo Smith, Joseph ]). 

Stowe, Horatio Clark, Henry Smith, Joshua J. 

Gould, William H. Farnham, Samuel Clougli, 

and Francis B. Davis members. In 1840 Timothy 

N. Fuller, Lorenzo Smith, W. H. Farnham, and 

Samuel Clough withdrew, and Timothy Richardson, 

Jr., Henry P. Eaton, Nathan C. Estes, and 

John Hartford were appointed. In 1841 T. 

Richardson, Jr., Horatio Clark, Henry Smith, 

and N. C. Estes withdrew, and Charles H. Gould,


Tristram Durrell, Walter Curtis, Solomon M. 

Curtis, H. Gr. Eaton, Walter Hagar, and Jesse D. 

Haley were appointed. 

In 1842 Stephen Cate, 

Walter Curtis, John Hartford, and Francis B. 

Davis withdrew, and Luther Crane, C. S. Flagg, 

Horatio Clark, and John J. Ware became members. 

In May, 1839, there was another 

company 

appointed by the selectmen for this village, consisting 

of Frederick A. Curtis, Walter C. Curtis, 

C. S. Flagg, Thomas Rice, Jr., Tristram Durrell, 

Charles Winship, Charles Berry, Henry Berry, 

Moses A. Noyes, Joel Houghton, Jr., Charles 

Rice, 2d, Alexis Flagg, Solomon M. Curtis, 

Charles A. Curtis, and Daniel Hagar. 

There is 

110 further record of the existence of this company. 

The first engine used by this company was one 

of the old-fashioned, small, suctionless affairs, described 

with others elsewhere. 

It is probable 

that another engine was procured some time 

before 1M42, as the committee appointed by the 

town that year to examine the different engines 

and report their condition reported that the people 

of the Lower Falls were satisfied with the 

engine they then had. 

As none of the other 

villages were satisfied with what they had, and 

as all of them wanted and received new engines 

except this village, it is probable that they possessed 

a different engine from those in use when

74 THE OLD COMPANIES. 

\ 

their first engine was purchased, or they would 

not have been satisfied with what they had, 

although this village was always satisfied with 

fire apparatus which would not satisfy other villages. 

It is possible that one of the engines purchased 

by the town in 1835 was located here. 

The engine-house was always located just west 

of the present Hose No. 6 station, until the present 

station was built on the old Wales Hotel site, 

in 1809. In 1823 the town voted to erect enginestations 

wherever the selectmen might determine 

necessary, providing the owners of the engines 

would provide the land, and stations were 

at once erected for this and No. 2 company at 

the Upper Falls. 

They were small, one-story 

affairs, just large enough to house the engine. 

After the Thayer engine was purchased in 1843, 

* 

a larger house was built, with a hall in the second 

story for company meetings. 

This house 

stood on long piles on the bank of the river, 

and was used as an engine-house until the last 

Cataract engine arrived, in lx


Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Foreman. 

Isaac Hagar, Jr., First Assistant. 

Edward D. Johnson, Second Assistant. 

George Curtis, Clerk. 

Ebenezer C. Jenkins, Steward. 

Rufus Moulton. 

Tristram Durrell. 

William D. Hatch. 

William C. Hubbard. 

George K. Daniel. 

T. W. Boyt. 

Charles A. Curtis. 

George Spring. 

Henry Curtis. 

Walter Hagar. 

Timothy Hunting, Jr. 

Allen Jordan. 

William Jordan. 

George W. Wakefield. 

George Bourne. 

John C. Parker. 

John B. Mars ton. 

Warren Hyde. 

Allen Richardson. 

Francis Curtis. 

William Hurd. 

Thomas M. Weston 

George Mills. 

Charles H. Belcher. 

Joseph Holmes. 

William L. Clark. 

Francis Bovd. 

Edward Osborne. 

Hiram Cate. 

Harvey G. Eaton. 

Harmon Thomas. 

Alonzo P. Jordan. 

Caleb Gay. 

John Pulsifer. 

James W. Tue. 

Charles Rice, Jr. 

Haley Quincy. 

Henry P. Eaton. 

John McCarty. 

John J. Ware. 

Aratus Thompson. 

Thomas Townsend. 

Jason Morse. 

Stephen Cate. 

Ephraim Parker. 

Joel Estes. 

George W. Hoogs, J r. 

John Appleton. 

Joshua J. Gould. 

George Hatch.


This list includes the Needham men. 

A number 

varying from ten to twenty was appointed 

and paid by that town for this and the Upper 

Falls company each year until the companies 

went out of existence. 

Usuallv the men from 

that town were selected by the company, subject 

to the approval of the selectmen. Newton allowed 

only forty-five men to each company, a number 

sufficient to work all the engines but the Cataract, 

which was the largest. 

This company was famous for its many good 

times. 

Its annual suppers, balls, parties, and 

other festive occasions, which were usually held 

at the hotel of Captain Wales, foreman of the 

company, were many and excellent. They entertained 

lavishly, and were in turn often entertained 

by other organizations. 

February 25, ls4, they 

were the guests of the Bunker Hill Engine Company 

of Charlestown, and were about to sit down 

to an oyster supper when an alarm of fire was 

given for the burning of the Howard Athenaeum 

in Boston. The Charlestown company responded, 

and assisted by the Cataract company worked at 

the fire until a late hour, when the Cataract men 

returned home, minus their oyster supper. 

Captain Nathaniel Wales, Jr., declined a reelection 

in 1850, and retired, after serving seven 

years as foreman, and a quarter of a century as 

a member of the company. 

He was again elected 

foreman in 1859, and served several years.


The old Thayer machine was never much of a 

success, either as a duty or muster engine, and 

was almost constantly in need of repairs. 

Once 

when responding to an alarm over a rough, frozen 

road, the old machine nearly fell to pieces, a considerable 

portion of it being in the tub when it 

reached home. 

It was never a participant in a general muster, 

but was twice a contestant with the other Newton 

engines, mentioned elsewhere. 

Its last fire was Wales Hotel, June , 18


Dennis Leonard. 

J. H. Garfield. 

C. H. Rice. 

George Johnson. 

Charles Sadler. 

H. H. Cate. 

R. H. Harrison. 

Charles Hall. 

James Cunningham 

H. J. Young. 

Fred Mills. 

Frank Barnes. 

Charles Harvey. 

John H. Joy. 

R. J. Ardrie. 

J. P. Crane. 

A. L. Hunter. 

W. 0. Atwood. 

John P. Houghton. 

John McKennon. 

J. D. Nichols. 

R. N. Daniels. 

J. K. Emery. 

N. T. Wescott. 

S. S. Stevenson. 

Fred C. Lyon. 

John W. Whitton. 

John McLoud. 

George Bonner. 

J. B. Smith. 

Atwood Moody. 

Charles Woodman. 

John Shaw. 

Joseph F. Stone. 

E. S. Severans. 

John Khii>;. 

W. H. Garfield. 

The engineers at once borrowed of Hunneman 

the old Tiger No. 5 engine of Lowell, to use until 

the town procured a new one. 

Its first working 

fire was Saturday night, July 18th, when, 

after a six-mile run into the town of Weston, it 

played a few minutes until it exhausted a well 

on the burning barns of K. H. Stone, some two 

miles heyond the centre of the town. 

A number of hand-engines from other towns 

were at the fire, but the arrival of the Tiger with

THE OLD COMPANIES. 7


where it remained until November, when it was 

transferred to the new station built for it, now 

the main portion of Hose No. 6 station. 

This was by far the best duty hand-engine the 

town ever possessed. 

It remained in active service 

until the introduction of water-works rendered 

it of no further use, and February 1, 1877, 

it was retired and traded with Hunneman for 

the first Hose 6» horse hose-carriage, and was 

subsequently in service at Hopkinton, Mass. 

In 

June, 1886, it was sold to Berlin Falls, N. H., 

where it now is in active service. 

Chief W. Parker Leavitt, with his assistants 

and board of selectmen, witnessed an exhibition 

test of the new machine at the Washington 

Street bridge Saturday, May 15th. The Mechanic 

No. 4, Captain R. B. Dailey, was a contestant 

with the new engine in filling a large tank in the 

old Wiswall paper-mill and horizontal playing. 

The Cataract, in command of Alfred G. Whitton, 

won each trial, as new engines always do. 

The 

Cataract company entertained its guests with a 

supper in Boy den Hall at the finish of the trials. 

October 7, 1869, this company, with a delegation 

from the Mechanic -t company, attended a 

general muster at Milford, which was a most unsatisfactorily 

conducted affair, and made a record 

of 151 feet, 10^ inches, occupying the twentythird 

position in a list of twenty six. 

The company 

claimed, as did other companies present,


si 

that they did not get all that they were entitled 

t, ls7

S2 


Another company was organized April 3d, as 

follows : — 

Alfred G. Whitton, Foreman. 

John H. Joy, First Assistant. 

Charles 0. Davis, Second Assistant. 

W. R. Dimond, Clerk. 

H. J. Bemis, Steward. 

F. B. Reed. 

R. J. Ardrie. 

R. H. Monlton. 

David Henshaw. 

Frank Cuttle. 

Joshua L. Sears. 

P. C. Baker. 

Fred C. Lyon. 

H. H. Harris. 

H. 0. Clark. 

Charles Masters. 

Levi Wales. 

William Ardrie. 

C. S. Jones. 

Thomas Purcell. 

R. N. Daniels. 

Mark Terry. 

George Hargraves. 

E. W. Shattuck. 

W. D. Newland. 

Leonard Hurd. 

G. W. Lam son. 

B. B. Clark. 

H. A. Weston. 

E. A. Ardrie. 

G. F. Richardson. 

C. D. Smith. 

J. P. Houghton. 


John Exley. 

William Allen. 

R. Field. 

C. A. Moulton. 

C. M. Hall. 

In January, 1875, the large two-wheeled hosecart 

formerly connected with the Empire No. 5 

hand-engine was placed in this station, with an 

.extra supply of hose, and February 1st the con-

I 

\ 

\UE

84: THE OLD COMPANIES. 

stitution was changed to provide for a third 

assistant foreman to take charge of the six memhers 

appointed for it, and John W. Whitton was 

elected to that position. 

Julv 17th Third Assistant John W. Whitton 

died from the effects of injuries received hy the 

explosion of a cannon he was assisting in firing 

on the morning of July 1th. 

The company attended 

his funeral in a body. 

His death removed 

from the company one of its hest memhers, a 

life-long fireman, and a pipe-man who had no superior. 

In February, 1877, the company went out of 

existence, and Hose No.c> was organized to take 

its place. Its last company was, — 

Frank B. Reed, Foreman. 

Webster Ackers, First Assistant. 

Bernard Early, Second Assistant. 

W. A. Leonard, Clerk. 

George W. Harrison, Steward. 

R. J. Ardrie. Job Monaghan. 

H. H. Harris. Cornelius Madden. 

Levi Wales. 

(x. F. Richardson. 

J. C. Cooney. 


C. S. Jones. S. E. Shattuck. 

Thomas Purcell. 

William Seaver. 

E. W. Shattuck. P. C. Baker. 

C. S. Morse. R. Moors. 

C. A. Wiswall. Thomas Keimey.


R. H. Harrison. William Faulkner. 

G. A. Reed. F. W. Clap]). 

C. F. Abbott. Frank Eaton. 

C. A. Thayer. James Leonard. 

Charles Goulding. 

A. M. Weston. 

C. H. Brown. John Cain. 

F. H. Smith. John Kenney. 

James Fitzgerald. 

Philip Kerr. 

G. N. Smith. T. W. Farrell. 

No records of this company prior to 18*18 can 

be found, and it is impossible to obtain a complete 

list of its officers. 

Nathaniel Wales, Jr., 

was foreman from 1842 to 1850, Charles Rice, 

2d, from 1850 to 1854, George T. Denton from 

1854 to 1859, Nathaniel Wales from 185!) for 

several years. 

W. W. Jackson was foreman in 

18

OFFICERS CATARACT ENGINE COMPANY No. 1. 

oo 

FOREMAN. 

FIRST ASSISTANT. 

SECOND ASSISTANT. 

CLEUK. 

STEWARD. 

186. John P. Houghton. C. S. Morse. 


A. D. Mcintosh. 

E. C. Jenkins. 

1867. George B.Davidson. C. W. Garfield 

C E. Hall. 

A. D. Mcintosh. 

E. C Jenkins. 

1868. Henry Curtis. 

Alfred G. Whitton. 


Charles S. Morse. 

John W. Whitton 

( C. A. Moulton. 

1869. Alfred G. Whitton. 

Albert G. Whitton. Charles S. Morse. William Costello. 

( James P. Crane. 

C. W. Garfield. 

JsTO. James P. Crane. John Carman. 

John Kerrivan. Charles S. Morse. 

Albert G. Whitton 

1871. John Carman 

( R. J. Ardrie. 

G. W. Davidson. John Dolan. William Costello. 

( Thomas Hay den. 

( Jerry Warren. 

1872. John Carman G. B. Davidson. G. W. Davidson. John Dolan. 

I John II. Joy. 

1873. John Carman. 

i George Morse. 

( H. J. Bemis. 

Thomas Cunningham. \ 

John Dolan. 

( R. H. Harrison, 

I John F. Warren. 

1874. Alfred G. Whitton. John II. Joy. 

C. O. Davis. W. R. Dimond H. J. Bemis. 

1875. 

John P^xley. 

R. H. Moulton. 

\ 

John II. Joy. 

( John P. Houghton 

F. B. Reed. 

W. R. Dimond. Peter Baker. 

is;*;. F. B. Reed. John H. Joy. 

John W. Whitton 

C. S. Morse. 

W. R. Dimond. R. II. Harrison. 

1877. F. B. Reed. Webster Ackers. Bernard Early. W. A. Leonard. G. W. Harrison. 

X 

rn 

O 

D 

o 

"0 

> 

m


sT 

WASHINGTON ENGINE No. 2. 

NEWTOK I l'l'KK FALLS. 

L820-1842. 

Engine company N. 2 was organized at the 

Upper Falls in 1820, and was known as Newton 

Engine Society No. 2. 

Its engine was owned by 

the Ellis iron-mills corporation, located at Boylston 

Street bridge. 

The first record is of a 

meeting held at Wiswall's tavern 

November 

8, 182, when Joseph Barney and Otis Pettee 

were chosen catoos to serve until the next annual 

meeting. 

May 2. L821, the society completed its organization 

as follows : — 

Joseph Barney, First Captain. 

J 

Elijah Story, Second Captain. 

Walter McFarland, Third Captain. 

Elijah F. Woodward, Clerk. 

Joseph Barney, 

Cyrus Cunningham, 

[. Catoos. 

Elijah Story, 

y 

Moses Crafts. 

Elisha Wiswall. 

Elisha Willis. 

William Eaton, Jr. 

Otis Pettee. 

Kinsley Allen. 

Charles F. Pettee 

Nathan Shed. 

Elisha Moseley. 

Moses Alden.


CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE 1. 

We, the subscribers, members of 

Newton Engine Society No. 2, hold it as our unalienable 

right to admit members into said society 

and dismiss such as shall be disagreeable to us. 

ARTICLE 2. 

We also hold it as our right to 

elect our own officers, which shall be a first, 

second, and third captain, and a clerk. 

The first 

captain present at any meeting shall be leader 

and moderator of said meeting, whose reasonable 

orders we will obey, and render him that respect 

which is his due. 

Said officers shall always be 

' chosen by ballot. 

ARTICLE 3. 

No person shall be admitted into 

this society without a written vote from a majority 

of its members. 

ARTICLE T. 

The society shall meet to work 

the engine and transact any other business 

belonging to them, on the first 

Wednesday 

in April, May, June, July, August, September, 

October, and November, all of which meetings 

shall be at sunset except the annual meeting, 

which shall be at 0 o'clock, P. M. 

The roll shall 

be called at the times of meeting above named, 

and after the engine shall be worked and returned 

to its place, and if any member be absent 

at either roll-call he shall be lined twenty-five 

cents. 

ARTICLE 5. The annual meeting of the soci-


ety shall be on the first Wednesday in May, 

when the officers for the ensuing year shall be 

chosen, and also catoos shall be appointed to 

take the immediate care of the engine until the 

next annual meeting. 

ARTICLE


ARTICLE 12. 

At our meetings notice shall he 

given when the reckoning is called for, and if 

any member shall presume to call for anything 

after the reckoning is brought in, until the clerk 

has settled the same, he shall be lined fifty cents 

and pay for what he calls for. 

ARTICLE 13. 

Every member shall pay his 

proportionable part of the expenses which arise 

at our monthly meetings, whether present or 

absent. 

ARTICLE 14. 

If either of the catoos be absent 

when their business is to be done, he shall be 

liable to a fine of fifty cents. 

ARTICLE 15. 

Every member who does not 

pay his fine in three months after he is asked for 

it shall be dismissed from the society, provided 

he is in town during that time. 

ARTICLE 16. When the moderator at any 

meeting of the society shall have called for order, 

any member presuming to speak shall 

forfeit 

twenty cents. 

ARTICLE 17. 

The foregoing articles shall be 

read at each annual meeting, and at the admission 

of mem hers, who must sign them when admitted. 

ARTICLE 18. 

This constitution shall not be 

altered without the consent of two thirds of its 

members. 

ARTICLE 1!>. 

Any member leaving the society 

shall relinquish and leave all his right in funds 

or any other property belonging to the society.


ARTICLE 20. 

All funds belonging to this society 

shall be expended for their benefit in such 

manner as they shall determine. 

The meetings of the society were held at Wiswall's, 

afterwards Manufacturers', tavern, a 

famous hostlery in the old Worcester turnpike 

stage-coach days, located on the north side of 

Boylston Street, between High and Chestnut 

streets, now a tenement house. 

ENGINE NO. 2 HOUSE, BUILT IN 1823. * 

The engine was kept in a small building just 

large enough to admit it, which was located on 

the south side of Boylston Street, between Chestnut 

and Ellis streets. 

The old building was sold 

* All engine-houses built by the town prior to 1842 

were similar to this building.


in 1855 for $1.3.50, and is now in Rockland Place, 

in about the same condition as when abandoned 

as a lire-station, upwards of half a century ago. 

This society, like most of the early fire companies, 

was a convivial body, and its meetings 

festive occasions, as its constitution indicates. 

It was an independent organization, and paid 

its own expenses. 

In 1H24 it provided a pair of 

shafts and harness for a horse to draw the engine 

to and from fires, for which it paid for a single 

horse seventeen cents per mile, and for two horses 

twelve and a, half cents each per mile. 

There 

are several records of payment for horse-hire for 

long runs to Brookline, Needham, and other 

neighboring towns. 

The clerk was paid a salary of one dollar per 

annum, which he undoubtedly earned, as he 

kept the records and accounts, collected the fines, 

settled the " reckoning" at the meetings, and 

was treasurer of the society. 

Elijah F. Woodward, the first clerk, was an 

excellent penman for that time. 

He was town 

clerk for twenty years from 1820 to 184:(>. 

At the annual meeting in May, 1826, the society 

found itself the possessor of a five-dollar 

bill of the Eagle Bank of New Haven, which it 

authorized to be exchanged for other money on 

the best terms possible. After six months 1 fruitless 

efforts to exchange it, it was sold at auction 

to one of the members for fifty cents.


In 1830 the admission fee was reduced from 

four to two dollars. 

After a suction engine had been provided for 

this company, hosemen were appointed in 1838. 

Artemas Ambler and John Brown were the first 

appointed. 

The members of the company, in addition to 

those before mentioned, and the date of their 

• 

admission, were as follows : — 

1821. 

Silas Bacon. 

Oren Colburn. 

1822. 

Steward Haskell. 

Lemuel Wood. 

1823. 

Edward Haskell. 

Whipple Freeman. 

Isaac Keyes. 

Carter H. Lincoln. 

1821. 

David Burton. 

Perley Putnam. 

1825. 

Hiram Bixby. 

Alvan Davenport. 

Mo wry Amsbury. 

Dana Manson. 

1827. 

Elisha Boy den. 

Nathan Shepardson. 

1828. 

Shepard Dixon. 

Albert Haskell. 

1829. 

Warren Cheever. 

Charles Mason. 

Artemas Newell, Jr. 

George Keith. 

John L. Skinner. 

Elijah Hersey, Jr. 

Samuel Hildreth. 

Samuel Montgomery 

Hall Ham. 

1830. 

Nicholas Nute. 

1831. 

Luther S. Raymond. 

Moses J. Graves. 

Augustus Bixby. 

Bradford Barden. 

Amasa Aid en. 

William H. Ellis.


John A. Cass. 

William Woodward. 

Curtis Brackett. 

1832. 

De Witt C. Brackett 

Ira Beard. 

Hezekiah Hildreth. 

Walter Waterman. 

Peter C. Seavy. 

Henry Jackson. 

1833. 

Josiah H. Carter. 

Horace Whitney. 

Lyman Cheever. 

Abijah Trask. 

George W. Keyes. 

1837. 

Artemas Ambler. 


Jonathan Bixby. 

1838. 

Joseph W. Baker. 

David Fuller. 

Joseph Hunting. 

Leonard Hurd. 

1835). 

James C. Harper. 

Eliab Pratt. 

James Munroe. 

John Mills. 

Stephen Pettingill. 

George Mills. 

Augustus Richards. 

Elijah Trask. 

Joseph Whitmore. 

Samuel Mcintosh. 

L. S. Young. 

1840. 

Charles Whitney. 

Nathaniel Harlow. 

M. P. Sturtevant. 

Samuel B. Cheney. 

J. B. Wetherell. 

Francis F. Keyes. 

Stephen Hurd. 

1841. 

M. P. Sturtevant, Jr. 

George P. Richards. 

Barney Morse. 

Joseph Fisk. 

Lewis Hurd. 

There is no record of the existence of a company 

in lsP,4, 1835, and 1836. 

Its last engine was named Washington.


When the new No. 4 arrived, in 1842, the 

company was disbanded, and a volunteer company 

of young men, not old enough to become 

members of the new No. 4 company, was organized, 

and for a number of years did considerable 

service with it in this and other villages. 

Its 

last fire was a barn on the Ellis heirs' estate at 

corner of Chestnut and Boylston streets, June 

IT, 1854, when tbe volunteers displeased 

the 

local engineer, who the next morning had the 

engine taken to the stone building near the stone 

barn, where it remained until sold to Otis Pet.tee 

& Co. in 1856 for $17.50, and by them demolished, 

and the wheels did duty for many years on a 

vehicle used about the premises.

OFFICERS WASHINGTON ENGINE COMPANY No. 2. 

CO 

FIRST CAPTAIN. SECOND CAPTAIN. THIRD CAPTAIN. CLERK. CATOOS. 

1821. Joseph Barney. 

1822. Elijah Story. 

Elijah Story. Walter McFarland. Elijah F.Woodward. Joseph Barney. 

Walter McFarland. Moses Crafts. Elijah F.Woodward. C Cunningham. 

( Elijah Story, 

j C Cunningham 

) Elijah Story. 

\ Elisha Willis. 

1823. Walter McFarhuid. Moses Crafts. Cyrus Cunningham. Elijah F.Woodward. C, Cunningham. Elisha Willis. 

1824. Moses Crafts. Cyrus Cunningham Elisha Wiswall. Elijah F.Woodward. Walter McFarland. Silas Bacon. 

1825. Cyrus Cunningham. Elisha Wiswall. Moses Alden. Elijah F.Woodward. Kinsley Allen Nathan Shed. 

1826. Elisha Wiswall. 

1827. Kinsley Allen. 

1828. Charles F. Pettee. 

1829. Silas Bacon. 

1830. Hiram Bixby. 


Charles F. Pettee. 

Silas Bacon. 

Hiram Bixby. 

Alvan Davenport 

Charles F. Pettee. 

Silas Bacon. 

Hiram Bixby. 


Nathan Shed. 

Elijah F.Woodward. 

< )ren Colburn. 

Oren Colburn. 

Oren Colburn. 

Oren Colburn. 

Lemuel Wood 

Dana Manson. 

Edward Haskell. 

John L. Skinner. 

Nicholas Nute. 

Isaac Keyes. 

Whipple Freeman 


Dana Manson. 

Hall Ham. 

1831. Alvan Davenport Nathan Shed. Whipple Freeman. Artemas Newell, Jr. Augustus Bixby. Hiram Bixby. 

1832. Hall Ham. Moses J. Graves. W. H. Ellis. Artemas Newell, Jr. WilliamWoodward. Walter Waterman 

1833. William H. Ellis. L. S. Raymond. Augustus Bixby. Artemas Newell, Jr. Peter C. Seavy. Ira Beard. 

1834-36. No Company. 

1837. Oren Colburn. Moses Alden. 

1838. George W. Morse. Augustus Richards 

1831). Augustus Richards. Oren Colburn. 

1840. No Record. 

Augustus Richards. Josiah H. Carter. 


Lewis Hurd. 

Josiah H. Carter. 

Josiah II. Carter. 

Whipple Freeman. Oliver Plympton. 

Whipple Freeman. A. Richards. 

Whipple Freeman. Artemas Ambler 

1841. Stephen Hurd. Lewis Hurd. Whipple Freeman. Eliab Pratt. David Kuller. Artemas Ambler 

H 

rn 

O 

D 

o 

> 

m 

c/>


WEST NEWTON No. 3. 

1822-1871. 

Motto: Prompt in Danger. 

Ill 1822 residents of the West Parish formed 

a stock company and purchased a small fire-engine 

for the protection of that then sparsely 

settled farming community. 

The engine was 

named Despatch, and February 4th the selectmen 

appointed the following persons engine-men 

to operate it : — 

Nathaniel Fuller. 

Jonas Smith. 

Aaron Baker. 

William Alden. 

Abijah Fuller-. 

Adolphus Smith. 

Joseph Mead. 

Henry Smith. 

Ashel Gould. 

John D. Peck. 

Darius Smith. 

Enoch Smith, Jr. 

Thomas Houghton. 

Silas Ross. 

William Smith. 

Seth Davis. 

There is no record whatever of this company 

except the appointment of its members, which 

were constantly changing, more so than in any 

other company. 

The new members appointed, 

so far as there is a record, were as follows : — 

1823. 

Thomas D. Park. 

Barney L. White. 

Joshua Washburn. 

W. N. Waterhouse. 

S. S. Bradford. W. F. Ward.


< 

1824. 

Charles Loker. 

E. D. Brooks. 

Charles Capen 

David Wood. 

Edwin Smith. 

Asa Rose. 

1839. 

S. S. Kilburn. 

Charles E. Allen. 

William Flagg. 

Nathan Baker, Jr. 

Harrison Neal. 

W. P. Houghton. 

Lvman Adams. 

1825. 

* 

James Allen. 

Samuel Parsons. 

William Parks. 

Edward Jacksoi I . 

George Mosman. 

1826. 

John D. Clark. 

Jesse Wheeler. 

John Allen. 

Charles Washburn. 

Robert Durrell. 

John Cobb. 

Abijah P. Smith. 

1827. 

Windsor Puffer. 

Henry B. Stone. 


Sylvanus W. Smith 

Eli Sawyer. 

Jonathan Pierce. 

Capron C. Cook. 

William Johnson. 

James N. Sliackford. 

Solomon Houghton, Ji 

John Murray, Jr. 

George Trowbridge. 

Enoch Smith. 

Henry Ross. 

Charles Sedick. 

Henry A. Parker. 

Aaron Baker, Jr. 

Eben Damon. 

Milo Lucas. 

W. F. Ward. 

1840. 

Samuel Brown. 

J. W. Bruce. 

Charles Tread rick. 

H. Gr. Putnam. 

Jose])]) W. Kent. 

Artemas Putnam. 

a 

J. A. Jacknian.


W. H. Bacon. Zalmon Thomas. 

H. C. Noyes. Franklin Houghton. 

John C. Kent. 

James C. SIIOAV. 

1841. Oscar Lucas. 

Henry Fuller. 

Henry P. Gay. 

David Fuller. 

Horace Bacon. 

George Shackford. 

Edward Ryan. 

The owners' certificate of stock was a small, 

cheap card, about two by three inches in size, on 

which was printed,— 

"This is to certify that Mr. 

is one of 

the proprietors of the engine in the West Parish 

in Newton, and that he has taken and paid for 

shares. 

"NEWTON, 1826." 

It contained no signature whatever. 

The new Hunneman engine purchased by the 

town for this village in 1842 was received Monday, 

May 16th. 

and numbered 3. 

It was named West Newton, 

The company was increased 

* 

to forty-five members, and organized as follows 

: — 

Samuel Lovell, Foreman. 

William P. Houghton, First Assistant. 

Charles Treadrick, Second Assistant. 

John A. Jackman, Clerk. 

John Mead, Steward. 

S. S. Kilburn. Henry Fuller. 

J. N. Shackford. William Brown.

loo 


Harrison Neal. 


Henry P. Gay. 

George Shackford. 

Solomon Houghton 

Edward Ryan. 

George Fuller. 

George W. Kent. 

William F. Ward. 

Edward Morrill. 

William H. Bacon. 

Eodney M. Lucas. 

Nathan Crafts. 

James P. Snow. 

Samuel Severans. 

Jonathan Book. 

Horace Bacon. 

David Fuller. 

Moses F. Tate. 

Frank Houghton. 

Oscar Lucas. 

John C. Kent. 

Thomas McGaw. 

Henry Ross. 

S. W*. Carlton. 

William Park. 

W. R. Foss. 

A. J. A. Jackman. 

M. Kenney. 

Samuel Jackson. 

S. Strout. 

Aaron Baker. 

H. S. Putnam. 

Charles N. Duncan 

John Hannon. 

Samuel Lovell, 2d. 

Soon after the new engine arrived, an invitation 

was received from Nonantum Co. No. o 

K 5 

which also had a new engine of exactly the same 

size and pattern, for a contest of engines at 

Laundry pond, Monday, August 1st, which was 

promptly accepted. 

The records of the Nonantum 

company say of it: " Tried with West Newton 

Engine No. 3. 

Filled up both engines and 

Itlaved into each other. 

No. 3 run No. 5 over, 

and then with pipe came out about even." 

There ran he no doubt that the West New-


lol 

ton was the winner, when its opponent's records 

acknowledge it. 

It was a contestant in the several musters of 

• 

Newton engines, and in a challenge contest with 

Eagle No.


firemen were not responsible for the failure of 

the caterer to keep his agreements. 

The horizontal playing followed, which was 

not completed, on account of darkness. 

The 

West Newton was one of the several that were 

unable to play. 

The company was in command 

of Captain Charles E. Allen. 

Its next muster was at Milford, September 10, 

1850, which was a most successful affair. C. H. 

Jennison was foreman. 

The playing was horizontal, 

and the West Newton at finish occupied 

sixth position in ten, with 175 feet, 10 inches. 

It was the only second-class machine present. 

At the Worcester muster, September 4, 1857, 

the largest hand-engine muster ever held, with 

fifty-four contestants, the West Newton secured 

the thirty-fifth position, with 131 feet perpendicular 

playing through four hundred feet of 

hose. 

It however beat Mechanic No. 4 by nine 

feet, which gave the company considerable satisfaction. 

Its last muster was at Manchester, N. H., 

September 15, 1859, which was also the last 

muster of importance until after the war and 

the introduction of steam fire-engines. 

There 

were fifty-two contestants, the West Newton 

occupying the forty-seventh position, with 106 

feet. The playing was perpendicular. Captain 

Rodney M. Lucas was in command at both these 

musters.


111 1859 the engine was repainted by L. 8. 

Holman of Newton Corner, and its name changed 

from West Newton to Triton. 

It was the handsomest 

hand-engine ever in active service in 

Newton when the company received it from the 

painter. 

It was painted cream color, beautifully 

striped and gilded. 

The name "Triton," 

in fancy letters oh the sides of the tub, was encircled 

by a bright red scroll. 

On the right stanchion 

was painted a representation of Neptune, 

with a young Triton in his arms, and surrounded 

by a host of others of all sizes disporting 

themselves by spouting water. 

On the left 

stanchion was represented an Indian brave defending 

his bride, his quiver empty, and he in 

the act of sending his last arrow to his last living 

foe. 

On each bucket was also painted an appropriate 

picture. 

The company received the engine from 

the 

painter Monday, July 18th, and with it marched 

to the Waltham line, where they were received 

by Neptune Engine Co. No. 3, Captain Gardner 

Banks, and escorted to the house of that company, 

where a collation awaited them. 

Later 

both companies returned to West Newton and 

partook of a banquet at the Railroad House. 

Tuesday evening, April 21, 1803, while most 

of the members were at a circus in Waltham or 

serving Uncle Sam at the front, the enginehouse, 

located on Washington Street, nearly

10-1 THE OLD COMPANIES. 

opposite Waltham Street, was totally destroyed 

by fire. 

The engine was saved by citizens. 

Another house was built, and dedicated Saturday, 

February 20, 184. This building now 

occupies its original site on Chestnut near Washington 

Street, and is used for business purposes. 

PRESENT APPEARANCE OF TRITON NO. 3 HOUSE. 

With the exception of the removal of the belfry 

and bell, and changing of the engine entrance 

doors to a window, it is the same in appearance 

now as when used for a 

fire-station. 

The company, March 2, 1868, presented Captain 

David Almon with a costly gold badge ;


June 1st, First Assistant Henry L. Bixby with 

a two-hundred-dollar gold watch ; and June 1, 

1869, Assistant Engineer R. M. Lucas with a 

sixty-four-cone Wilson fire-hat. 

Several times during its some thirty years of 

service in this village, the engine was without a 

company, but in no instance for a long period. 

The last disbandment before it was retired from 

service was soon after the Lucas shop tire at 

West Newton, September 12, 1869, and was the 

result of a conflict of opinion between the company 

and the engineers relative to obeying an 

engineer's order at that fire, — a not infrequent 

occurrence in those days, when there were more 

. • i • 

engineers and less discipline, and both the department 

and fires were managed 

differently 

from what they are to-day. 

A hoseman was 

fined for refusing to obey an engineer's order ; • 

the company paid his fine and disbanded. 

The 

liosenian's excuse was, that he could save more 

property by doing as he did than by obeying the 

order, and the company evidently agreed with 

him. 

A meeting of citizens was held at the enginehouse 

September 23d, to organize a "homeguard 

" company, which was done as follows: — 

W. P. Houghton, Foreman. 

C. S. Phillips, First Assistant. 

E. B. Trowbridge, Second Assistant.


0. S. W. Bailev, Clerk. 

John C. Avles, Steward. 

J. Q. A. Hawkes, 

Henrv Crafts, 

William Trowbridge, 

George Simpson, 

1 

J 

; Leading: Hosemen. 

Frank Cole, 

B. D. Griggs, j 

Suction llosemen. 

D. C. Sanger. 

Luther Bailey. 

W. L. Smith. 

A. Williams. 

David Almon. 

Milo Lucas. 

Oscar Lucas. 

George H. Haynes. 

N. C. Pike. 

A. C. Dearborn. 

J. E. Gammons. 

Aaron Barker. 

Joshua Deane. 

J. U. Kimball. 

E. T. Wiswall. 

A. W. Trowbridge. 

George Saunders. 

G. A. Hoiiiihton. 

C. G. Estes. 

B. F. Houghton. 

- 

George E. Allen. 

John C. Kent. 

Charles Lawrence. 

Charles Kimball. 

Willard Rand. 

W. H. Trowbridge 

L. P. Stone. 

W. B. Little. 

George Cole. 

Charles E. Barker. 

P. H. Humphrey. 

Edward Fisher. 

A. G. Newell. 

C. H. Jennison. 

F. H. Hobart, 

George E. Hayford 

A. H. Sheppard. 

Everett Allen. 

F. Bennett. 

Thomas Fox.


Others subsequently became members, as follows 

: 

George H. Fields. 

Albert Johnson. 

R. M. Lindley. 

C. H. Berry. 

Samuel Moors. 

William Pettigrew 

M. Quimby. 

Sidney Stevens. 

W. F. Rand. 

J. H. Harris. 

Joseph Todd. 

A. Williams. 

Frank Savard. 

C. S. Wilson. 

Albert Warren. 

A. Knox. 

Arthur Gunnison. 

M. F. Lucas. 

E. N. Raston. 

W. H. Rand. 

William Rand. 

E. L. South wort! i 

A. W. Fairbanks. 

It was voted to attend no tires outside of West 

Newton, Newtonville, and Anhurndale, unless 

sent for. 

March 5, 1871, it voted to increase its 

limits so as to include Upper and Lower Falls 

and Needham. The company attended a number 

of fires, and rendered some excellent service. 

The arrival of steam fire-engine No. 2, October 

8, 1871, rendered it of no further service. October 

7th the company disbanded. 

The engine was stored in the old engine-house 

until May 3, 1872, when it was transferred to 

Auburndale, where it took the place of the Monitor 

No. 2 chemical engine. 

It remained in service 

here until March 19, 187-1, when the present 

Hose No. 5 was organized and took its place.


It was subsequently sold with other apparatus 

to Charles Cole of West Newton, in part payment 

for coal-wagons for the steam fire-engine 

companies. 

He sold it to Hunneman, its builder, 

who sold it to South Wolf borough, N. H., where 

it is now in active service, and has been for a 

number of years. 

It is now known as Monitor 

No. L. 

Nearly all the company records previous to 

L809 are missing, and a complete list of its officers 

are unobtainable.

oi 

OFFICERS TRITON ENGINE COMPANY No. 3. 

FOREMAN. 



CLERK. 

STEWARD 

< 

CL 

o 

u 

O 

LU 

X 

1842. Samuel Lovell. 

1843. Samuel Lovell. 

1844. Charles E. Allen. 

1845. No Record. 

184(5. No Record. 

1847. 1). B. Damon, 

1848. D. B. Damon. 

1S49. Charles E. Allen. 


1851. D. 15. Damon. 

1852. C. H. Jennison. 

1853 Charles E. Allen. 




1857. Rodney M. Lucas. 



1860. David Almon. 


1862. George B. Whitney. 







1869. Henry L. Bixby. 

1870. \V. P. Houghton. 

1871. E. B. Trowbridge. 



Henry Fuller. 


Rodnev M. Lucas 

D. C. Sanger. 


Charles F. Bailey. 

Charles F. Bailey. 

Obed Porter. 

J. Q. A. Hawkes. 

J. C Farrar. 

John Forsyth. 

John Forsyth. 


Daniel Sanger. 

Henry L. Bixby. 







John Moran. 

C. S. Phillips. 

G. A. Houghton. 

C. A. Ilulburt. 

C S. Phillips. 

Charles Treadrick. 

Henry Fuller. 

Levi Thompson. 

C F. Bailey. 

C. F. Bailev. 

C. F, Bailey. 



Charles Houghton 

J. R. Pratt. 

John Forsyth. 

John ForsVth. 



G. W. Lamson. 



Michael Tatfe. 

Daniel Jenkins. 

P. J. Monks. 

James Keegan. 

E. B. Trowbridge 

B. D. Griggs. 

John A. Jackman 

John Mead. 

John Mead. 

Milo Lucas. 

A.J. Cook. 

A. J. Cook. 

A. *). Cook. 

D. B. Damon. 

John A. Bailey. 

D. C. Sanger. 

D. C. Sanger. 

1). C. Sanger. 

Samuel Wells. 

Samuel Wells. 

Samuel Wells. 

Samuel Wells. 

A. F. Tucker. 

Daniel Jenkins. 

Charles H. Stacey. 



O. S. W. Bailey. 

O. S. W. Bailey. 

John Mead. 

S. S. Kilburn. 


D. B. Damon. 

A.J. Cook. 




Charles Houghton. 

David Almon. 

David Almon. 



J. F. Dolan. 

J. F. Dolan. 

Michael Barry. 

R. M. Lucas.* 



John Welch. 

George D. Merriam 

John C Ayles. 

R. M. Lindley.


MECHANIC No. 4. 

NEWTON UPPER FALLS. 

1842-1879. 

Motto : Van', Vidi, ^ri


HI 

Joseph D. Kent. 

Joseph C. Everett. 

Nahnni Knight. 

Jonas Knight. 

Otis Pettee. 

When the new Huimeman engine was purchased, 

in 1812, instead of taking the name and 

number of the engine it was to succeed, Washington 

No. 2, as did all the other engines purchased 

at that time, it was numbered 4, and named 

Upper Falls, and an entirely new company organized 

for it. 

The new Upper Falls No. 1 arrived Saturday, 

July 2, 1812, and was located in the new station 

erected for it on High Street, now a dwellinghouse. 

Its first company consisted of, — 

Pliney Bosworth, Foreman. 

James Taylor, First Assistant. 

Luther S. Raymond, Second Assistant. 

Simeon drover, Clerk. 

Nathaniel W. Everett, Steward. 

W. S. Howard. John T. Williston. 

W. H. Smith. Charles Mead. 

* 

Edwin Reed. 

John Harris, Jr. 

William Ames. 

0. Waterman. 

M. B. Sturtevant. John Whipple. 

Simon Clark. 

Enoch Richards. 

Jonas Nickelson. 

Samuel B. Everett. 

Royal S. Warren. 

Uriah Plympton. 

Caleb C. Marshall. 

W. A. Willard.


Henry Billings. 

Charles Scott. 

Charles Davidson. 

Dexter Whipple. 

George K. Reed. 

Ephraim Grover. 

Orrin Whipple. 

William Jackson. 

John A. Gould, Jr. 

William Nickelson. 

William E. Clarke. 

Leonard Farewel 1. 

William Leonard. 

Beriah Billings. 

Jacob B. Wether ell 

Enos D. Barney. 

John M. Edson. 

Albert Billings. 

C. H. Brown. 

Albert Stanwood. 

The following persons were soon after added 

to the membership roll : — 

T. J. Richardson. Collins Winslow. 

Claudius Wads worth. 

Jonathan Bixby. 

Joseph Gardner. 

Whipple Freeman. 

Rodney G. Fuller. 

Charles Gould. 

James Richards. 

James Barnard. 

G. B. Hawes. 

Francis Deluce. 

J. M. Sherman. 

Thomas Wellington 

George C. Sherman 

Isaac Smith, Jr. 

David Scott. 

Philip A. Green. 

Erastus Pond. 

James A. Rav.. 

Charles Howard. 

Andrew Cheney. 

George Winslow. 

Simeon Clark. 

C. T. Aiken. 

Levi Abbott. 

Alonzo Bosworth 

George Bridges. 

Elijah Brooks. 

James Barnev. 

John Bird. 

Robert Coffee. 

L. Davenport. 

George Gould,


H. 8. Josselyn. 

James M. Wood. 

J. M. Mitchell. 

S. P. Hews. 

J. H. Batchelder. 

Albert Hersey. 

C. B. Hay ward. 

Stephen Keyes. 

George W. Keyes. 

Oliver Plympton. 

Calvin (lav. 

Martin Hunting. 

Luther Woodward. 

Elisha Snow. 

W. S. S. White. 

William Kahurl. 

Moses La Croix. 

Brackett Lord. 

Otis Pettee, Jr. 

William O'Sullivan 

J. M. Ward. 

Levi Williams. 

E. R. Winslow. 

Simon Moulton. 

Joseph Moulton. 

James Moran. 

David J. Staples. 

J. L. Sterlin 

Charles Wheeler. 

Samuel Winslow 

This company, like all the fire companies of 

this village up to the present time, always had 

a full complement of men, with a large number 

on the waiting list. 

No engine in town would 

turn out more men, members and volunteers, at 

tires than would No. 4 ; and it always went with 

a full drag-rope, which frequently was not long 

enough to accommodate all that went with it. 

It used often to be said that the head of the 

rope turned a corner several minutes before the 

engine did, so long was the line of men drawingit. 

No company made quicker time or worked 

their engine longer or better with their own men 

than did No. 4. 

It seldom stopped or lagged for


want of men, which was a common occurrence 

with the other companies. 

The engine was never much of a sporting 

machine, hut for duty it had no superior, and 

when in line it usually held its own. 

A number 

of machines of this and other towns have seen 

its water flowing in torrents over their sides, or 

its brakes stop because they were unable to 

supply it. 

It was a contestant in the local musters hereafter 

mentioned. 

Its first general muster was at Ashland, October 

6, 184!). 

Samuel H. Hall was then foreman. 

There were eight contestants, including Nonantum 

No. 5. 

The playing was tub-and-tub, the 

entire number playing in line into each other. 

The result was most unsatisfactory, 

without 

victory for any one. 

At the great Worcester muster, September 4, 

1857, in command of Captain A. H. Randall, it 

played a perpendicular stream through four 

hundred feet of hose one hundred and twenty- 

J 

five feet, and obtained the forty-fourth position 

in a list of fifty-four. 

The company, with the Eagle No. 6 engine, 

attended a muster at Brockton, October 9, 1871. 

when Richard Kerrivan was foreman, and 

through two hundred and fifty feet of hose 

played a horizontal stream L60 feet, \% inches, 

occupying the twentieth position in a list of


twenty-live, including some of the best engines 

then in existence. 

When George E. Haven was foreman, in L856, 

at bis suggestion the name of the engine was 

changed from Upper Falls to Mechanic, a most 

appropriate name, as most of its members were 

mechanics. 

The history of this company is not unlike that 

of most others, with its good times, its suppers, 

balls, and other festive occasions, as well as difficulties 

when it was not on the best of terms with 

the engineers or some other company. 

An important epoch in its history occurred in 

L858, when Isaac Hagar was chief, which resulted 

in the disbandment of the company, and 

the publication of explanatory articles in the 

Boston daily papers and the old Firemen's Advocate. 

The engine was out of order, and would not 

work properly, as was demonstrated by several 

trials in the presence of the engineers. 

It was 

sent to its builder for repairs. 

The practice 

of the old board of engineers was always economy. 

It economized, or tried to, in this instance 

by having the job half done. 

The engine was 

returned, and again tried, with but little better 

results. 

Several trials were made with like results, 

and the company adopted the following, 

which was published in the Boston Herald, and 

a copy sent to the board of engineers : —


NEWTON UPPER FALLS, 

July 7, 1858. 

To the Honorable Board of Engineers of the Fire 

Department of the town of Newton. 

At a regular meeting of the Mechanic Engine 

Co. No. -t, held at their engine-house on the evening 

of July 7, 1858, the following resolve was 

passed : — 

"Resolved, that we, the officers and members 

of Mechanic Engine Co. No. 4, will not take the 

engine out of the house until it is put in proper 

working order ; as the machine is at present, all 

the firemen of Newton could not work her ten 

minutes." 

Per order of company. 

DANIEL G. RICE, Foreman. 

GEORGE A. BILLINGS, Clerk. 

The engineers lost no time in placing a new 

lock on the engine-house door, which was the 

form then used to disband a company. 

Another 

company was organized, with the veteran Samuel 

H. Hall foreman, which was composed largely 

of middle-aged and old men, and the ex-members 

allied themselves with the Eagle No. 6 company 

as volunteers. 

The defects of the engine were remedied soon 

after the new company took possession of it, and 

new cylinders provided, which it is said were 

surreptitiously put in late one night, that the

j : 

m 

n 

V- 

- 

* 1 

> 

n 

o 

* « 

^ 

HfcWlo 

3

Lis 


ex-members might not know of it; but they did, 

and before daylight the next morning; 

The new company retained possession of the 

engine until 1867, when it was dropped by the 

board of engineers, George Pettee chief, and a 

new company organized, consisting of,— 

J. I. Bos worth. Foreman. 

Elbridge L. Kahurl, First Assistant. 

C. W. Freeman, Second Assistant. 

S. H. Potter, Clerk. 

Isaac Smith, Steward. 

Thomas Abram. 

Samuel Bemis. 

Daniel Belcher. 

William Cunningham 

John Corkery. 

W. S. Cargill. 

Thomas Carroll. 

M. Corkery. 

R. B. Dailey. 

Joseph Dummer. 

M. Duran. 

John Flarity. 

J. W. Firth. 

John Fell. 

G. Fred Gould. 

Frank Hand v. 

J. G. Hewett. 

P. Hogan. 

Harris Hall. 

John Kerrivan. 

Thomas A. Kerrivan. 

Richard Kerrivan. 

James Kennefic. 

James Leach, 

Barney McGee. 

» 

Richard Meskell. 

P. Mitchell. 

John McGee. 

John Meskell. 

George H. Osborne. 

Cornelius O'Neil. 

D. B. Scott. 

William Sullivan. 

D. J. Sullivan. 

J. T. Thomason. 

0. B. Trusdell. 

R. H. White. 

John Welch. 

E. S. Kerrivan.


At the completion of the water service, the 

city, in January, lsTT, voted to retire hand-engines 

1 and -f, and substitute hose companies of 

six men each in their place. 

The people of this 

village were not satisfied with this arrangement, 

owing to the scarcity of hydrants, and in some 

portions of the village very small water pressure, 

and they petitioned the city council for the 

privilege of organizing a volunteer company for 

the engine, to serve without any expense to the 

city until better facilities should 1x3 provided. 

Their request was granted, and March 17th a 

company was organized, which was its last, as 

follows: — 

Charles W. Randall, Foreman. 

Charles F. Butman, First Assistant. 

G. Fred Gould, Second Assistant. 

George Pettee, Clerk. 

H. A. Smith, Assistant Clerk. 

H. H. Easterbrook, Steward. 

R. H. Hodgson, 

>v 

George H. Osborne, 

Fred Gates, T ,. TT 

TX .- ~ .,, } Leading Hosemen 

H. A. Smith, 

Thomas Clay, 

H. H. Easterbrook, 

y 

J. L. Randall, 

W. S. Cargill, 

- Suction Hosemen. 

James E. Veno, j


J. E. Trowbridge. 

Newell Flagg. 

E. G. Hurd. 


Alson A. Smith. 

W. M. Morey. 

James B. Hood. 

John A. Gould. 

W. H. Smith. 

J. W. Holmes. 

Frank E. Ray. 

M. W. Gould. 

Willard Marcy. 

James Nickelson. 

Benjamin Hopkins. 

C. H. Noyes. 

Benjamin Randall. 

Amory Hall. 

J. H. Barnard. 

S. M. Smith. 

John W. Howe. 

W. T. Langdon. 

George W. Hurd. 

Daniel White. 

George B. Randall. 

A. J. Grover. 

W. H. Bancroft. 

C. H. Johnson. 

Thomas Norton. 

J. A. Gould, Jr. 

E. M. Clapp. 

J. F. Webster. 

W. A. Fales. 

J. T. Hall. 

H. B. Richards son 

D. J. Murphy. 

A. E. Easter brook. 

George W. Fish. * 

Otis W. Everett. 

Horace A. Clarke. 

William Dyson. 

Lewis P. Everett. 

Wallace G. Fennei 

A. M. Fuller. 

J. E. Billings. 

James Judd. 

G. M. Thompson. 

D. Warren Flagg. 

Charles Flagg. 

E. H. Holmes. 

Thomas Trusdell. 

June 2d, G. Fred Gould resigned his position 

as second assistant, and W 

S. Cargill was elected 

to fill the vacancy.


The company remained in service until August 

3, 1878, and worked the engine at three fires, all 

in Needham. 

The hose-cart was taken to a 

number of Newton fires, and worked with a 

hydrant stream at most of them. February 1, 

1878, Hose Co. No. 7 went into service, and took 

possession of the hose-cart and house. 

During its short existence, the "hayseeds," 

as this company was called, had numerous jollifications. 

Its first and most important was 

June 17, 1877, a picnic in Richardson's grove, on 

the banks of the Charles, just above the pumping-station. 

Sports, music, a fish chowder, with 

after-dinner speeches, etc., was the programme. 

Fast day, April 1, 1878, after a trial of the 

engine at New Pond, the company had a supper 

in the old school-house hall. 

The last fire the engine attended while in Newton 

was the burning of D. Burke's dwellinghouse, 

in Needham, April 10,1878, at -1 :30 o'clock, 

A. M., when it was worked by volunteers an hour 

and a half. 

In 187'J the engine was taken by a New York 

concern in part payment for hook-and-ladder 

truck No. 1 (now No. 2), and subsequently sold 

to Lake Charles, La., where it now is in active 

service. 

The records of this company prior to 1867 have 

been destroyed, and only a partial list of its 

officers before that time can be obtained, and no


accurate information as to the time of their incumbency. 

Pliney Bosworth was its first foreman 

in 1842, who was succeeded the next year 

by W. S. Howard. 

James Taylor was foreman 

in ls-14, 1845, and 18-MJ ; Harvey L. Vinton in 

lslT and 1848 ; Samuel H. Hall in 181!) and L850. 

Joshua Anderson was also foreman about this 

time, and was succeeded by James Nichelson 

and George E. Haven. 

A. H. Randall was foreman 

in 1857, Daniel G. Rice in 1858, and Samuel 

H. Hall from 1859 to ls

OFFICERS MECHANIC ENGINE COMPANY No. 4 

TOKKMAN. FIRST VSSISTANT. SECOND ASSIST \NT. CLEKK. -; EWARD. 

1867. 

J. I. Bo-worth. 

Elbridge L. Kahurl. 

C. W. Freeman. Samuel ll. Potter. 

Isaac smith. 

1868. 

J. I. Bosworth. 

R. B. Dailey. 

Edward S. Kerrivan. 

Samuel II. Potter 


1869. 

B. B. Dailev. 

George A. Billings 


Samuel H. Potter 


m 

1870. 


Thomas Abram. 


Samuel II. Rotter. 


O 

1871. 


B. F. Wood- 


F. W. Stickney. 


1872. 


Richard Mark-. 

Thoma> A. Kerrivan. 

F. W. Stickney. 

J. E. Trowbridge 

o 

1873. 

KielIanl Kerrivan 

William Cunningham. Thomas A. Kerrivan. F. \\\ Stickney. 

J. E. Trowbridge 

"0 

1874. 

1875. 

Richard Kerrivan 

Patrick Hogan. 

A .. 

\ Philip T. Begley 

rhomas A.Kerrivan. | Johl* Tm B raSy. 


John T. Bradv. 

! 

Philip T. Begley 

I). R. Desmond 

Thomas (lav. 

.J. E. Trowbridge. 

J. E. Trow bridge. 

> 

rn 

C/) 

1876. 

[ Thomas A. Kerrivan. 

John T. Brady. 

James Wilde. 

John O'Mealey 

\ F. J. Kappler. 

I James Callahan 

John Bible. 

1877-78. C. W. Randall. 

C. F. Butman. 

! 

G. Fred Gould. 

\V. S. Cargill. 

George Pettee. 

II. A. s m ith. 

H. II. Easterbrook.


NONANTUM No. 5. 

NEWTON 

CORNER. 

1842-1867. 

Motto: Faithful and Fearless. 

The first record of a tire company at Newton 

Corner appears in the selectmen's records, January 

1, 1840, when the following-named persons 

were appointed members of Hero Engine Co. 

No. 5. 

There was a company here several years 

before this, but there is no record of it whatever. 

The company appointed in 1840 consisted of, — 

Thomas W. Parker. 

Ethan Wetherbee. 

Edward H. Crowther. 

Daniel H. Parker. 

John F. Boyd. 

E. A. Smallwood. 

Francis Hall. 

W. K. Locke. 

Charles F. Parker. 

John Ireland. 

H. B. Hodgdon. 

Antero Verio DeCastro 

Ebenezer Balson. 

Josiah P. Hodgdon 

E. D. Trowbridge. 

William McGee. 

Francis Steadman. 

Nathaniel Bracket! 

Joseph C. Trowbridge. Edson Fisk. 

William Trowbridge. 

There were no further appointments until the 

arrival of the new engine Nonantum. 

The new Hunneman hand-engine, Nonantum 

No. 5, arrived Saturday, April 2)3, 1842. Several


preliminary meetings had heen held to organize 

a company, which was completed May 2d, at a 

meeting held in the old school-house, near the 

present Clafiin Guard Armory, Henry Fullei 

presiding. The company consisted of, — 

George Daniels, Foreman. 

George F. Whall, First Assistant. 

H. L. Christian, Second Assistant. 

William Trigger, Clerk. 

P. A. Johnson, Steward. 

J. R. Hodgdon, 

S. P. Barbour, 

Joseph Spear, 

Leading Hosemen. 

E. H. Oowther, 

Thomas Parker, 

William Very, 

Suction Hosemen. 

Daniel Parker, 

Francis Hall. 

Ethan Wetherbee. 

Joshua Jennison. 

Thomas Corey. 

Henry Fewks. 

Jonas Smith, Jr. 

John Leaveney. 

James Ricker. 

Edward D. Brooks. 

Nathaniel Hutchinson. 

J. W. Trowbridge. 

William Mansfield. 

W. F. Lawrence. 

N. B. Tibbets. 

Davis Trowbridge. 

Edwin Smallwood. 

Otis Trowbridge. 

George Cummins. 

Elbridge Goddard. 

Jonathan Ireland. 

A. P. Cheney. 

W. W. Trowbridge 

Ebenezer Hyde. 

Francis Boyd.

- 


Edward Fish. 

Alfred M. Wise. 

S. W. Trowbridge. 

Eli Johnson. 

Horace Corey. 

Francis Hvde. 

Subsequently the following-named 

persons 

became members : 

1842. 

Leon Emerson. 

Josiah Davis, Jr. 

Edward Fisk. 

William Whall. 

John Trigger. 

J. S. Dothey. 

Charles Williston. 

• 

Samuel Burlin. 

W. R. Locke. 

Silas Waterhouse. 

Edward Jackson. 

Benjamin Wetherbee. 

Charles J. Flagg. 

1844. 

Asa Talbot. 

G. T. Smallwood. 

Jesse Fewks. 

J. Upham Smith. 

John C. Neal. 

Orrin Hall. 

N. Brackett, Jr. 

James Sullivan. 

William Saunders. 

Oilman Brackett. 

Henry Ross. 

Frank Houghton. 

Galen Adams. 


Col. Jacob Stearns. 

Sylvanus Wetherbee. 

1845. 

David Smith. 

Solon A. Clapp. 

J. A. Sawtell. 

George Boyd. 

Israel Bullard. 

John T. Wheelwright 

Tlie engine was first located in a blacksmith's 

shop on Washington Street, opposite Park Street, 

until the company erected a new station. 

Its first tire was the burning of George Blight's


barn in Watertown, early on the morning of 

April 29th. The engine played into the Brighton 

No. 1, a small engine, and of course washed it. 

Its second fire occurred in the afternoon of the 

same day, which was near the old Winship estate, 

Brighton. 

The first vote of the new company after completing 

its organization was to procure a leather 

cap-badge, with brass letter N and figure 5 for 

privates, the officers to be designated by stars, — 

one star designating the foreman, two the first 

assistant, and so on down, or up, to five stars, 

which designated the steward ; the leading hosemen 

by letters L H, and the suction hosemen by 

letters S H. 

This was the style of badge and 

method of designating officers universally used 

by fire companies during the hand-engine era. 

The members carried the badges in their pockets, 

and when on duty attached them to their caps 

or hats with a strap. 

A committee was appointed to provide means 

* 

and erect an engine-house, which was subsequently 

done, the members of the company doing 

most of the work under the supervision of Orrin 

Whipple, a master builde 

, afterwards chief of 

the department. 

The company was obliged to furnish almost 

every tiling in the way. of minor equipments, and 

pay the cost of its maintenance, as did the other 

companies. 

The town furnished the apparatus,


hose, and refreshments at fires, and that was 

about all it did furnish for many years. 

When cold weather came on, the company 

voted to apply to the selectmen for a stove and 

funnel, and if they refused, to hire one. 

The 

selectmen probably did refuse, and for that season 

the company hired one, as in December the 

year following it voted to buy a stove and outfit. 

The company not only built its house, but it 

furnished it throughout. 

It was a two-story 

building, with a hall in the second story for 

meetings, and was furnished elaborately. 

It also 

furnished many ornaments for the engine, sucb 

as fancy side-lights, new buckets, etc. 

Many 

i 

improvements were added to the engine, such as 

an improved air-chamber, new hose, etc. 

provide means, special fines were imposed. 

To 

If a 

member appeared at a meeting or at a fire without 

his badge he was fined twenty-five cents ; and 

once several members were fined twelve and a 

half cents each for kicking the engine-house door 

open. 

In 1844 it was voted to remove the brass 

letter N from the members' badges and sell them, 

the proceeds to be devoted to the purchase of 

four brass eyes for the signal-lantern. 

In 1845 the company voted to participate in 

the engine contest at the Baptist pond, and to 

procure shirts with blue or pink stripes, pants 

with fly-fronts, and caps for that occasion ; also 

to carry tin dippers attached to their belts.


Early in its career it liad trouble with the engineers 

; and August -1-, 1844, the company disbanded 

because the board would not act favorably 

on a "list of grievances" it sent them a short 

time before. 

Another company, with about the 

same officers and members, was at once organized. 

This company did more duty than any other 

in town. 

It not only responded to all Newton 

alarms, but to all fires in Watertown 

and 

Brighton, and many times it went to Brookline, 

Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Needbam, and 

Roxbury, and once to Medford. 

During the 

fifties, when so many barns were burned, it 

sometimes answered several alarms a week, and 

worked at most of them. 

It almost always had a live, wide-awake company 

of young men, ever ready for a run, regardless 

of the weather conditions or distance. 

Its membership was never large, but it had many 

friends in other towns, and always found plenty 

of assistance from other companies when shorthanded, 

especially from the Niagara No. 3 and 

Hydrant No. 4 companies of Cambridge, and 

Butcher Boy No. 1 of Brighton, with all of which 

it was particularly intimate and friendly. 

A bitter feud long existed between this company 

and its next nearest neighbor, the Relief 

No. 2 of Watertown, located less than a mile 

away. 

Each was ever striving to beat the other


in every way possible, and each was always 

anxious to get in line with the other at fires, as 

they often did ; and as they had the same size 

and pattern engine, and were well organized and 

disciplined, it was a close contest when they 

met, with victory sometimes for one, sometimes 

for the other. 

The number of men each happened 

to have, more than the merits of the 

machine, was usually the principal factor that 

;ave either the victory. 

Only once did the two companies come to blows 

during their twenty years' war. 

While returning 

from the Barnes & Co. carpenter-shop fire 

at Waltham, Saturday night, August 19, 1848, 

ft 

they clashed in Watertown, and for a short period 

a fierce fistic battle was fouerht. 

The Relief 

company, having by far the most members, came 

off the victors; and although the Nonantums 

were whipped, they were by no means vanquished, 

and as only the weapons provided by 

nature were used, no one was very seriously injured. 

Notwithstanding the bitterness between these 

two excellent companies, they frequently did 

each other a kindness. 

At No. 1 engine-house, 

Newton, there is at the present time a stuffed 

eagle, with a 

s mall silver fire-bucket hanging 

from its beak, on which is engraved : '' Presented 

by Relief No. 2, Watertown, to Nona n turn No. .'>, 

Newton, April 7, 1850." 

The eagle was shot by

: 

O 

> 

2 

o 

«

L32 


a member of the Relief company on the bank of 

the river just below the town. 

In March, 184!), the Nonantums published in a 

Boston newspaper a card thanking the Relief company 

for their "gentlemanly conduct," "polite 

attention," and "supply of refreshments" at a 

Watertown fire a short time before. 

There are 

a number of similar instances of courtesies extended 

to each other. 

No fire company enjoyed itself more than did 

the old Nonantum. 

Their annual supper at the' 

old Nonantum or other Boston and suburban 

hotels, often accompanied by a sleigh-ride, were 

star events in their career. 

A fishing excursion 

down the harbor, usually lasting two days, with 

a night at Marhlehead, was of almost annual 

< >ccurrence. 

The company was a temperance organization 

at one time early in the fifties, and tlie following 

verses were written about that time, when the 

company had a supper at the Nonantum House, 

then kept by a man by the name of Flagg, 

whose son Charles was a member of the company, 

and its signal-lantern bearer: — 

Come pledge me in the crystal pure 

The God of Nature gave, 

The fount of inspiration sure, 

For 'tis by this we save 

The sleeping inmates when the cry 

Of "Fire!" rends the air, 

By night, hy day, or wet, or dry, 

Nonantum shall he there.

THE OLD COMPANIES. 1 33 

CHORUS. 

O jolly boys of No. 5, 

Nonantum is the toast. 

Though wintry blasts the fire king drives, 

To conquer him we boast. 

The enemy at dead of night 

May prowl a while unseen; 

But let him show his murderous light, 

And he is ours, I ween. 

King Alcohol, the fire king, 

Before Nonantum bows; 

We'll lay these spirits as we sing, 

And pledge these solemn vows. 

CHORUS. 

My jolly boys of No. 5, 

Nonantum is the toast, 

Nonantum hill, Nonantum vale, 

Nonantum Flagg and host. 

White flows the stream from Castaly, the stream 

Of water from the spring, 

While sparkling eyes their brilliance beam, 

And bid our hearts take wing. 

Still shall our merry chorus pour 

Its sound of social glee; 

We'll laugh and quaff, and pay our score, 

And close with three times three. 

CHORUS. 

ni 

Wai 

participated in the Cochituate water celebration, 

in Boston, October 28, 1848, and were the gnests 

of Suffolk Engine Co. No. 1 (Hardscrabble) of 

that city, who after the parade entertained them 

with a banquet. 

It also gave playing exbibitions


on Boston Common, Fonrtli of July, several 

times about this period. 

September 2, L852, the company, E. H. Crowther 

foreman, attended a firemen's muster at 

Milford, remaining there over-night. It was 

their intention, and arrangements were made, 

to provide a breakfast for the Niagara No. 3 and 

Hydrant No. 4 companies of Cambridge as they 

* 

passed through Newton en route to Milford, but 

a misunderstanding by the Boston and Worcester 

railroad officials prevented their doing so. 

When they returned on the afternoon of September 

3d, they were accompanied by the two Cambridge 

companies, and after a brief street parade 

entertained them with a banquet at the Nonantum 

House, and later in the evening with a 

lunch at the Spring Hotel, Watertown. 

The company was a participant in a number 

of contests and musters. 

It was the first to 

* 

challenge another company, which it did July 

11, 1842, within three months after its engine 

arrived, when it invited the West Newton No. 3 

to meet them at Laundry pond, near the present 

coinei- of Washington and Adams streets, for a 

trial of engines. 

The invitation, or challenge, was accepted, 

and the two companies met August 1st, witb 

the West Newton the victor. 

The contest was 

tub-and-tub, in which No. 3 washed No. 5, and 

a stream contest, which was about even.


It was a participant in all the Newton contests 

hereafter mentioned. 

Its first general muster was at Ashland, Satunlay, 

October 6, L849, with the Mechanic No. 4 

and six other engines of other towns contestants. 

Tin 1 result was unsatisfactory, with no 

decided victory for any engine. 

Its next and last was the Milford muster in 

L852, where the playing was tub-and-tub, each 

tub filled to within five inches of the top, to play 

one minute through two hundred feet of hose. 

The judges' report was as follows: — 

"Rough and Ready No. 2 of Pawtucket, R.I., 

draughted and played into Niagara No. 3 of East 

Cambridge, which sucked dming the last two or 

three strokes. 

Niagara played into Cochituate 

No. -2 of 

Saxonville, and gained six inches. 

Cochituate played into Excelsior No. 1 of Holliston, 

which lost half an inch. 

Excelsior played 

into Neptune No. 2 of Holliston, the Neptune 

gaining two and one half inches. 

Neptune 

played into Hydrant No. -i of Cambridge, the 

Hydrant sucking. 

Hydrant played into Nonantum 

No. 5, Nonantum gaining nine and one half 

inches. 

Nonantum played into Victor No. 1 of 

Natick, which lost two and one half 

inches. 

Victor played into Torrent No. 1 of Marlborough, 

which gained six and one half inches. 

Torrent played into Washington No. 1 of Milford, 

which gained half an inch. 

Washington


played into Union No. 2 of Mil ford, which gained 

two inches. 

Union played into Fire King No. 

3 of Holliston, a small engine with a hoy com- 

pany 

^ 

The Hvdrant, which played into the Nonanturn, 

was a six-inch machine, one half inch 

larger than the Nonan turn. 

One of the most famous, and to the Nonantuni 

most disastrous, contests in which it ever 

participated was with its old rival, the Relief No. 

2, at Watertown in 1848. The Nonantums challenged 

the Relief, contrary to the advice of Foreman 

Francis Hall and Assistant E. H. Crowther, 

who were aware that the engine was not in a 

condition for a contest; and rather than to take 

part in what they were confident would he a de- 

* 

feat, they resigned their official positions, and 

Edward Jackson was elected foreman. 

The company was assisted by the Hero Engine 

Co. No. 6 of Derne Street, Boston, Frank F. R, 

Whitney, afterwards chief of the San Francisco 

tire department, foreman, who advised the company 

to withdraw their challenge, which they 

declined to do. 

The contest took place near Watertown Square. 

Captain Artemas B. Rogers was foreman of the 

Relief company. 

The first contest was, Nonantum at draught, 

to play through three hundred feet of hose into 

the Relief, which was to play through a like


length of hose, open hut, for a period of five 

minutes, water in engine to he six inches from 

the top at commencement. 

At finish, water in 

Relief was fourteen and a half inches from top, 

a gain of seven and a half inches for the Relief. 

The second contest was the same, except engines 

changed places. 

At finish, water in Nonantum 

was four inches from top, a gain of two 

inches for Relief. 

Third contest, tub-and-tub, three hundred feet 

of hose, each five minutes time, water in engine 

three inches from top at commencement. 

At 

hnish, water in Nonantum was four and three 

quarters inches from top, in Relief twelve inches, 

a gain of seven and a quarter inches for Relief. 

The friends of the Nonantum were not satisfied, 

and, contrary to the advice of many of the 

members, urged the foreman to challenge the 

Relief for a fifteen-minute tub-and-tub contest 

then and 

there, which he did, and it was 

promptly accepted by Captain Rogers of the 

Relief. 

It resulted, like the previous contests, 

in a victory for the Relief, which not only defeated 

the Nonantum, but it washed it almost 

constantly during the entire playing-time. 

The 

measurements at finish were, water in Nonantum, 

four inches from top; in Relief, sixteen 

and a half inches. 

Every trial was a complete 

victory for the Relief, as had been predicted by 

the Nonantum's ex-officers. 

The condition of


the engine was largely the cause of the defeat, 

as both engines were exactly alike in everyway, 

and both had all the men they required. 

When Brighton received its new Butcher Boy 

No. 1 engine, the Nonantums worked it at its 

exhibition trial. 

The house erected by the company was burned, 

with all its contents except the engine, on the 

night of June 14, 1S55, and another house was 

erected by the town. 

At this time all Newton 

engines were provided with two-inch hose, while 

other towns used two-and-a-half-inch, the present 

standard size. 

Assistant Engineer Crowther at 

once procured new hose to replace that burned, 

and selected the large size, which was too much 

of a modernism for a majority of the board, who 

voted to return it and purchase the old size. 

In 1861 the large-size hose was adopted by the 

engineers. 

When the Empire No. 5 was purchased, in 

1866, the company attached to the Nonantum 

was transferred to that engine, and a homeguard 

company organized to operate the Nonantum 

in case of fire in Newton Corner, with the 

veteran fire-fighter (leorge Daniels as foreman, 

Theodore C. Scates first assistant, Josiah Davis 

second assistant, and William H. Phillips clerk. 

In November, Captain Daniels was elected an 

assistant engineer, to succeed Orrin Harris, and 

John M. Fisk was elected foreman in his place.


This volunteer company attended a number 

of fires in Newton, Brighton, and elsewhere, 

and May 1, 1867, it was disbanded, with the 

Empire company, and never again was there a 

company for it while in Newton. 

It remained in its station, ready for service, 

until Steam Fire Engine No. 1 arrived, October 

10, 1868, and was used a number of times by 

volunteers. 

After the arrival of No. 1, it was 

used by some of the other hand-engine companies 

as a relief engine, until 1873, when it 

was sold for one hundred and fifty dollars to a 

lumber company at Greenville, N. H., where it 

now is, and is used in active service by the town 

fire company. 

The company had a warm friend in George 

Daniels, who, whether a member or not, was 

always doing it some kindness. 

He owned a 

number of horses, which were at the company's 

disposal, and one was always ready for a fire. 

Captain W. C. Warren owned an old white 

horse which he drove in his bake-cart, which 

was a slow, sleepy sort of a beast until an alarm 

was given, when he was all alive; and no matter 

where he was when the bell rang for fire, he 

would run to the engine-house, and at the head 

of the rope draw the engine to the fire. 

The last company attached to the Nonantum 

when it went out of service in 1867 consisted 

of,


John M. Fisk, Foreman. 

Theodore C: Scates, First Assistant. 

Josiah Davis, Second Assistant. 

W. H. Phillips, Clerk. 

Josiah Davis, Steward. 

/ 

John 0. Evans. 

Abram Thomas. 

James McDonald. 

George J. Thomas. 


George C. Walsh. 

George H. Fisk. 

John Newton. 

George E. Harrington. John F. Boyd. 

Quincy Harrington. 

Amos Hodgdon. 

George F. Waters. 

L. F. Lambert. 

John McCannon. 

B. B. Clifford. 

Henry Lemon. 

A. S. Harrington. 

E. D. Green. 

T. S. Pingree. 

Robert Gurry. 

William Warren. 

A. A. Haves. 

A. J. Macomber. 

George A. Nicholson 

D. C. Davis. 

Daniel Dow. 

T. O'Keefe. 

0. R. Evans. 


Warren Morse. 

W. P. Leavitt. 

H. P. Churchill. 

Tyler Harrington. 

A. Benson. 

B. S. Wetherbee. 

G. W. Lamson. 

George W. Bacon. 

F. H. Whipple. 

As some of the company records are missing, 

only a partial list of its officers can be given.

-rH 

OFFICERS NONANTUM ENGINE COMPANY No. 5. 

FOREMAN. 



CLERK. 

STEWARD. 

c/5 

< 

O 

U 

Q 

O 

X 

842. 

843. 

844. 

845. 

.^46. 

847. 

848. 

849. 

850. 

851. 

852. 

853. 

854. 

855. 

856. 

857. 

858. 

859. 

860. 

661. 

862. 

864. 

865. 

866. 

86 

George Daniels. 


George F. Whall. 



Francis Hall. 

Edward Jackson. 

W. C. Warren. 

D. A. Taintcr. 

Stephen Harris. 

E. H. Crowther. 


James Harris. 

Henry Ross. 

W. Parker Leavitt 



J. E. Saunders. 

Edward A. Boyd. 

J. G. Campbell. 

J. G. Campbell. 


D. P. Leonard. 


John M. Fisk, 



Francis Hall. 




D. A. Tainter. 

S. W. Harris. 

William Powers. 

George T. Denton. 

Aaron Maiden. 

Thomas Mason. 

Edward A. Bo\ d. 

Josiah Davis. 


Edward A. Itoyd. 

G. D. Farnum. 

W. Parker Leavitt. 

Theodore Scates. 

Theodoie Scate-. 

Henry L. Christian. 





George T. Denton.' 

S. W. Harris. 

George T. Denton. 

K. H. Crowther. 

William Saunders. 

Henry Ross. 

George Boyd. 

Stephen McGaffey. 

J. T. Houghton. 

Edward A. Boyd. 

Josiah Davis. 

Josiah Davis. 

Josiah Davis. 

Josiah Davis. 

William Trigger. 

Francis Hall. 


J. R. Hodgdon. 


S. F. Chickering. 

Peter Walsh. 

Peter Walsh. 

Solon A. Clapp. 

Peter Walsh. 

Peter Walsh. 

Peter Walsh. 

Peter Walsh. 

Peter Walsh. 

Charles F. Walsh. 

Francis Boyd. 

Henry Ross. 

Henry Ross. 

G. II. Teague. 

G. H. Teague. 

Henry E. Cobb. 

J. Sturgis Potter. 

William Phillips. 

William Phillips. 

Phineas A. Johnson. 

Phineas A. Johnson. 

William Whall. 

William Very. 

William Very. 

A. W. Dalrymple. 

A. W. Dalrymple. 

Stephen Harris. 

Otis Trowbridge. 




J. Harris. 

J. F. Houghton. 



C. P. King. 

C. P. King. 

Henry Daniels. 

G. D. Farnum. 

Josiah Davis. 

Quincy Harrington. 

Josiah Davis.

142 THE OLD COMPANIES 

EMPIRE No. 5. 

NEWTON CORNER. 

1806-1807. 

At the burning of the carriage and blacksmith 

shops of Mosher and Tucker and others, 

at Newton Corner, July 11, 1866, the Nonantum 

No. 5 engine failed to perform the duty required 

of it, and the need of another engine was made 

apparent. 

A public meeting of the citizens was subsequently 

held, and assistant engineers J. W. Bailey 

and Orrin Harris Avere instructed to purchase 

another engine. 

The Washington No. 5 of 

Charlestown, a splendid side-stroke Jeffers engine, 

now owned by the Peabodv Veteran Firemen's 

Union, was the engine desired, but for 

some reason or other it could not be purchased 

at that time, and the Empire No. 5, a large 

seven-inch Leslie machine, was purchased of 

the city of Lynn, and a more unsuitable engine 

for Newton could hardly have been found, as it 

was much too heavy and cumbersome for the 

number of men available to work it and for the 

service required of it. 

The greatest benefit ever 

derived from its possession w T as, that it hastened 

the purchase of a steam tire-engine. 

A one-story, shed-like building, barely large


enough to house the engine, was erected for it 

on the west side of the Nonantuni engine-house, 

and the Nonantum company transferred to it. 

Its first officers were D. P. Leonard foreman, 

Thomas Pickthall first assistant, Daniel McNamara 

second assistant, James Duffee clerk, and 

E. A. Shearne steward. 

Its first duty was at the Royal Grilkey lumberyard 

fire at Watertown, August 18th, where it 

rendered excellent service. 

It attended a number 

of other fires in Newton. Watertown, and 

Brighton, including the big arsenal fire at 

Watertown, September 2, L866, and was in service 

at most of them. 

While working at the Rice slaughter-house 

fire in North Brighton, October 17, L866, sonic 

one in the dark closed the outlet-gate while the 

engine was working, causing its air-chamber to 

explode, completely disabling it. 

The engineers 

offered a reward of one hundred dollars for information 

as to who did it, hut it was never 

paid, as no one seemed to know. 

After the company was disbanded, it was 

stored in its house for some time, and once used 

as a relief engine by Mechanic No. -± company, 

the largest company in town, and even they 

were unable to liandle it properly on account of 

its enormous size. 

A volunteer organization took it to the Milford 

muster, October 7, L869, in command of George


B. Moore, where it played a horizontal stream 

169 feet, 8 inches, occupying tenth position in a 

list of twenty-six, the best being ID3 feet, 2 

inches. 

It was sold, in part payment for some supplywagons, 

to Charles A. Cole, West Newton, in 

1875, he allowing fifty dollars for it, which was 

seven hundred dollars less than was paid for 

the machine nine years before. 

He kept it a 

short time, and being unable to find a customer 

for it, demolished it for junk, realizing something 

like one hundred dollars more than he 

paid for it. 

The company at the time of its disbandment 

was as follows: — 

George B. Moore, Foreman. 

Thomas Pickthall, First Assistant. 

M. Hughes, Second Assistant. 

James Duffee, Clerk. 

George S. Mansfield, Steward. 

W. H. Park, Jr. P. Leary. 

William Gross. 

William Parker. 

James Downes. 

G. A. Bosworth. 

A. Allen. 

Charles Brada. 

E. A. Shearne. James Pollard. 

F. A. Clemmons. L. P. Moors. 

C. T. Fields. D. J. McNamara 

Daniel Kegan. 

John De Huff. 

J. B. Smallwood 

' Louis Hobey.


S. 0. Searls. 

Abner Norcross. 

George M. Sylvester. 

J. G. Boyd. 

F. E. Nicholson. 

H. V. Adams. 

William Hobey. 

John F. Burns. 

M. E. Murphy. 

J. U. Kimball. 

J. McNamara. 

William Costello 

M. Blanchard. 

John F. Franklin 

Frank W. Lord. 

Isaac Costello. 

A. Cummings. 

J. B. Quinland. 

M. Higgins. 

Nathaniel Drew. 

Dennis Leahy. 

John McCabe. 

C. G. Gilmore.

146 THE OLD COMPANIES 

EAGLE No. 6. 

NEWTON CENTRE. 

1887-1874. 

A meeting of those who had signed an agreement 

to become members of a fire-engine company 

was held at the 

engine-house, Newton 

Centre, July 20, 1837, with Luther Paul moderator, 

and Charles Wellington clerk. 

The only 

business transacted was the appointment of a 

committee, consisting of Marshall S. Rice, Enoch 

Perkins, and Samuel Trowbridge, to prepare a 

constitution, and to report 

at an adjourned 

meeting to be held the first Tuesday in August. 

There was an engine located in a small house 

built for it on the common, near the flag-staff, 

but there is no record of a company attached to 

it before this time. 

At the adjourned meeting held Tuesday, 

August 1st, the constitution reported by the 

committee was adopted and ordered printed. 

A 

committee, consisting of Samuel Langley, M. S. 

Rice, and Luther Paul, was appointed to make 

application to the selectmen for use of the engine, 

and to take such measures as they thought 

best to procure a new one. 

Mr. A. R. Trowbridge 

was requested to post a notice of the next


meeting in his store, and adjournment made to 

the first Tuesday in September. 

At the meeting held September Ath, the company 

organized as follows: — 

Luther Paul, Foreman. 

A. R. Trowbridge, Second Foreman. 

Charles Wellington, Clerk and Treasurer. 

Samuel Langley, 

1 

Luther Paul, 

Standing Committee. 

Samuel Trow bridge 

&^5 

Amasa Crafts. 

Edmund Trowbridge 

Marshall S. Rice. 

Enoch Perkins. 

Joseph White. 

George Richards. 

Ebenezer Woodward. 

Samuel Franklin 

William Fogg. 

Hezekiah Fuller. 

James Tufts. 

F. S. Dodge. 

Mauley Lothrop. 

Stephen Hurd. 

G. Magee. Sullivan Holden. 

Subsequently the following became mem 

hers : 

James Trowbridge. 

Nichols. 

Caleb Kendrick. 

Joseph B. Emery. 

0. H. Varney. 

David Hall, Jr. 

Edward Gates. 

Nathaniel Gear. 

E. D. White. 

Vila King. 

John Gooch. 

Lucius Bodge. 

Francis Sted man. 

Galusha Salsbury 

T. W. Hyde. 

Thomas C. Yose.


Joseph Livermore. 

William Trowbridge 

T. W. Homer. 

W. T. Smith. 

Andrew Whitney. 

Nahum Rand. 

A. H. Randall. 

Joshua Bartlett. 

Elson Manning. 

John Stearns. 

C. H. Hall. 

Leonard Rice. 

Edward Hall, Jr. 

Samuel M. Jackson 

0. H. Bates. 

E. T. Dunham. 

In 1842, when the new Eagle No. 6 engine 

arrived, the membership was increased to fortyfive 

members, and the following were added to 

the roll: — 

George Hutchinson. 

Charles Brackett. 

Edward Hall. 

A. R. Cook. 

S. N. Woodward. 

Lewis Hurd. 

J. G. Salsbury. 

Francis Norcross. 

Ebenezer Stone. 

George Ward. 

Henry Burton. 

Henry Hyde. 

J. F. C. Hyde. 

Robert Bartlett. 

Reuben Trowbridge 

Amos Abbott. 

Thomas Hastings. 

Henry Norcross. 

Francis Sprague. 

Henry Chase. 

William Connor. 

Henry Paul. 

Other members were, 

1843. 

A. B. Clark. 

John Hartford. 

W. B. Hosmer. 

L>. F. Harden. 

F. M. Blanchard. 

William Hyde. 

George W. Damet.


S. C. Richardson. 

Adams Stewart. 

A. W. Bartlett. 

Sylvester Nason. 

1844. 

William Chase. 

John Ward. 

Samuel Black. 

John Mansfield. 

John Q. A. Hawkes 

C. D. Bartlett. 

Moses Seavey. 

Sylvester Hartford. 

C. Allen. 

1845. 

Franklin McDonald. 

Solomon Seavey. 

Levi Sanderson. 

Phineas Swan. 

Samuel Wetherbee. 

1846. 

Marshall Watson. 

James Taylor. 

Silas Smith. 

Rufus Mitchell. 

Henry Tombs. 

Luther Paul, Jr. 

Francis Jennings. 

Robert Hill. 

Augustus Hovey. 

Alfred Morse. 

George Robinson. 

John A. Keen. 

1847. 

James F. Edmands 

Horatio Young. 

1848. 

Thomas Nor cross. 

1849. 

Lyman Morse. 

At the annual meeting in April, 1838, the 

company voted to continue the committee on 

procuring a new engine, appointed the previous 

year, until one was obtained. 

It also 

voted to name the new engine Eagle, to have 

the words "Newton Centre" painted on the 

stern-box, and the engine painted green, also to 

have the company consist of thirty members. 

An engine was purchased of Hunneman, which


was but a little better than the old one. 

Four 

years later the committee appointed by the town 

to examine and report the condition of the several 

engines said of this one: "At Newton Centre 

there is one engine on an old plan. 

It has a 

very efficient company, which keep it in good 

repair, and is well supplied with hose and buckets 

; but a new engine at this place is very desirable." 

Joseph White was appointed to have 

the care of the new engine. 

It was kept in 

Samuel Langley's cider-mill, at the present corner 

of Langiey Road and Beacon Street. 

The first fire the company attended was July 

3


official position known as "chief 

engineer 

whose duty it was to ascertain where the fire 

was when an alarm was given, and to give directions 

as to the best way to get to it. 

George 

Richards was selected as the first chief engineer. 

The new Hunneman suction engine was received 

May 31, 18-42, and was given a trial test 

June 6th, which was very satisfactory. 

After its arrival, the position of second assistant 

foreman was created, and the following 

appointments made by Captain A. H. Randall: 

Leading hosemen, Joseph White, Amos Abbott, 

J. G. Salsbury, and Nahum Rand; suction hosemen, 

George Hutchinson, Henry Norcross, and 

J. B. Emery; hose-cart men, Charles Brackett 

and Aaron R. Cook; rope-man, T. W. Hyde; 

signal-lantern bearer, Ebenezer Stone; pole-men, 

Caleb Kendrick and Robert Bartlett; men to 

shift brakes, S. N. Woodward, Reuben Trowbridge, 

Henry Hyde, and Frank Sprague; torchmen, 

S. M. Jackson and Henry Chase; gate-man, 

George Richards. 

The care of the engine was put up at auction 

July 4th, and was bid off by Amasa Crafts at 

fifteen dollars until April, 1843. 

After that, 

three members were appointed monthly to care 

for it, until a steward was appointed in 1851. 

The new company took part in the several 

contests at Baptist pond, and in all other contests 

of Newton's engines, as hereafter 

mentioned,


and in every one of them it came off the victor. 

This was the best engine in town for distance 

playing or tub-and-tub contests, as was universally 

acknowledged. 

It always won, notwithstanding 

the company was the smallest. 

It never attended a muster outside of Newton 

manned by its own company. 

After it went 

out of service, the Mechanic No. 4 company took 

it to a muster at Brockton, October 9, 1874, 

where it played 1G0 feet, ±% inches, and was 

twentieth in a list of twentv-five. 

Another 

Upper Falls company organized for the purpose, 

with C. W. Kandall foreman, took it to a 

muster at Waltham, October 5, 1876, and re 

corded 166 feet, 11 inches, with it, occupying 

the thirteenth position in a list of seventeen, including 

the biggest and best engines then in 

existence. 

A new and more commodious station, which 

is still in existence, was built by the company 

on the northwest corner of Centre and Pelliam 

streets, in 1811-, and was moved to its present 

site some twenty-five years later. 

Tliis company disbanded and reorganized more 

frequently than any other in Newton. 

It sometimes 

found itself with so few members that it 

could not do otherwise. 

It first disbanded May 

1, 1850, and was reorganized ten days later. 

May 3, 1853, it disbanded because it had only 

nine members, and a week later another com- 

^ '


s 

pany was organized. 

One year from that time, 

May 2d, it again disbanded, and May 5th was reorganized. 

It again disbanded May 4, 1858, and 

the 19th of the same month a new company was 

formed by the engineers. 

In 1803 it disbanded, 

and had no company for five years, until May 

28, 1868. Three months later, August 28th, 

this company disbanded because the engineers 

would not repair the engine. 

July 26, 1809, after almost a year, another 

company was organized, which remained in ex- 

* 

istence until May 5, 1871, when it lapsed out of 

existence. 

May 30th another company was organized, 

which remained in existence until July 

L3th, when it voted to disband because new rules 

issued by the board of engineers were unsatisfactory. 

organized. 

Five days later another company was 

January 28, 1874, the company disbanded 

for the tenth and last time because the 

new city council appointed an assistant engineer 

for the ward in which it was located who was 

disagreeable to it. 

The old company books contain some interesting 

records. 

April 6, 1841, it was voted "that 

when the bell at Dr. Hosmer's meeting-house be 

rung for fire, the members of company are to 

turn out or pay the fine." May 5th the same 

year, according to the records, "the company 

met with selectmen and tried engine. 

Found 

the hose in bad condition, and more fit to ex-


tinguish fire in the woods than in buildings ; 

gave the company with selectmen a good sprinkling. 

Selectmen granted Captain Randall fifty 

dollars to buy new hose with." 

Just how much or what sort of hose was purchased 

for that small sum the records do not 

state, but June 1st they say : "Tried new hose; 

tore off two of the brasses,"—meaning couplings. 

In 18-13 it was voted "to get caps and 

badges, the foreman's cap to have a star to designate 

his position ; and to fine any member one 

dollar who wears his cap except when on duty 

with the company, the caps and badges to be returned 

to the company when a member leaves." 

It was also voted that the bell should not be 

rung by any member of the company when there 

was an appearance of fire until going opposite 

to M. 8. Rice's house, to ascertain whether it is 

so near that the company can be of any service. 

November 1, 1853, of a fire at the Corner the 

records say: "Took water from Charles River 

No. 2, Brighton, 6|-inch cylinders, played into 

No. 1 of Cambridge, also 6^-hich tub, which we 

washed." 

The clerk was mistaken as to the size 

of the cylinders of those engines. 

They were not 

over six inches. 

Of the Ellis barn fire, Upper Falls, June 17, 

1854, the records say : "Engine did good service; 

but few men, but many volunteers assisted ; 

whipped all other engines on the ground. 

En-


gine played easy, and seemed to be in good order, 

thanks to the interested attention of the steward, 

C. D. Bartlett." 

September 30, 1854, fire at Watertown : 

'' The alarm was given by Uncle Sam, thus 

disturbing the quiet of many of our good citizens, 

who were listening to a story from Esquire 

Cole. 

Engine went as far as the Corner, consequently 

we got our shoes blacked for Sunday.'' 

February 1, 1858, fire in Watertown : "Went 

into line with West Newton 3, and got licked." 

June 1, 1858: "Voted, that on account of 

dearth of hair, that Messrs. Stone and Cole be 

allowed to keep their hats on in meetings." 

The company responded to many alarms, and 

worked at a great many fires in this and other 

neighboring towns, notwithstanding its few 

members. 

If unable to reach the fire with its 

own crew, it hesitated not to press into service 

a horse wherever it found one. 

In responding 

to the Brook Farm community buildings fire, 

March 3, 1846, the snow was so deep that a yoke 

of oxen were borrowed from a farm barn en 

route, the owner's consent not being asked until 

they were returned to him the next day. 

Their 

absence he did not discover until he went to 

feed them the next morning. 

Demus S. Nichols was in charge of the engine 

when there was no company for it, and kept it 

in proper condition for service.


Its last duty while in Newton was at the 

burning of M. G. Crane's house, February 1, 

1875, an intensely cold night, when it was taken 

to the pond by volunteers, who attempted to 

work it, but could not, owing to the absence of 

a commander who knew how to do so. 

It was subsequently sold, and is now in active 

service at Fitzwilliam, N. H. 

The last company attached to the engine at 

the time of its disbandment, January 28, 1874, 

consisted of eighteen men, organized as folio 

\vs : — 

C. D. Bartlett, Foreman. 

J. Frank Makee, First Assistant. 

Moses Bright, Second Assistant. 

C. T. Bartlett, Clerk. 

C. D. Bartlett, Steward. 

William Bemis. 

Edward Parr. 

J. McMahone. Edward Haley. 

A. F. Hennrikus. C. Cornell. 

Valentine Haffermehl. 

William Marden. 

J. Taylor. John Davidson. 

Thomas Desmond. 

E. Varvigle. 

J. Cawe. William Hill.

1837. 

1838. 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842. 

1843. 

1844. 

1845. 

1846. 

1847. 

1S4S. 

1849. 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

1856 • 

1857. 

1858. 

1859. 

1860. 

1861. 

1862. 

1863. 

FORKMAN. 

Luther Paul. 

Asa R. Trow midge 

A. II. Randall. 



A. II. Randall. 







Alfred Morse. 

Samuel M. Jackson 

Robert Prentice. 

Lynian Morse. 

Stephen Ellis. 

Stephen kills. 

Joseph E. Cousins. 









1864-67. No Com pan v. 

1868. Charles E. Fifield. 

1869. S. A. Walker. 

1870. Charles E. Filield. 

1871. Calvin S. Fifield. 

1872. C. D. Bartlett 

1873. C. D. Bartlett 

1874. C D. Bartlett 

OFFICERS EAGLE ENGINE COMPANY No. 6. 


Asa R. Trowbridge. 

Edmund Trowbridge. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 

A masa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 


S. N. Woodward. 

Amos A bbott. 

Amos Abbott. 

Alfred Morse. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Lyman Morse. 

Lyman Morse. 

Henry Paul. 

Henry Paul. 





M. W. Burke. 

Charles E. Fifield. 


Charles E. Fifield. 

G. R. Carlton. 

William Stearns. 

Calvin S. Fifield. 

Albert S. May. 

Albert S. May. 

J. C. Martin. 

I C. Ross. 

( Lee Osborn. 

Lee Osborn. 

J. F. Makee. 


Edward Hill. 

Amos Abbott. 

Joseph White. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Lyman Morse. 

Henry Paul. 


C. I). Bartlett. 


N. S. Collier. 

Thomas Norcross. 



John A. Peek. 

John A. Peck. 

D. H. Miller. 


John Staples. 

Timothy Walker. 

J. F. Horrigan. 

Romulus Newcomb. 



C. Powers. 

Valentine Haffermehl. 

Moses Bright. 

Moses Bright. 

CLKRIv. 

Charles Wellington. 

Robert Prentice. 

Joseph White. 

Joseph White. 

Manley Lothrop. 



Alpheus Trowbridge. 

Alpheus Trowbridge. 

Samuel M. Jackson. 

Samuel M.Jackson. 



C. N. Brackett. 

J. F. C. H\(\Q. 

J. F. C. HVde. 

J. F. C. 11} de. 

N. S. Putnam. 

Cyrus M. Lothrop. 

Henry J. Tombs. 





E. B. Katon. 

E. B. Eaton. 

E. B. Eaton. 

Charles F.Richardson. 




C. T. Bartlett. 



STEWARD. 

Amasa Crafts. 

Committee. 

Committee. 

Committee. 

Committee. 

Committee. 

Committee. 

Commtitee. 

Committee. 




C. 1). Bartlett. 










G. D. Farnum. 

G. D. Farnum. 

G. I). Farnum. 





Or 

QO 

H 

rn 

O 

o 

> 

m 

c/)


WILLIAM CLAFLIN CHEMICAL No. 1. 

NEWTONVILLE. 

• 

1869-1872. 

In the fall of 1869 the Newtonville Protective 

Association was organized, for the purpose of 

providing fire protection for that village. 

William 

L. Frothinghani, afterwards an assistant 

engineer, was its president, George J. Curtis 

vice-president, and S. W. Lang secretary and 

treasurer. 

Subsequently it purchased a handsome 

Gibbs and Gordon chemical engine, the 

William Claflin, which was more ornamental 

than useful, and a company organized for it. 

It was located in Cabot Street, and remained 

in service but a year or two. 

Its company consisted 

of, — 

George J. Curtis, Foreman. 

George P. Clark, First Assistant. 

John F. Davis, Clerk. 

T. W. Carter, Treasurer. 

T. R. Sisson. F. B. Sisson. 

E. D. Myers. Alfred Schoff. 

J. Wesley Myers. A. R. Harrington 

C. L. Wilson. G. F. Park. 

G. E. Simpson. Horatio Carter. 

G. L. Gardner. F. C. Bridgman.


MONITOR CHEMICAL No. 2. TRITON No. 3. 

AUBURNDALE. 

1870-1873. 

At the residence of Albert Phi miner, Auburndale, 

April 12, 1870, was organized a company 

for the chemical engine ordered purchased for 

this village by the town the previous month. 

Assistant Engineer George L. Bourne presided. 

The company as organized consisted of,— 

Albert Plummer, Foreman. 

George W. Bourne, Assistant Foreman. 

George H. Bourne, Clerk. 

Charles B. Bourne, Treasurer. 

W. J. Puffer, Steward. 

George H. Harpin. 

Joseph Huestis. 

Gordon Plummer. 

Charles P. Huestis. 

J. K. Mann. W. J). Lothrop. 

Subsequently the following-named 

members 

were added to the roll : — 

J. S. Earl. C. W. Hubbard. 

F. B. Fletcher. E. C. Pelton. 

F. B. Cram. G. E. Mann. 

J. H. Dolliver. W. F. Sawyer. 

E. a. Chamberlin. G. N. B. Cousins. 

W. F. 1 bullock. • C. E. Scammon.


The engine arrived in July, and was kept in 

Albert Plummer's shed, on Auburn Street, until 

the new station erected for it, now occupied by 

Hose 5, was completed and dedicated October 2, 

1871. 

At the annual election in May, 1871, George 

W. Bourne was elected foreman, Joseph Huestis 

assistant, George H. Bourne clerk, and Albert 

Plummer treasurer. 

June 28th Captain Bourne 

resigned, and Joseph Huestis was elected in his 

place, with J. H. Dolliver assistant. 

In May, 1872, the company disbanded, its officers 

at that time consisting of G. N. B. Cousins, 

foreman ; Charles P. Huestis, first assistant ; J. 

H. Dolliver, second assistant ; and J. R. Mann, 

clerk and treasurer. 

The engine, which was named Monitor, was 

not a success, and in May, 1872, it was retired 

from service, and the Triton hand-engine No. 3, 

then out of service at West Newton, was transferred 

to take its place, and it was subsequently 

sold for a very small sum, and demolished. 

Friday, May 3, 1872, a company was organized 

for the Triton No. 3 hand-engine, consisting 

of,- 

G. N. B. Cousins, Foreman. 

C. P. Huestis, First Assistant. 

J. H. Dolliver, Second Assistant. 

Gordon Plummer, Clerk. 

David Bright, Steward.


F. B. Fletcher. 

J. H. Earl. 

William Underwood 

W. F. Hadlock. 

E. T. Buss. 

W. N. Woodruff. 

G. E. Mann. 

Edward Hawes. 

Charles Fletcher. 

Joseph Burnham. 

W. K. Rice. 

William Holbrook. 

George Cook. 

G. W. Wheeler. 

W. A. Whittaker. 

M. E. Winslow. 

E. G. Chamberlin. 

Joseph Orchard. 

D. F. Fahen. 

Herbert Barris. 

John McDonald. 

Carl Gushing. 

J. G. Devall. 

E. C. Winslow. 

Charles Burnham. 

E. D. Harpin. 

Frank Lunt. 

Arthur Richards. 

E. H. Brown. 

Clark Cook. 

F. L. Richards. 

John Holmes. 

E. W. Hubbard. 

Leonard Hutchins 

Subsequently there were added to the roll, 

James Hall. 

Ralph Mears. 

Edward White. 

Charles Patterson. 

James Barr. 

W. E. White. 

Walter Duffield. 

E. A. Freeman. 

Daniel Hubbard. 

Walter Brown. 

James McGlinchey. 

A. Barr. 

Edward E. Cousins 

James Wright. 

Charles Clifford. 

John Cunningham. 

P. P. Loveland. 

Daniel Coleman. 

P. P. Rowe. 

George W. Knight. 

M. C. Cunningham 

M. E. Winslow. 

Elijah Norcross.


Its first and only working fire of importance 

was Orrin Whipple's mills, at Newton Corner, 

which occurred the night the company organized, 

and while it was in session. 

May 21st J. H. Dolliver resigned as second 

assistant, and Charles Hall was elected to fill 

the vacancy; and August 9th First Assistant C. 

P. Huestis resigned, and Charles Fletcher was 

elected in his place. 

May 5, 1873, after an existence of one year, 

the company disbanded, its last officers being 

CI. N. B. Cousins, foreman ; E. A. Freeman, first 

assistant ; C. H. Hall, second assistant ; E. G. 

Chamberlin, clerk; and Frank 

B. Fletcher, 

steward.

L64 


OTHER COMPANIES. 

At different times, other companies have 

existed, which were only temporary. 

At the Upper Falls, a company of young men 

was organized in 1842, to man the abandoned 

Washington No. 2 engine on Boylston Street, 

which remained in existence until 1854. 

Back in the forties, there was a boys' company 

at the Lower Falls, known as Rough and Beady, 

of which Alfred (*. Whitton was foreman, and 

Albert Gr. Whitton assistant. 

It had a small 

suctionless engine, —possibly the first Cataract, 

— which was kept back of Foster's, recently 

Wiswall's, paper-mill, near the bridge. 

For several years in the later forties and early 

fifties, there was an independent company at 

the Lowei- Falls, which owned its engine, named 

Forrest, which was first located in Hoit and 

Jones's stable, opposite Wales hotel, until if. 

was destroyed by fire, when it was removed to 

Williams's stable, where Boyden Block now is, 

and later to Charles Rice's buildings on the 

Wellesley side of the river. 

George T. Denton, 

afterwards foreman of the Cataract, and previousl) 

a member of Nonantum No. r>, was its 

foreman, and George Bourne, afterwards engi 

neer at Auburndale, assistant foreman. 

The


engine was subsequently in service in a Maine 

town. It was an old-fashioned, no-suction 

engine, purchased at Charlestown. 

It 1872 and 1873, there was another boys' 

company in the village, also known as Rough 

and Read v. 

%J 

The first hook-and-ladder company was at 

West Newton, as before mentioned, and was 

organized in October, 1870. 

Its officers consisted 

of Henry L. Bixby, afterwards chief of 

department, foreman ; George D. Merriam, assistant 

; James Keegan, clerk. 

In 1873, an independent hose company was 

located in the room under the city hall, West 

Newton, vacated by steamer No. 2, in June of 

that year, which had the horse hose-carriage 

purchased for engine No. 3, until that engine 

went into service, May 2, 1874, when the company 

was disbanded. 

Henry L. Bixby was its 

t 

first foreman, and was succeeded by George D. 

Merriam. 

A. J. Fisk was assistant and clerk. 

The other members were Edward Gunnison, 

H. A. Waterhouse, William Waterhouse, and 

Peter McCormick. 

In April, 1874, a number of lads at West 

Newton organized a chemical company, named 

Elliott, which existed a number of years. 

There was also a similar company at Newton 

Centre, in the old Eagle No. 6 house, with J. 

Wiley Edmands foreman, in 1887.

PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 

ENGINE No. 1. 

WASHINGTON STREET, 

NEWTON. 

ORGANIZED DECEMBER 19, 1868. 

TEAM FIRE-ENGINE No. 1 arrived 

* 

* 

2 at Newton October 19, 1808, and 

two months later, December 19th, a 

company was organized for it, consisting 

of Edward A. Boyd, foreman, H. N. Hyde, 

Jr., clerk, Z. Taylor Harrington, J. C. McDonald, 

F. A. Barrows, J. D. Henthorii, J. W. Bailey, 

W. H. Park, Jr., G. W. Lamson, Sen., W. H. 

Kelsey, J. E. Warner, E. S. Cummings, W. H. 

Phillips, F. H. Harrington, and E. H. Graves. 

George H. Wentworth, an employee of Hunnem 

an's establishment, where the engine was 

built, was appointed permanent engineer, and 

was the first permanent employee of the Newton 

fire department, and William Warnick call 

stoker. 

Highway horses were first used to draw it, 

which were kept in a stable at the engine-house 

nights and worked on the streets during the day.

PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 1

168 PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 

riage, left Newton on the 3:4 P. M. train for the 

Pine Tree state. 

Previous to their departure 

they made a short parade, ending at the en- 

;ine-house, where the excursionists were photographed, 

and Chief Orrin Whipple presented 

with a costly gold badge, Assistant Engineer 

Henry L. Bixby making the presentation in behalf 

of its donors, members of the entire department. 

The excursionists were George J. Curtis, chief 

marshal, H. N. Hyde, Jr., foreman, W. E. 

Glover, assistant and clerk, Frank A. Barrows, 

treasurer, W. H. Johnson, C. A. Hill, 0. F. 

Hamblin, H. C. Lindley, Thomas Cleaves, James 

McDonald, E. A. Byfield, A. H. Adams, and 

Charles J. Redding, with Chief Orrin Whipple, 

assistant engineers Henry L. Bixby and W. 

Parker Leavitt, Captain B. D. Griggs of Engine 

No. 2, Captain G. N. B. Cousins of Hose No. 5, 

Captain G. S. Rich of Hose No. 1, Chariest own, 

F. H. Humphrey and C. L. Berry of Engine No. 

2, Russell White, driver of Barnicoat Engine 

No. 4, Boston, H. S. Pike, driver of Truck No. 

9, Charlestown, C. F. Ricker of Newton, and 

John H. Lee of Brighton, as guests. 

Their first stop was at Waterville, where they 

were received by the fire department of that 

city. 

The following day they were entertained 

by the Augusta department, and Friday by the 

Portland department, arriving home Saturday

C. S. Fields. 

J. McDonald. 

F. H. Harrington. 

Warren Spencer. 

C. L. Berry. 

H. L. Bixby. 

H. N. Hyde, Jr., 

Foreman. 

J. D. Henthorn, 

Clerk. 

G. H. Wentworth, William Warnick, 

Engineer. 

W. P. Leavitt, 

Stoker. 

J. W. Bailey, 

Ass't Engineer. Ass't Engineer. 

G. V. Chick. W. E. Glover. 

F. A. Barrows. 

J. Warren Bailey. 

W. H. Johnson. 

A. McDonald. 

C. A. Hill. 

C. H. Bridges.


afternoon, where they were received by a delegation 

of the department. 

Brookline dedicated its new water-supply system 

July 4, 1875, on which occasion this company, 

with assistant engineers H. N. Hyde and 

John Exley, were the guests of Thomas Parsons 

Engine Co. No. 1 of that town. 

Tuesday, October 12, 1875, the company, with 

the Brookline No. 1 and Newton No. 3 companies, 

participated 

in a parade, contest of 

engines at Jackson's brook, and banquet in the 

evening at Eliot Hall. 

In the contest, Engine 

No. 1 played a horizontal stream, through two 

hundred feet of hose, 204 feet, 4 inches ; Engine 

No. 3, 11)5 feet ; and Brookline No. 1, 185 feet, 

9 inches. 

For services rendered at the big Boston fire, 

November 9-10, 1872, and the May 30, 1873, 

conflagration, the company received four hundred 

dollars, which it invested, with other funds, 

in furnishing its parlor, and the purchase of the 

large grouped portraits of the company reproduced 

on the preceding page. 

The old Hunneman engine, after a quarter of 

a century of constant and severe fire duty, was 

replaced by the present third-size Amoskeag 

machine, June 2, 1892. 

The Hunneman hosecarriage, 

purchased in 1874, was replaced by the 

present hose-wagon, built by P. A. Murray, July 

1, 1894.

PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 171 

Past and Present Officers. 

FOREMEN.—Edward A. Boyd, 1868-70; H.N. 

Hyde, Jr., 1871-71; William E. Glover, 1875; 

Charles A. Hill, 1875-77; George V. Chick, 1877; 

W. H. Park, Jr., 1878-81; F. D. Graves, 1881-87; 

C. W. H. Boulton, 1887-88; E. W. Lyon, 1888- 

93; J. F. Horrigan, 1893. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN (position created 1875).— 

George S. Holmes, 1875-76; W. A. Whittaker, 

1876-77; George V. Chick, 1877; W. H. Park, 

Jr., 1878; Henry J. Bemis, 1878; Charles E. F. 

Ross, 1879; 0. F. Hamblin, 1880-81; P. Y. 

Hoseason, 1881-82; C. W. H. Boulton, 1883-87; 

E. W. Lyon, 1887-88; J. F. Horrigan, 1888-93; 

B. F. Tripp, 1893; Frank A. Barrows, 1893. 

CLERKS.—H. N. Hyde, Jr., 1868-69; Frank A. 

Barrows, 1870; J. 1). Henthorn, 1871-72; W. E. 

Glover, 1873-7-1; George J. Curtis, C. A. Hill, 

0. F. Hamblin, 1875; G. V. Chick, 1876-77; 

George H. Belcher, 1877-78; O. F. Hamblin, 

1879; F. D. Graves, 1880; P. Y. Hoseason, 

1881; C. W. H. Boulton, G. W. Boyd, 1882. 

Position combined with assistant foreman January 

1, 1893. 

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES.—Engineers, George 

H. Wentworth, October, 1868; Frank E. Judkius, 

February 17, 1874. Engine drivers, J. D. 

Henthorn, March, 1874; Frank H. Harrington, 

May 19, 1875; John Deary, December 28, 1886;

ENGINE NO. I. 

J. F. Horrigan, Foreman. F. A. Barrows, Assistant. A. R. Carley. 

C. O. Higbee, Jr. C- W. Hewitt. 

Roderick MacLean. B. M. Thomas, Stoker. 

F. E. Judkins, J. F. Cotton, P. C Carroll. 

Engineer Engine Driver. Hose Driver.


F. A. Dexter, November 8, 1890; W. M. Morey, 

July 1, 1891; J. F. Cotton, February 15, 1894. 

Hose-wagon drivers, F. A. Liddell, April 1, 1887; 

F. A. Dexter, November 22, 188S; P. C. Carroll, 

November 8, 1890. 

Cbarles J. Redding was for many years company 

steward. 

i

174 PRESENT DEPARTMENT 

ENGINE No. 2. 

WASHINGTON STREET, WEST NEWTON. 

ORGANIZED AUGUST 24, 1871. 

Steam fire-engine No. 2, a second-class Amoskeag, 

with a four-wheeled horse hose-carriage, 

built by the Amoskeag company, arrived at 

West Newton October 6, 1871, and was placed 

in temporary quarters provided for it under the 

town now city hall, where police headquarters 

now are. 

A company for it, selected from the volunteer 

company attached to the Triton No. 3 handengine, 

was organized August 24, 1871. 

There 

is no authentic record as to who the original 

members were. 

During the first year of its 

existence the following persons were members, 

which includes the original list: E. B. Trowbridge, 

foreman, 0. S. W. Bailey, clerk, J. Q. 

A. Hawkes, B. D. Griggs, George Simpson, C. 

S. Phillips, J. J. Todd, E. L. South worth, A. C. 

Warren, C. A. Wilson, David McBride, W. L. 

Smith, G. H. Haynes, J. H. Hill, G. H. Fields, 

and F. H. Humphrey. 

Patrick Callahan, relief engineer of the Cambridge 

department, Avas appointed permanent 

engineer, George Cole call stoker, and John Carroll, 

driver of the highway department, was de-

C. A'. Kncvwles. 


F. II. Humphrey. 

B. I). Griggs. 

.1. H. Hill. 

P. Callahan, 

Engineer 

. S. W. Bailey, 

Clerk. 

R. M. Lucas. 

Chief Engineer. 

E. B. Trowbridge, 

Foreman. 

( . II. Jennison, 

Ass't Engineer. 

CM. II. Haynes. 

('. S. Phillips. 

M. J, Crowley, 

Stoker. 

II. W. Craft>. 

Joshua Deane 

John Carroll, 

Driver.


tailed to drive the engine. 

The horses were kept 

in an old stable across the street, and used on the 

highways during the day. 

Its first working fire was November 1st, at 

10:45 p. M., at Langdon Coffin's unfinished house 

on Mount Ida. 

The new station erected for it was occupied in 

June, and dedicated July 2, 1873. 

It was enlarged 

to its present size in 1895. 

In June, 1874, the company unanimously voted 

to name the engine Henry L. Bixby, in honor of 

the then assistant engineer of that ward. 

The 

fire committee had previously decided to discontinue 

the naming of fire apparatus, and to remove 

the old names, and would not allow the 

name to be used. 

Accompanied by assistant engineers H. L. 

Bixby and John Exley, and City Clerk E. 0. 

Childs, the company, with Newton City Band, 

went to New Bedford October 15, 1875, where 

they were the guests of Z. Hillman Engine Co. 

No. 4. 

They remained there two days, and were 

received by Hose Co. No. 4 and Truck Co. No. 1 

on their return home. 

- 

October 3, 1876, they were the guests of Natick 

Engine Co. No. 2 of South Natick, as were 

delegations from the company at numerous other 

times. 

The original Amoskeag hose-carriage was replaced 

by an Abbott-Downing carriage in 1883,


which was superseded by the present Mc Vicar 

hose-wagon July 31, 1894:. 

Chemical A, a double, fifty-gallon tank Champion 

engine, built by the Fire 

Extinguisher 

Manufacturing Company of Chicago, was placed 

in service June 25, 1886, and Engine No. 2 

placed in semi-reserve, to make room for it. 

When the enlargement of the station was completed, 

engine No. 2 was again placed in full 

service, April 25, 1895. 

Before the engine was delivered, its builders 

entered it at a muster at Clinton, October 5, 

1871, where it took the first prize of seventy-five 

dollars, with 248 feet, 2 inches. 

There were 

four contestants. 

At Waltham, October 4, 1886, it made a record 

of 202 feet, % inch, and was last in a list of 

six. 

It had a strong cross-wind to contend with, 

which its competitors did not have. 

It rendered excellent service at the big 1872 

Boston fire, and at several other fires in that 

citv since then, also at numerous fires in other 

cities and towns. 


FOREMEN.— E. B. Trowbridge, 1871-74; Benjamin 

D. Griggs, 1874-76; George H. Haynes, 

1876-91; F. H. Humphrey, 1891-94; H. W. 

Nichols, 1894. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN (position created April,

ENGINE NO. 2. 

H. W. Nichol, 

Foreman. 

G. F. Saunders, 

Ass't Foreman. 

E. P. Kebbe. J. L. Christie. 

J. H. Robblee. J. Edward Nichol. W. U. Fogwell. 

J. A. King. R. S. Cummings, F. A. Dexter, 

Engineer. 

Engine Driver. 

G. K. Stacy, 

emical Engineer. 

F. C Rawson, 

Chemical Driver. 

N. P. Snell, George S. Holmes 

Hose Driver. Hoseman.


1874.— George H. Haynes, 1874-86; F. H. 

Humphrey, 1886-91; H. W. Nichols, 1891-94; 

G. F. Saunders, 1894. 

CLERKS.—Oscar S. W. Bailey, 1871-76; F. H. 

Humphrey, 1876; Frank A. Barrows, 1876-80; 

W. .F Rand, 1880-82. Position consolidated 

with assistant foreman, January, 1883. 

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES.—Engineers, Patrick 

Callahan, Octoher 2, 1871; R. S. Cummings, 

w 

May 10, 1875. 

Engine drivers, M. J. Crowley, 

March 17, 1874; Charles L. Berry, April 6, 1874; 

F. A. Dexter, April 25, 1895. Hose drivers, F. 

D. Lancaster," April 1, 1887; J. F. Saunders, Fehruary 

25, 1888; W. M. Morey, January 3, 1891; J. 

F. Calden, June 1, 1891; F. A. Dexter, April 6, 

1892; N. P. Snell, April 25, 1895. Chemical engine 

drivers, Charles L. Berry, June 25, 1886; J. 

F. Saunders, January 3, 1891; Frank C. Rawson, 

May 4, 1895. Relief engineer, George K. 

Stacy, appointed January 1, 1890, assigned to 

chemical April 25, 1895. 

George S. Holmes, 

hoseman, April 1, 1895. 

»


ENGINE No. 3. 

WILLOW STREET, NEWTON CENTRE. 

ORGANIZED APRIL 1,1874. 

March 11, 1872, the town voted to purchase a 

steam fire-engine for Newton Centre. Two 

years and two months, lacking a few days, later. 

May 2, 1874, the engine arrived there and went 

into service. 

Its first fire, the ice-houses at 

Hammond's pond, Chestnut Hill, occurred at 

nine o'clock that evening. 

The engine — a second-class Amoskeas:—ar- 

• 

rived in Newton January 15th, and was used 

by No. 1 company as a relief while their engine 

was undergoing repairs at Manchester, N. H. 

Its first fire while with No. 1 company was 

M. Gr. Crane's house at Newton Highlands, 

February 1, 1874. 

Its first company was organized April 1, 1874, 

and consisted of C. E. F. Ross, foreman, N. B. 

Thompson, assistant, B. C. Spaulding, clerk, H. 

G. Sawyer, C. B. Gfarey, Lac Martin, Van Martin, 

Alexander Ross, and C. S. Boothby. 

Thomas Coughlin was appointed engineer, E. 

C. Holmes driver, and C. F. Richardson call 

stoker. 

April 1, 1884, the company disbanded because 

they were not satisfied with the pay they were

PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 1*1 

receiving, and another was at once organized, 

most of whom were members of the old company. 

The Amoskeag four- 

» 

wheeled horse hose-carriage, 

which came with 

P%^* 

the engine, was superseded 

by its present Murray 

hose-wagon July 1, 

1895. 

In 1890 the 

station 

was enlarged to its present 

size. 

The fire-alarm 

headquarters are also located 

here. 

WILLIAM BEMIS, Ex-Assistant Chief. 


FOREMEN. — C. E. F. Ross, 1874 ; George H. 

Coffin, 1875 ; William Bemis, 1875-77 ; W. E. 

Parse, 1877 ; Horace G. Sawyer, 1877 ; William 

Bemis, 1878-79 ; Horace G. Sawyer, 1879-80 ; 

A. I. English, 1880-81 ; George F. Richardson, 

1882-84 ; A. I. English, 1884. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN. — N. B. Thompson, 

1874 ; William Bemis, 1875 ; Horace G. Sawyer, 

1875-77 ; A. I. English, 1877-78 ; C. G. Kelsej 

and G. W. Ulmer, 1879 ; A. I. English, 1880 ; 

George F. Richardson, 1881; Samuel F. Chadbourne, 

1882. 

CLERKS.— B. C. Spaulding, 1874; Eugene E. 

Coffin, 1875 ; Jerome Rice, 1875-70 ; W. E. 

T

A. I. English, 

Foreman. 

A. D. Colby, 

C. E. Thompson. 

ENGINE No. 3- 

S. F. Chadbourne. D. McDonald. 

Assistant. 

P. E. Ellis,-Engine Driver. 

J. McMahon. B. W. Pollv. 

C J. Polly. 

E. G. Hennrikus. 

Hose Driver. 

A. N. Mosher.


Parse, 1876; S. K. Chadbourne, 1*77; Charles 

A. Peek, L877-80 ; (J. F. Richardson, L880 ; S. 

F. Chadbourne, 1881 ; Daniel McDonald, 1**2, 

when the office was consolidated with assistant 

foreman. 

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES.—Engineers, Thomas 

Coughlin, May 2, L87-1 ; Abner 1). Colby, 

August 13, L876. Engine drivers, E. C. Holmes, 

May 2, 1874; Asa C. Jewett, May 7, hû ; J. E. 

Watson. April L5, L887 ; P. E. Ellis, October 

•j-_\ Lsss. 

Hose drivers, J. F. Higbee, January 

1, ISMI; \V. H. Ayles, Jr., April 1. 1890; E. (i. 

Hennrikus, Julv 1, 1891.


HOSE No. 4. 


NEWTONVILLE. 

ORGANIZED AUGUST, 1K74. 

When Engine Co. 1 received its new hosecarriage 

in 1874, its old carriage was transferred 

to the station occupied by Truck Co. No. 1, 

Cabot Street, Newtonville, and Hose Co. No. 4 

organized in August following. 

Its first company consisted of Caleb A. Purdy, 

foreman, F. S. Amidon, Jr., clerk, J. E. Watson, 

J. J. Cranitch, J. H. McAdam, Jr., B. F. 

Fewks, William Watt, W. H. Fall, Francis 

Murphy, and F. J. Monks. 

It was, with Truck 

No. 1, removed to its present station in December, 

1875. 

In 1881, the old hose-carriage was replaced by 

an Abbott-Downing carriage, and July 11, 1890, 

the present Murray hose-wagon went into service. 

The old carriage, which was built in a 

most thorough manner, was sold, and subsequently 

went to Dedham, where it now is in 

active service, and almost as good as new, after 

thirty consecutive years of active duty. 

The company adopted the name of David S. 

Simpson, in honor of the first common councilman 

from that ward, which it retained until 

names were abolished. 

. 

'.

HOSE NO. A- 

E. C Waterhouse, Foreman. F. S. Frost. Assistant. David M. Dow. 

C. D. Hunter. Roderick McNeal. J. R. Huggard, Driver 

xuT?, 

HHfW t 

#A$S


It was not until May 1, 1883, that a permanent 

driver was employed. 

Previous to that 

time a horse was provided with a call driver. 

Its permanent drivers have heen, J. E. Watson, 

May I, L883 ; E. A. Dexter, April 15, 1887 ; Tyler 

C. Holmes, November 22, 1888 ; W. M. Morey, 

December 1, 1890; E. A. Jones, January 15, 

1891 ; E. C. Rawson, January 1, 1892; J. R. 

Huggard, June 1, 1893. 


FOREMEN. — Caleb A. Purdy, 1874; W. H. 

Fall, 1S75 ; Byron W. Jones, 1876 ; E. P. Bessie, 

L877; E. C. Waterhouse, 1878. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN AND CLERKS.— F. 8. 

Amidon, Jr., 1874; J. J. Cranitch, 1875; E. P. 

Bessie and J. Q. A. Bessie, 1876 ; F. G. Brackett, 

E. C. Waterhouse, and R. L. Hill, 1877 ; Joseph 

Fontaine, 1878-83 ; E. P. Bessie, 1883 ; A. J. 

Wandlass, 1884-9(5 ; Frank 8. Frost, 1897.


HOSE No. 5. 

AUBURN STREET, AUBURNDALE. 

ORGANIZED MARCH ]*.), 1874. 

According to date of organization, Hose No. 

5 should have been No. 4, as it was organized 

some five months before No. 4 company. 

It 

went into service March 19, 1*74, to take the 

place of Triton Engine Co. No. 3. 

Its fiist company consisted of G. N. B. 

Cousins, foreman, J. H. Dolliver, assistant, C. 

W. Whitmarsh, clerk, W. F. Hadlock, C. W. 

Cousins, J. S. Earl, E. C. Winslow, R. H. 

Mears, Clark Cook, and Charles Fletcher. 

A Hunnemaii four-wheeled horse hose-carriage 

was purchased for it, which was named 

J. Willard Rice, in honor of the then alderman 

of that ward. 

July 3, 1875, the engineers reduced the membership 

of the company from ten to six, and 

discharged four of its members, including the 

foreman, Gr. N. B. Cousins, which caused the 

company to disband. 

Another company was organized October 12th, 

consisting of Henry Johnson, foreman, Joseph 

Cook, clerk, L. F. Johnson, Carroll 

White, 

Arthur Richards, and John Cunningham. 

Again, October 1, 1878, the company dis-

\%i£ 

IEffl •* I 

F. Washburn, Foreman. 

VC H. Hall. 

HOSE NO. 5. 

J. U- Kimball, Assistant. John Frost. 

1 

H. A. Preston. A. F. Hennrikus, Driver 

*AS$

PRESENT DEPARTMENT. 18!» 

handed, and another was not organized until 

March 17, 1870, which consisted of W. F. Sonic, 

foreman, J. U. Kimball, assistant, C. H. Hall, 

J. C. Merrill, C. A. McClellan, and J. F. Long. 

A hose-wagon, built by Me Vicar, replaced the 

Hunneman carriage July 31, 1H94-. 

D. J. Cooney was appointed its first permanent 

driver, January 1, 1**9, and was succeeded 

by J. S. Williams, January 1, 1890 ; G. M. 

Curtis, July 1, 1891 ; Arva E. 

Easterbrook, 

March 21, 1893; N. P. Snell, September I, 1*94; 

A. F. Hennrikus, April 1, 1895. 


FOREMEN. — George N. B. Cousins, 1*74-75 ; 

Henry Johnson, 1875 ; George Cook, 1*75-76 ; 

Frank B. Fletcher, 1876-78 ; W. F. Soule, 1879- 

85 ; J. F. Washburn, 1885. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN.—James H. Dolliver, 

1874-75, also 1878; H. F. Miller, 1875; Joseph 

Cook, 1875; John Cunningham, 1875-76; A. 

H. Richards, 1870-78 ; J. C. Merrill, 1879-81 ; 

Joseph U. Kimball, 1881. 

CLERKS.—C. W. Whitmarsh, 1874-75 ; L. F. 

Johnson, 1875 ; A. H. Richards, 1876. 

Office 

abolished in November, 1876. 

• - 

* 

-


HOSE No. 6. 

WASHINGTON STREET, NEWTON LOAVER FALLS. 

ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 1, 1877. 

Hose Co. No. 6 was organized February 1, 

1877, to take the place of Cataract No. 1 handengine 

company. 

Its first company consisted 

of F. B. Reed, foreman, Bernard Early, clerk, 

W. A. Leonard, G. W. Harrison, G. A. Reed, 

and J. J. Kenney. 

For a short time it used the Empire No. 5 

large hose-cart, which it run by hand. 

A cheap 

four-wheeled horse hose-carriage, built by Hunneman, 

for which the Cataract No. 1 hand-engine 

was traded, was subsequently purchased, 

which was used until the present Murray hosewagon 

succeeded it, October 6, 180*». 

* 

A call driver was appointed from the company, 

and a highway horse used until January 1, 

1889, when D. J. Cooney was appointed permanent 

driver. He was succeeded by Oscar A. 

Colby, April 4, 1891, and John F. Calden, February 

1, 1895. 


FOREMEN.— F. B. Reed, February 1, 1877; R. 

H. Moulton, May 1, 1881; Bernard Early, May 

1, 1882; Andrew B. Hay den, April 1, 1895. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN AND CLERKS.— Bernard

A. B. Hayden, 

Foreman. 

T. E. Healy. 

HOSE NO. 6. 

D. J. Corcoran, 

Ass't Foreman 

O. S- McCourt. 

P. E. O'Neil. 

J. F. Calden, Driver


Early, February 1, 1877; W. A. Leonard, January 

1, 1879; Bernard Early, June 1, 1881: C. 

S. Morse, May 1, 1882; H. H. Miles, August 

I, 1883; D. J. Corcoran, July 1, 1887.


HOSE No. 7. 

PETTEE STREET, NEWTON UPPER FALLS. 

ORGANIZED JANUARY 25, 1878. 

Hose Co. No, 7 succeeded the Mechanic No. 4 

hand-engine company, and was organized January 

25, 1878, with Charles W. Randall, foreman, 

Benjamin Hopkins, clerk, William S. Cargill, 

Robert H. Hodgson, Harley A. Smith, and Horace 

H. Easterbrook. Subsequently the company 

elected James E. Trowbridge and George 

H. Osborne as substitutes. 

The company occupied the old hand-engine 

house on High Street, and used its old jumper, 

which it run by hand to a few boxes, until its 

present station on Pettee Street, which was built 

for it, was completed. 

It occupied the new station 

January 27, 1879, first using a horse pung, 

subsequently a hose-carriage, a duplicate of No. 

6, which was purchased for it some time before. 

Its first horse, Old Harvey, was one of the 

wonders of the department. 

It was a tip-cart 

horse belonging to the highway department, 

which for slowness of gait never had an equal 

in this if any other fire department. 

The first 

alarm the company responded to was from box 

52, at 4:05 P. M., March 25th. Every schoolboy, 

and every one else who went faster than a

J. E. Trowbridge, 

Foreman. 

Joseph Temperley 

HOSE NO. 7. 

J. W- C Easterbrook. 

Assistant Foreman. 

Stephen Morgan. 


E. L. Richards, Driver


walk, passed the company en route to the fire. 

By persistent persuasion, the noble animal succeeded 

in reaching the spot where the fire had 

been, but not until it was extinguished. 

January 1, 1879, Foreman C. W. Kandall and 

Clerk Benjamin Hopkins declined a reappointment, 

and were succeeded by W. S. Cargill, 

foreman, and H. A. Smith, assistant, J. E. 

Trowbridge and Gr. H. Osborne filling vacancies. 

Captain W. S. Cargill served as its commanding 

officer until his death, February 2-A, 1893, 

when he was succeeded by H. A. Smith, who 

was succeeded by J. E. Trowbridge, November 

1, 1895. J. E. Trowbridge succeeded H. A. 

Smith as assistant foreman, and was succeeded 

by J. W. C. Easterbrook, November 1, 1895. 

Captain Trowbridge is the veteran of the department, 

commencing as a member of Nonantum 

Engine Co. No. 5 in 185T, and has been in 

the service as a volunteer or regular member 

most of the time since. 

From 1879 until 1891 J. E. Trowbridge was 

call driver. 

E. L. Eichards was appointed permanent 

driver February 1, 1891. 

This was the first company in Newton to receive 

a hose-wagon, January 31, 1893, built by 

the Abbott-Downing Company, Concord, N. H. 

• - 

-•


H05E No. 8. 

WATERTOWN STREET, NONANTUM. 

• 

ORGANIZED JULY 1, 1893. 

The last company organized was Hose No. 8, 

which went into service in the new station built 

for it, July 1, 1893, with a new Abbott-Downing 

wagon. 

Its first company consisted of W. M. Russell, 

foreman, R. F. Mills, assistant, G. H. Turner, J. 

W. Murry, and F. H. Boughan. G. M. Curtis 

was transferred from Hose No. 5, as permanent 

driver. 

He was succeeded by M. F. Turner, 

May 1, 1896. 

Captain Russell was succeeded by R. F. Mills, 

September 1, 1893, and John W. Murry, May 

1, 1895 ; George H. Turner succeeded R. F. 

Mills as assistant foreman September 1, 1893, 

and died while in office, August 26, 1894, and 

was succeeded by J. W. Murry. F. H. Boughan 

was appointed assistant May 1, 1895. 

The company's first fire duty was at the burning 

of the old ice-houses at Bui loughs Pond, 

July 28, 1893.

. 

\ 

John W. Murry, 

Foreman. 

Frank Turner. 

HOSE No. 8. 

F. H. Boughan, 

Ass't Foreman. 

E. J. Burke. 

J. A. Nevins. 

M. F. Turner, Drivjtaj^


TRUCK No. 1. 


NEWTONYILLE. 

ORGANIZED MARCH, 1872. 

The original ladder truck No. 1 was built by 

Chapman and Strangman of Milton, and delivered 

in March, 1872. 

It was exhibited in 

front of the town hall, town meeting day, March 

4th, and went into service immediately after, 

in the William Claflin Chemical No. 1 station, 

Cabot Street, Newtonville, now the Veteran 

Association headquarters building at West Newton. 

It was named John L. Roberts, in honor of 

one of Newtonville's most prominent citizens, 

who during his long residence at Newton was 

ever a friend, and frequently a benefactor, of its 

fire department. 

A company 

was organized, consisting of 

Samuel E. Wetherbee, foreman, J. H. Williams, 

assistant foreman, John Murphy, clerk, F. B. 

Sisson, G. B. Hay ward, J. H. Gilman, D. Osmore 

Dow, Alexander Hill, K. F. Cranitch, Alfred 

Pitt, John Powell, and John Kelley. 

Its first fire of importance was Whipple's 

mills, May 3, 1872. 

The truck built with shafts for one horse was 

first drawn to fires by F. B. Sisson, who received


five dollars for the use of his horse, and two 

dollars for his services as driver. 

Subsequently a pole was substituted and a 

pair of highway horses provided. 

D. C. Morgan, 

section foreman of the highway department, 

was driver until lsTl, when Charles Murphy 

was appointed permanent driver. 

He was succeeded 

by J. E. Watson, February 25, 1888. 

The present house was erected in I


ber, 1879. 

This truck was succeeded by the 

present third-size Babcock aerial truck, built by 

the Fire Extinguisher Manufacturing Company, 

Chicago, June 15, 1891. 

Up to July, 1891, when No. 2 truck company 

went into service, this company responded to all 

first alarms, and did more service each year than 

any other in the department. 

The company went to Gloucester October 15, 

1878, where it was received and entertained by 

the Steam Fire Association, and participated in 

the annual parade of the fire department of 

that city. 

They in turn received their Gloucester friends 

at the time of their annual supper, February 20, 

1879. The following day a sleigh-ride about the 

city, a visit to the several fire stations and the 

Waltham watch factory, was participated in 

by the two entire organizations and numerous 

guests. 


FOREMEN.—Samuel E. Wetherbee, 1872-75, 

1877-79 ; Caleb A. Purdy, 1875 ; F. L. Sibley, 

1870 : W. S. Higgins, 1879-92 ; Frank B. Sisson, 

1892. 

ASSISTANT FOREMEN. — John H. Williams, 

1872-75 ; J. Edward Watson, 1875 ; F. A. Harriman, 

1876 ; W. S. Higgins, 1877-79 ; U. H. 

Dyer, 1879-80 ; L. H. Cranitch, 1881 ; John 

\ 

I 

i

F. B. Sisson, Foreman. 

T- C Nickerson. 

J. W. Cook. 

TRUCK NO. I. 

A. A. Savage, Assistant 

C. W. Coleman. 

E. W. Masters. 

D. O. Dow. 

M. J. McLeod. 

J. E. Watson, Dri


Murphy, 1882; F. B. Sisson, l*s2 ; A. A. Savage, 

1892. 

CLERKS.—John Murphy, 1872-75; F. J. 

Monks, 1875 ; F. G. Brackett, 1876 ; G. F. 

Hayward, 1877 ; U. H. Dyer, 1877-79 ; L. H. 

Cranitch, 1879-80; B. F. Barlow, 1881-82. 

Consolidated 

with assistant foreman, January 1, 

1883.


TRUCK No. 2. 

BOYLSTON STREET, NEWTON HIGHLANDS. 

ORGANIZED JULY 1, 1891. 

Truck Co. No. 2, which also operates Chemical 

B. went into service in the new double station 

erected for it at the intersection of Bovlston 

and Cook streets, Newton Highlands, July 1, 

1891. 

The apparatus was not ready for its use at 

that time. 

Chemical B was first in service July 

19th, and the ladder truck July 22d. 

Chemical 

B answered its first call from box 52, at 7:38 

p. M., the day it went into service, for a small 

bonfire near Chestnut Street railroad bridge, 

Waban. 

The truck's first service was August 

20th, when it responded to an alarm from the 

same box, at the burning of a stable occupied 

by C. H. Hale on Beacon Street. 

The truck was formerly used by Truck Co. 

No. 1. The chemical, a double, fifty-gallon tank, 

No. ± improved Champion, built by the Fire Extinguisher 

Manufacturing Company of Chicago, 

— a duplicate of Chemical A,—was new, and 

procured especially for this company. 

The original company consisted of S. W. Cobbett, 

foreman, Charles E. Marsters, assistant, 

W. F. Heal, C. E. Nash, B. G. Stronach, F. N. 

-

S. W. Cobbett, 

Foreman. 

J. S. Williams, 

Lieutenant. 

F- N. Marsters. 

TRUCK NO. 2. 

C R. Marsters, W. F. Heal, B. G. Stronach 

Assistant. 

W. H. Ayles, Jr., 

E. A. Jones, 

Chemical Driver. 

Truck Driver 

W. B. McMullen. Thomas McKenzie. W. H. Mitchell. 

Nl«n«* 

l 

AfAS*


Marsters, W. B. McMullen, Joshua L. Randall, 

J. W. C. Easterbrook, and J. L. Richardson. 

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES. — J. S. Williams, lieutenant 

of chemical; Frank A. Dexter, driver of 

% 

truck; and W. H. Ayles, Jr., driver of chemical. 

Edward A. Jones succeeded F. A. Dexter, 

April i), 1892. 

J. L. Richardson resigned January 1, and J. 

L. Randall November 1, 1893, and C. E. Nash, 

March 1, 1895. J. 

W 

ferred to Hose No. 


-

* » * * % 

George G. Perkins, 

F're Alarm Inspector. 

W. E. Younir, 

Relief Driver. 

B en jam in F. Trip 

Benjamin Merchant ^''^ Enîn eer. 

p ne Alarm Lineman. 

O. A. Colby, R eMef Driver.' 

C - Frank Osborne, 

DriVer - 

NtW W,

FIRES. 

IESPITE the fact that it is largely 

a wooden city, Newton never had a 

sweeping conflagration. 

Only two 

or three churches, about the same 

number of school-houses, and a few business 

blocks have been burned. 

Most of its fires have been in dwellings, barns, 

and manufacturing establishments. 

During the 

fifties many barns were burned in this and adjoining 

towns. 

There was no official record kept of fires prior 

to 1874, when Newton became a city. 

The first fire of which there is a record was 

the dwelling-house of Samuel Hyde, on the old 

Hyde homestead, Newton Corner, in 1709. 

The 

next fire destroyed the parsonage of the First 

Church, on the northwest corner of Centre and 

Cabot streets, occupied by the Rev. John Cotton, 

March 25, 1720. 

The parsonage was again 

burned March 18, 1770. 

It was then located 

near the present residence of Hon. Alden Speare, 

Centre Street. 

Monday evening, November 25, 1839, occurred 

/ 

S

208 FIRES 

Newton's greatest fire, the extensive machineshop 

of Otis Pettee, Upper Falls, a wooden building 

three hundred and sixty-five feet long and 

three stories high. 

It started soon after seven 

o'clock, from a spark from the boiler-chimney, 

and spread with great rapidity throughout the 

building, many of the workmen (the days' work 

then ending at half-past seven) having barely 

time to escape, and some of them being compelled 

to jump from the upper windows. 

Many 

engines were present from Roxbury, Cambridge, 

Brookline, Brighton, Watertown, and Waltham. 

The following is a list of the important fires, 

compiled from different sources: — 

1709. Samuel Hyde's house, Newton Corner. 

1720. March 24, Rev. John Cotton's house, Newton Corner. 

1729. March 18, William Clark's house, Upper Falls. 

1770. March 18, Rev. Jonas Merjiam's house, Newton 

Centre. ' 

JN^ 1826. Jonas Smith's barn. 

1834. May 10, Lyon

FIRES. 209 

1844. May 7, Otis Pettee's u pond shop," Upper Falls. 

1845. July 1, Henry Woods's paint-mill, owned by General 

Charles Rice, Lower Falls. 

1840. March 3, Brook Farm mansion, West Roxbury. 

"v September 15, Wales & Mills's paper-mill, Lower 

Falls. 

September 22, Dowdy's morocco-dressing factory, 

Newtonville. 

September 29, Lyman's house and other buildings 

near depot, Newtonville. 

V 

September 30, Boit & Jones's stables, opposite 

Wales Hotel, Lower Falls. 

1847. July 16, Mansfield's house, Newton Corner. 

1849. January 11, house occupied by Dr. Augustus Wentworth, 

Chestnut Street, Upper Falls. 

rY 

January 17, Thornton's tavern barn, Centre Street, 

Highlands. 

January 18, Merriam & Tozer's grist and planing 

mill, and several other buildings, Waltham. 

April 7, Massasoit House, Waltham. 

V 

May 9, Rogers Bros. 1 dry-goods store and others, 

Watertown. 

i 

May 16, Nonantum House stable, Newton Corner. 

May 16, A. J. Allen's barn, West Newton. 

November 24, A. J. Allen's barn, West Newton. 

George W. Hawkes's barn, Beacon Street, Lower 

Falls. 

1850. March 1, Nonantum House bowling-alleys, Newton 

Corner. 

March 13, Otis Pettee's " upper shop," Upper Falls. 

y^ 

March 17, Nathan Crafts's barn, Auburn Street, 

West Newton. 

May 8, Ellis's cotton-factory, Boylston 

Street, 

Upper Falls. 

June 2, Aaron Adams's unoccupied house, Centre 

Street, Newton Corner. 

June 15, R. Murdock's block, Centre Street, Newton 

Corner. 

V 

October 11, S. Klous's barn, Nonantum Hill. 

X 5 Lo^JL*C i^ JLr^ê^ I

210 . FIRES. 

• 1 6 

1851. March 13, Otis Pettee's dry-sheds (slight), Upper 

Falls. 

May 16, N. Longfellow's paper-mill, Needham. 

August 1, Spring Hotel stables, Watertown. 

September 1, Tremont Hall building, Newtonville. 

1852. February 1, S. G. Williams's stable, Lower Falls. 

June 9, G. C. Lord's house, Waban Park, Newton 

Corner. 

June 17, W, F. Freeman & Co.'s storage-house, Nonantum. 

July 29, Europe Houghton's barn, Newtonville. 

1853. January 3, Robert Prentice's house, Centre and 

Lyman streets, Newton Centre. 

/ January 9, J. N. Bacon's barn, Woodward Street, 

Upper Falls. 

January 11, house occupied by Edward Taylor, 

Ellis Street, Upper Falls. 

f •;, , . 2L, May 1, Sunday, big brush fire, one thousand acres, 

Upper Falls. 

May 12, Gordon Dexter's house, West Newton. 

May 15, Spring Hotel stables, Watertown. 

June 14, Eaton & Moulton's machine-shop, Lower 

Falls. 

July 5, Luther Paul's house, Newton Centre. 

August 19, Mrs. Bowers's house, Newtonville. 

£ ) -"September 4, M. Lothrop's stable, Elliot Street, 

Upper Falls. 

October 22, Mrs. Griner's barn, Newtonville. 

October 31, D. W. Stearns's barn, Newtonville. 

November 5, J. Walcott's barn, Waltham. 

November 8, Stephen Whitney's barn, Newtonville. 

— November 12, M. S. Rice's barn, Newton Centre. 

November 14, Albert Jennison's 

Corner. 

house, Newton 

' 

November 16, Smith Adams's barn, Newtonville. 

November 16, J. M. Cook's carpenter and J. O. 

Evans's paint shops, Newtonville. 

1854. June 17, Ellis heirs' barn, Tipper Falls.

FIRES. 211 

1854. July 17, E. C Dudley's house (Needham), Upper 

Falls. 

August 8, Brook Farm barn and sheds, West Roxbury. 

September 2, Spring* Hotel and other buildings, 

Watertown. 

September 10, B. B. Muzzey's barn, Npnantum 

Hill. 

September 24, Swallwood's furniture-varnishing 

shop, Newton Corner. 

~ —* October 12, Mr. Bowers's barn, Newtonville. 

1855. January 26, John Pierce's house, Newton Centre. 

February 20, Kingsbury's house and barn, Chestnut 

Hill. 

March 25, Seth Bemis's barn, Nonantum. 

April 13, B. B. Muzzey's barn, Nonantum Hill. 

June 14, Nonantum No.'5 engine-house, Newton 

Corner. 

December 21, James Riley's barn, West Newton. 

1856. March 5, Whitney & Son's paper-mill, Watertown. 

July 3, Robert Porter's house, Newtonville. 

1857. January 17, Eaton & Moulton's machine-shop, 

Lower Falls. 

March 12, Robert Porter's barn, Newtonville. 

April 23, E. T. Wiswall & Co.'s provision store, and 

other buildings, Newton Corner. 

May 10, A. J. Allen's unoccupied house and barn, 


June 20, Tremont Hall building, Newtonville. 

August 7, old slaughter-house, Oak Street, Upper 

Falls. 

September 7, A. J. Allen's buildings, West Newton. 

September 26, Wales & Mills's stock-house, with 

old Cataract No. 1 engine, Lower Falls. 

October 4, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, pasteboard-mill, 

Low r er Falls. 

October 10, Orrin Whipple's steam planing-mills, 

Newton Corner. 

November 7, Adams's barn, Oak Hill.

212 FIRES 

1857. November 7, Isaac Farewell's mammoth barn, 

Watertown. 

1858. April 22, Winch's house, Newtonville. 

August 7, A. J. Allen's old barn, Newton Corner. 

October 3, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, paper-mill, Lower 

Falls. 

November 15, Mrs. Norcross's barn, Chestnut Hill. 

December 4, John Mead's buildings, West Newton. 

December 6, A. R. Trowbridge & Co.'s oil-factory, 

Beacon Street, Newton Centre. 

1859. March 14, A. R. Trowbridge & Co.'s oil-factory 


April 9, Peregrine Bartlett's house, Waban. 

April 14, E. C. Dudley's old house (Needham), 

Upper Falls. 

May 24, William Vose's pump-shop, Newtonville. 

August 12, Lawrence Stone & Co.'s unoccupied 

house, Auburndale. 

October 21, A. R. Trowbridge & Co.'s oil-factory, 


November 30, Harback's barn, Ward Street, Newton 

Centre. 

1860. January 8, Atemas Wiswall's house, Oak Hill. 

April 1, Granville Fuller's lumber-yard, Brighton. 

April 80, W. F. Freeman & Co.'s dyewood-works, 

Nonantum. 

July 7, George Teague's carpenter-shop, Newton 

Corner. 

October 6, E. W. Johnson's barn, Auburndale. 

October 7, Baxter estate's unoccupied house, West 


October 7, Hugh Bryson's house, West Newton. 

October 29, Spring Hotel stable, Watertown. 

December 14, Lawrence McLaughlin's house and 

barn, Newton Corner. 

1861. January 14, Phillips Congregational Church, 

Watertown. 

February 17, Henry Harrington's carpenter-shop, 

Newton Corner.

FIRES. 

i>l?> 

1881. March 27, Richard Walsh's house, West Newton. 

August 23, Phineas Allen's barn, Walthani Street, 


August 25, W. A. Harris's house and other buildings, 

Walnut Street, Newtonville. 

August 26, Michael Tafe's house, River Street, 


September 14, Bogle & Bowman's oil-carpet factory, 

Cherry Street, West Newton. 

September 25, barn occupied by A. B. Porter, West 


October 6, Daniel Baxter's house, West Newton. 

October 8, E. Jackson's house. West Newton. 

November 7, J. N. Bacon's barn, Woodward Street, 

Upper Falls. 

December 10, Brackett's barn, Newton Corner. 

1862. September 5, Bemis Mills boarding-house, Nonantum. 

September 2, Plympton's silk-factory, Margin 

Street, West Newton. 

October 5, John Ayer's barn, West Newton. 

November 5, A. R. Trowbridge & Co.'s oil-factory, 


November 20, Galen Merriam's house, West Newton. 

1868. March 8, John Coleman's house, West Newton. 

April 21, Triton Co. 3 engine-house, West Newton. 

May 24, Legrand Lucas's house, West Newton. 

August 17, A. J. Allen's house, West Newton. 

October 11, Seth Davis's barn, near hotel, West 


October 11,G.E. Allen's barn, Webster Street, West 


November 29, Legrand Lucas's barn, West Newton. 

1864. February 11, J. H. Stephenson's barn, West Newton. 

March 29, Florence Crowley's house (Needham), 

Upper Falls. 

July 17, Orrin Whipple's mill, Newton Corner.

214 FIRES. 

1864. July 18, Mrs. Alden's barn, West Newton. 

1865. March 28, Stephen Putnam's house, Highlands. 

. May 8, Mrs. Collins 7 s house, Auburndale. 

July 23, school-house, Auburndale. 

August 19, Otis Pettee & Co.'s blacksmith-shop, and 

other buildings, Upper Falls. 

1860. June 16, G. C. Lord's barn, Newton Corner. 

July 11, Mosher & Tucker's wheelwright and blacksmith 

shops, and other buildings, Pearl 

and 

Centre streets, Newton Corner. 

August 15, Royal Gilkey's lumber-yard, Watertown. 

September 2, United States arsenal explosion and 

fire, Water town. 

October 17, Edward Rice's two barns and slaughter-house, 

North Brighton. 

November 6, Dr. Warren's barn, Washington 

Street, West Newton. 

December 8, Daniel Knowles's barn, 

Chestnut 

Hill. 

1867. March 21, two school-houses, Brighton. 

June 15, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, stock-house, Lower 

Falls. 

July 10, Binney & Co.'s paper-bag factory, Nehoiden 

Mill, Lower Falls. 

July 11, Fowle & Co.'s furniture-shop, Lower Falls. 

July 13, A. J. AVebb's barn, Nonantum. 

August 22, William Mcintosh's house, Beacon 

Street, Lower Falls. 

September 14, C. McGuire's barn, Nonantum. 

September 23, Seth Davis's cottage house, West 


^ October 18, Albert Plummer's grocery store, 

Auburndale. 

1868. January 18, Berry & Kimball's grocery store, 

Nonantum. 

June 6, Wales Hotel, Lower Falls. 

June 14, Orphan Girls' Home, Newton Centre. 

November 11, William Wright's house, Auburndale.

FIRES. 215 

1868. December 4, Binney's paper-bag factory, Lower 

Falls. 

December 7, Cacly & Hanaford's straw-shop, Oak 

Street, Upper Falls. 

December 15, J. C. Wightman's house, Newtonville. 

December 29, Hollis wool-dressing buildings, 

Watertown. 

1869. January 24, Boynton's slaughter-houses, Brighton. 

May 11, ice-houses, Hammond's pond, Chestnut 

Hill. 

May 17, iEtna Mills boarding-house, Nonantum. 

June 5, Newton Mills stock-house, Upper Falls. 

June 8, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, stock-house, Lower 

Falls. 

June 13, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, paper-mills, Lower 

Falls. George W. Davison, Cataract No. 1, Frank 

A. Cole, Triton No. 3, injured by falling walls. 

July 17, J. O'Donnell's house, Revere Street, West 


July 31, Collin Cady's old tin-shop, High 

Street, 

Upper Falls. 

September 12, Milo & O. F. Lucas's carpenter-shops, 


September 26, Luther Bailey's barn, West Newton. 

November 14, Mason school-house, Newton Centre. 

1870. April 25, N. Longfellow's paper-mill, Needham. 

May 16, Estes's barn. Lower Falls. 

May 30, E. C Dudley's barn (Needham), Upper 

Falls. 

June 30, Joseph Foster's barn, Auburndale. 

August 27, N. C. Munson's (Cargill) barn (Needham), 

Upper Falls. 

September 18, Mrs. Ritchie's barn, Nonantum. 

November 5, T. H. Carter's barn, Newtonville. 

1871. January 8, Thomas Rice, Jr.'s, paper-mill (Wales 

& Mills), Lower Falls. 

January 13, Pingree's new house, Pearl 

Street, 

Newton Corner.

216 FIRES. 

1871. January 13, Ashael Wheeler's paint-factory, West 


March 5, Horace Cousins's (Langley place) barn, 

Newton Centre. 

March 24, Charles Francis's barn, Chestnut Hill. 

June 4, John Morrison's livery-stable, Newton 

Centre. 

June 18, Nathan Crafts's barn, Newtonville. 

July 24, C. S. Morse's house, Grove Street, Lower 

Falls. 

. August 6, Dalby Mills, vacant dye-house, Nonanturn. 

• 

X September 16, school-house, Nonantum. 

October 16, E. S. Farnsworth's barn, Newtonville. 

k October 23, Horace Cousins's barn, Beacon Street, 


November 25, William Jones's barn, Newtonville. 

1872. January 25, W. S. Arnaud's house, AValnut Street, 

Highlands. 

February 1, Thomas Stanley's carpenter-shop, 


March 5, William Garrett's barn, Woodward Street, 

Waban. 

March 23, G. B. Tuttle's house, Newton Corner. 

March 30, Mr. Appleton's house, Oak Hill. 

May 3, Orrin 

Whipple's planing-mills, Church 


June 9, Evangelical Chapel, Nonantum. 

June 30, W. S. & F. Cordingley's boiler-house, 

Lower Falls. 

July 14, ice-house, Bulloughs pond, Newtonville. 

July 28, Hurd's carpenter-shop, Bowers 

Street, 


August 6, L. W. Gleason's house, Highlands. 

August 14, Stephen Holmes's carperter-shop, Pearl 


September 7,William Strong's ice-houses, Brighton. 

November 4, house occupied by B. F. Beal, Walnut 

Street, Newtonville. 

* $w(d L^ So(^ 3 (& ftZu^ )

FIRES. 

21 i 

1872. Xovember 13, D. S. Simpson's barn, Newtonville. 

1S73. March 2, Hollis & Co/s wool-drying establishment, 

AVatertown. 

_May 21, Granville Fuller's new house, Maple 

Street, Auburndale. 

June 3, Butcher Boy No l's engine-house, Brighton, 

extinguished by Engine Co. 1 of Newton. 

June 3, Luther Paul's ice-houses, Newton Centre. 

July 25, E. AV. Converse's house, Cabot 

Street, 

Newton Corner. 

August 23, Ashael Wheeler's laboratory, West 


September 

14, Bacon's block (partial), Newton 

Corner. 

September 21, Granville Fuller & Son's lumberyard, 

Brighton. 

October 7, Webber and Cargill's planing and 

moulding mill, Upper Falls. 

October 8, Eliot Hall block, Newton Corner. 

November 23, P. Linehan's house, Newtonville; 

was being moved at time. 

November 28, 7 p. M , box 73, house owned by Mrs. 

J. AV. Parkhurst, Beacon Street, Newton Centre; 

tire-alarm telegraph first used. 

1874. January 13, big fire, Natick. 

January 14, Cole's block, Newton Corner. 

February 1, M. G. Crane's house, Highlands. 

October 15, Charles Rice's barn, Lower Falls. 

IS75. April 5, B. & A. R. R. depot, AVest Newton. 

1876, January 2, P. Fleming's house, Auburndale. 

March 16, Dr. Bartlett's stable, Newton Corner. 

April 20, Tin Bridge, Upper Falls. 

Xovember (5, Mrs. Gary's house, Pelham Street, 

Newton Centre; water-works first used. 

December 6, E. C. Dudley's livery stable, Newton 

Centre. 

1877. January 5, public library, Newton Corner. 

June 14, house and barn owned by Alden Speare, 

Newton Centre.

218 FIRES. 

1877. July 3, Pine Farm barn, West Newton. 

November 2, Colonel Lee's house, Chestnut Hill. 

1878. July 6, Mrs. J. Wiley EdmancTs mansion, Newton 

Corner. 

1880. August 3, Mrs. E. T. Eldridge's house, Forest 

Avenue, Newtonville. 

October 4, Mrs. M. S. Rice's barn, Centre Street, 


December 30, J. H. Sanborn's house, Chase Street, 


1881. February 17, Sullivan & Hosmer's shoddy-mill, 

Lower Falls. 

August 21, six false alarms inside of three hours. 

1882. March 4, W. S. & F. Cordingley's mill, Lower Falls. 

March 18, Parker block, Needham. 

May 30, S. F. Cates' livery-stable, West Newton. 

^ 1884. November 4,AVardwell & Clark's paper-mill, L T pper 

Falls. 

December, 20, long bridge, B. /& " ^ {O.feU^S

FIRES. 210 

1801. 

185)3. 

1804. 

1895. 

June 27, Pine Farm school-house, West Newton. 

April 8, Bishop's paper-mill, Lower Falls. 

February 5, Stevens's block, Highlands. 

March 10, Lincoln Street fire, Boston. 

July 28, ice-house, Bulloughs pond. 

January 13, J. H. Barker's house, Newton Corner. 

March 13, John W. Carter's house, West Newton. 

April 25, Adams school-house, Nonantum. 

May 15, Roxbury tire, Boston. 

May 23, E. H H;iskell's mansion, Auburndale. 

June 11, 2:57 P. M., box 23, F. Joyal's carpentershop, 

slight, Newtonville; Chief H. L. Bixby 

fatally injured. 

February 3, Bacon's block, Newton Corner. 

February 13, car-house, N. & B. Street Railway 

Co., Newtonville. 

May 31, Finlay's paper-mill, Lower Falls. 

$ ( $ & . 

a> 

'/ 2L> 

/^4 3 

SyL&

MISCELLANEOUS. 

FIRE=ALARM TELEGRAPH. 

ARCH 3, 1873, the town authorized 

the selectmen and engineers to provide 

an electric fire-alarm telegraph 

system, not to exceed twelve thousand 

dollars in cost. 

May 12th, a subcommittee, 

consisting of selectmen Otis Pettee, M. T. Hayward, 

and J. Willard Rice, chief R. M. Lucas, 

and assistant engineers W. P. Leavitt, H. P. 

Eaton, and J. E. Cousins, contracted with Gamewell 

& Co. of New York for a system, to consist 

of a four-circuit automatic repeater, sixteen 

signal-boxes, three tower bell-strikers, four 

fifteen-inch gongs, thirty-four miles of wire, and 

the necessary minor equipments, to cost twelve 

thousand dollars, the limited amount of the appropriation. 

The system was completed and officially inspected 

and tested October 23, 1873. 

It was 

first used November 28th, at seven o'clock, p. M., 

box 73, for a tire in Mrs. Parkhurst's residence, 

on Beacon Street, Newton Centre. 

Its headquarters were located in the old Eagle

MISCELLANEOUS. 221 

No. hand-engine house until the present No. 3 

engine-station was completed, in the spring of 

L874, when it was removed to the room provided 

for it there. 

Twelve of the original sixteen boxes occupy 

the same locations at the present time, —12, 15, 

23, 24, 31, 35, 4, 41, 5, 52, 81, and i>. The other 

four were, 6, on old No. 4 hand-engine house, 

High Street, Upper Falls: 7, at Newton Highlands 

depot; 73. on old Eagle No.

222 MISCELLANEOUS. 

The last alarm over the old system was from 

box 313, at 9:10 P. M., Sunday, April 4th, for an 

incipient fire on Webster Street, West Newton. 

E. A. Stover was appointed 

superintendent 

of the system in 1873, 

and was succeeded by 

G. W. [Timer, November 

21, L874. In 1877, the 

position was consolidated 

with that of chief of 

department, and George 

ET. Ellis became 

chief 

and superintendent. 

G. W. ULMER. 

When H. L. Bixby became 

chief, in February, 

1879, he created the position of operator, and 

appointed G. W. Ulmer, who was succeeded by 

Asa Jewett, August 1, 1884, and W. B. Randlett, 

October 1, 1884. 

The present employees 

are G. G. Perkins, inspector ; Benjamin Merchant 

and J. U. Fogwell, linemen.


FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION. 

The first Firemen's Relief Association was 

organized November 2, 187-1-, with Chief Orrin 

Whipple, president ; S. E. Wetlierbee, vicepresident 

; W. E. Glover of Engine No. 1, secretary 

; and George J. Curtis of Engine No. 1, 

treasurer. It died an early but respectable 

death. 

The present Association was organized August 

2. 1878, with a fund of two hundred dollars, the 

gift of the family of the late Hon. J. Wiley 

Edmands, which was given as a token of their 

appreciation of the services rendered by the department 

at the partial burning of their mansion 

house, July 6, 1878. 

Several concerts, and 

numerous donations from owners of property 

saved by the department, have increased the 

fund. 

Chief G. H. Ellis was elected president in 

1878, Chief H. L. Bixby in 1879, and Chief W. 

B. Randlett in 1894, S. E. Wetlierbee was 

elected vice-president in 1878, W. S. Higgins in 

1879, W. S. Cargill in 1887, W. B. Randlett in 

1894, and F. H. Humphrey in 1895. F. H. 

Humphrey was elected secretary and treasurer 

in 1878, W. S. Higgins in 1887, and A. A. 

Savage in 1892.


HENRY L. BIXBY. 

No name is more prominently identified with 

the Newton tire department than that of Henry 

Lyman Bixby, who for nearly forty consecutive 

years was an active or volunteer member, and 

its chief for fifteen years, and would have continued 

so for an indefinite period had he not met 

his death while in the performance of his duty 

as chief of department, the result of injuries 

received by being thrown from his buggy, which 

collided with an electric car and an ice-cart 

on Washington Street, near Brookside Avenue, 

while responding to an alarm from box 23, at 

•J:.')! o'clock, Monday afternoon, June 11, 1X!>4. 

He died at 8:30 o'clock that evening, of internal 

hemorrhage. 

The announcement of his death cast a gloom 

over the city, public and private flags were displayed 

at half-mast, and evidences of sincere 

jrief were apparent everywhere. 

His funeral 

was largely attended by citizens, officials, and 

firemen from all sections of New England. 

He was a capable commander, an honest, 

conscientious public official, and a fireman and 

executive officer without a peer in the service. 

He gave the best of his superior abilities to the 

building up and improving of the department


of which he was so long a member, and succeeded 

in placing it among the very best on this 

continent. 

To the department he gave the best 

that was within him, even to his life. 

The high esteem in which he was held by the 

department and the public was demonstrated 

Tuesday evening, September 16, 1879, when the 

entire department turned out to receive him on 

his return from the annual convention of the 

National Association of Fire Engineers, held 

at Washington, D. C, and with torches escorted 

him to the city hall, where a complimentary 

banquet was tendered him. 

Many private and 

public buildings along the route were decorated 

in his honor, and red fire burned along the threemile 

route from the Newton depot to the hall. 

He was received by Mayor W. B. Fowle and 

other city and department officials.

2l>6 MISCELLANEOUS. 

HAND=ENGINE CONTESTS. 

Within three months after the arrival of the 

new suction hand-engines in 1842, the West 

Newton No. 3 and Nonanturn No. 5 had a contest, 

with victory for the West Newton, as 

previously mentioned. 

On Monday, September 11, 1842, all the companies 

receiving new engines that year, West 

Newton No. 8, Upper Falls No. 4, Nonantum 

No. 5, and Eagle No. 6, assembled at the Baptist 

Pond, now Crystal Lake, Newton Centre, for a 

general contest. 

This was the first hand fireengine 

muster on record. 

The playing was tub-and-tub ; that is, one 

engine went to the draught, and played into 

another through two hundred feet of hose, 

which in turn played into the next, and so on 

to the last, which played through an open but 

onto the ground. 

Such a trial between engines 

of exactly the same size and pattern as were 

these four could not produce a decided victory 

for any one of them, and it did not in this 

instance. 

The general verdict, however, was in 

favor of Eagle No. 6, Captain A. H. Randall. 

This contest was repeated at the same place 

and under the same conditions, Monday, August 

1, 1845. The same companies, with the addition


of Cataract No. 1, with its new Thayer machine 

of larger capacity than the others, were the 

contestants. 

Much interest was taken in this trial, which 

was really a Hunneman versus Thayer contest, 

all the Hunneman companies endeavoring to 

defeat the one Thayer engine. 

Mr. Thayer, a 

son of the builder, was present. He wore 

slippers, and just before the playing commenced 

he addressed the company from the top of the 

engine, saying: "I have come out here with 

these slippers on, and I do not expect you will 

allow my feet to get wet." 

The Cataract took water from Eagle No. 6, 

and played into Nonantum No. 5. From almost 

the start, the Eagle washed it, and the Nonanturn 

sucked it unmercifully, and Mr. Thayer's 

slippers, like his engine, were washed almost out 

of existence. 

Otherwise there was no decisive 

victory for any engine, except that by general 

consent the Eagle No. 0 was given the honors, 

such as thev were. 

A firemen's collation of crackers, cheese, and 

coffee was served after the contest, in the town 

hall, which was then located on Centre Street, 

near the pond. 

Mr. Thayer claimed that the Cataract's overwhelming 

defeat was due to imperfect 

construction, 

and at his request the engine was 

returned to his shop and put in proper order;

I 


and Monday, June 1, 184, the five companies 

again met at West Newton, this time by request 

of the engineers. 

The Cataract company was 

assisted by the Niagara No. 3 company of East 

Cambridge, which possessed the most successful 

Thayer engine ever built. 

The contest was the same as the two previous 

ones. 

The Cataract did a little better, and 

fairly well held its own, but no more. 

As in 

previous contests, there was no decided victory, 

but the honors, if there were any, went to Eagle 

No. 6, as usual. 

This was the last time the entire department 

was ever together in a contest. 

Twelve years later, Saturday, August 28, 

1858, Triton No. 3, Nonantum No. 5, and Eagle 

No. 6 met at Jackson's brook, Newtonville, for 

several trials, but only completed one, that of 

filling a twelve-hundred-gallon tank, when darkness 

overtook them. 

The judges disagreed on the results at first, 

but finally agreed that Nonantum filled it in 

6 minutes and 15 seconds, Eagle in 6 minutes 

and 3 seconds, and Triton in 3 minutes and 53 

seconds. 

Neither the Triton nor any other engine of 

that size could possibly have filled the tank in 

the time allowed it, and this a great many of 

those present knew, including the Eagle No. 6 

company, who within a few days issued 

a


challenge to the Triton company to repeat the 

contest, which they 

promptly accepted, and 

Wednesday, Septemher 15th, they met at the 

same place, with the following results : Filling 

twelve-hundred-gallon tank through two hundred 

and fifty feet of hose : Eagle, 6 minutes 

and 37.| seconds; Triton, 


' EARLIEST RECORD. 

On page 30 of this volume, reference is made 

to the purchase of an engine at the Lower Falls 

in 1808. 

After this portion of the volume had 

• 

been printed, the following document relating 

thereto was found: — 

" We the subscribers hereby agree to become 

proprietors of Engine No. 1, which is ever to be 

located at some convenient place at the Lower 

Falls, so called, and to be promptly and readily 

used by enginemen in protecting and preservingall 

property situated within a distance where it 

can possibly be useful. 

i 

' We further agree that there shall be one 

hundred shares in said engine, at the sum of five 

dollars for each share, and that each share be 

entitled to one vote in regulating said engine, 

and further promise that we will take and pay 

for, at that sum, as many shares as are set 

against our names, the said sums to be paid to 

Peter Lyon, upon his giving us a certificate in 

the following words : — 

"This is to certify that A B is one of the proprietors 

of the engine at the Lower Falls, and 

that he has taken and paid for 

Samuel Brown 

shares. 

20 shares. 

Simon Elliot ' Jo shares.


Peter Lyon 

Solomon Curtis 

Moses Grant, Jr., & Co 

20 shares. 

5 shares. 

5 shares. 

Proprietors Newton Wire Factory, 5 shares. 

Samuel Stimson 

Henry Bartlett 

Isaac Hagar 

Edward Fisher 

John Ware 

Ehenezer Starr 

2 shares. 

1 shares. 

2 shares. 

2 shares. 

1 shares. 

2 shares." 

This is the earliest record, and probably was 

the first action taken relative to the fire department 

of Newton. 

All the stockholders were not residents of the 

Lower Falls. 

General Simon Elliot was a resident 

of the Upper Falls, where he owned snuff 

and other mills on the site of the present silkmills, 

on Elliot Street, which was named in his 

honor. He also owned a snuff-mill and an 

interest in a paper-mill at the Lower Falls. 

He 

formerly resided in Boston, where he was a fireward 

in 1800 and a few years following. 

He 

was a wealthy tobacconist, with 

warehouses 

on Long Wharf, which were burned September 

30, 1780. 

Moses Grant, Jr., & Co. was a Boston paper 

concern, which then owned what is now Crehore's 

mills. 

John Ware built the first paper-mill in this 

village, in 1790.

NEWTON VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 

OSTON organized the first Veteran 

Firemen's Association in New England, 

and the second in this country, 

April 9, 1878. 

Eleven years later, 

December 11, 1880, the Newton Association was 

organized at Allen's school building, West Newton. 

Preliminary meetings were held November 

8th and 29th, and December 6th, when 

rallying committees were appointed, and membership 

solicited. 

The first board of officers 

consisted of ex-Chief E. M. Lucas, president; 

ex-Chief W. Parker Leavitt, vice-president; C. 

T. Bartlett, secretary; A. J. Grover, treasurer; 

J. Q. A. Hawkes, steward. Directors, R. J. 

Morrisey, Ward 1; H. N. Hyde, Ward 2; C. 

H. Jennison, Ward 3; F. B. Reed, Ward 4; J. 

E. Trowbridge, Ward 5; C. D. Bartlett, Ward 6; 

and F. A. Barrows, Ward 7. 

Its first gathering of a social nature 

was 

April 25, 1890, when a bean-supper was provided 

at Knights of Honor hall, with ex-Chief John S. 

Damrell of Boston and other prominent members 

of the Veteran Association of that citv as 

%J 

guests.

m 

> 

D 

O 

c 

> 

m 

m 

m 

m 

m 

> 

> 

O 

Q 

> 

O 

sfiSt- 

nwrm, 

^ 

| 

t

234 VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 

Several unsuccessful efforts were made t 

have the Association procure an engine and 

enter a muster during the first year of its existence. 

At a meeting held July 31, 1891, a 

member agreed to furnish a hand-engine, free of 

all expense to the Association, if it would attend 

the first muster of the New England Veteran's 

League, to he held at Lowell. September 23d of 

that year. The offer was accepted. The engine, 

the Chauncv No. 1 of Westhoro, a six-inch 

Hunneman engine, now owned by the Hyde 

Park Association, was provided, and the Association 

participated in the muster, making a 

record of 178 feet, »*>.l inches, placing it twelfth 

in a list of seventeen. 

This muster aroused the dormant spirit of the 

members, and a hand-engine equal to the best 

was demanded before the day had passed. 

November 

7th, a committee, consisting of 

Captain John Exley, C. A. Hill, H. H. Easterbrook, 

R. M. Lucas, W. P. Leavitt, and W. M. 

Russell, was authorized to purchase the Waterville 

No. 3 first-class Button engine, of the city 

of Waterville, Me., at a cost of four hundred 

dollars, and to issue two hundred and fiftv 

« 

shares of stock at two dollars per share to pay 

for it. 

Some one hundred and thirty shares 

were subscribed for that evening. 

The engine 

was purchased, and was given its first 

trial 

Thanksgiving Day. 

Its name was subsequently

VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 235 

changed to Nonantuni. 

With it the Association 

has attended twenty musters, and taken thirteen 

hundred dollars in prizes, including the League 

first-prize trophy for 1896, which it now holds. 

Its muster record is as follows: — 

ft. in. Prize. 

1892. Waltham, Sept. 5 196 % Second, $100 

Boston, Sept. 14..' 153 6% 

Nashua, N. H., Oct. 7 174 y± 

1893. Worcester, Aug. 17 199 4 Fourth, 50 

Waltham, Sept.4 214 5% Third, 50 

Milford, Oct. 21 181 1 First, 200 

1894. Milford, June 30 179 9% Third, 100 

Waltham, Sept. 3 177 8% Fourth, 75 

Pawtucket, Sept. 13 164 9% 

Attleboro, Oct. 2 179 3 7 K Second, 125 

1895. Fitchburg, June 17 201 8 

Waltham, Aug. 22 201 7% 

Waltham, Sept. 2 203 8% Third, 50 

Hartford, Sept. 12 190 8% 

Hudson, Sept. 28 181 6% Fourth, 75 

Boston, Oct. 16 188 6^ Fourth, 50 

1896. New Bedford, Aug. 19 204 4^ First, 200 

Waltham, Sept. 7 215 5% Third, 75 

Boston, Sept, 23 180 5 Second, 150 

Nashua, Oct. 7 196 5% 

At Waltham, Columbus Day, October 21, 

1892, in a contest with the Waltham Veteran 

Association, it played a horizontal stream 163 

feet, 5% inches ; the Watch City of Waltham, 

182 feet, 3^ inches. 

The organization was incorporated April 4, 

1893. September 15, 1893, the city of Newton 

sold to the Association for one dollar the build-

i**-""* 1 

• 

t 

OFFICERS VETERAN ASSOCIATIONt/2\ 

W. P. Leavitt, President. 

' ^ \ O. S. W. Bailey, Secretary 

H. N. Hyde, Vice-President 

C W. Florance, Treasurer.

• 

.'.V 

& 

\ ^ 

I 

J 7f^r'ViwmDrfn'\* i 

ENGINE OFFICERS, VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 

John Exley, Foreman. 

F. T. Burgess, Second Assistant 

John Hargedon, First Assistant. 

R. M. Lindley, Steward.

238 VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 

ing on Austin Street, Newtonville, formerly 

occupied by William Claflin Chemical Company, 

Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, and the waterworks 

department. 

Land was purchased on 

Watertown Street, West Newton, and the 

building moved thereto, and fitted up as it now 

is. 

The Association held its first meeting here 


Previous to this time it 

kept its engine in Dr. Crockett's stable, on 

Washington Street. 


PRESIDENTS.—Rodney M. Lucas, 1889; W. 

Parker Leavitt, 1895. 

SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENTS.—W. Parker Leavitt, 

1889; C. D. Bartlett, 1895. 

JUNIOR VICE-PRESIDENTS.—Allen Jordan, 

L892; James F. Maglinchy, 1891; W. H. Mague, 

1895; H. N. Hyde, 1896. 

SECRETARIES.—C. T. Bartlett, 1889; 0. S. W. 

Bailey, 1895. 

TREASURERS.— A. J. Grover, 1889; W. E. 

Glover, 1892; C. W. Florance, 1891. 

FOREMAN.— John Exley, 1891. 

FIRST ASSISTANTS.— H. N. Hyde, 1891; John 

Hargedon, 1885. 

SECOND ASSISTANTS.— George Simpson, 1891; 

C. A. Hill, 1892; (I. S. Holmes, 1894; F T. 

Burgess, 1894. 

STEWARD.— R. M. Lindley, 1891.

'* . 

' * 

THE BANNER

•_> I,, 

\ I 1 ERAN ASSOC1 \TION. 

Officers 

IHQ7. 

I 'residenl. W. Parker I . Bartlett, II. N. Hyde. 

Secretary, ( >. S. W. Bailey. 

Treasurer, C. W. Florance. 

Foreman, John Exley. 

ETirsI Assistant, John Hargedon. 

Second Assistant. V. T'. Burgess. 

Steward, R. M. Lindley. 

Trustees, II. W. Crafts, Chandler Seaver, II. 

\. Hyde. 

Directors, J. U. Kimball, P. Y. Hoseason, J. 

T. Thomason, Dennis Barry, and E. C. Waterhouse. 

of unv i j i irity— s< v< n j u of ripei 

11 . in barrels, before il bottled and 

i. I ilt — con I IK everywher ( 

ii 

of the maltci oi 

G.0.T AYLOR 

WHISKIES 

.Of l»r. 

'• -I I »• i!< r s , i, 

K4t^Ld

BOOTS and SHOES. 

FINE LINE OF PATENT LEATHER 

SHOES FOR GENTLEMEN. . . . 

WEST NEWTON. 

F. D. TARLTON. 

GEORGE H. INGRAHAM 

APOTHECARY, 

Washington and Waltham Streets, WEST NEWTON 

P. Y. HOSEASON, 

CARRIAGE PAINTER. 

Entrance 212 Washington Street, NEWTON. 

All work guaranteed. Carriages called for and delivered free of charge. 

SIGN PAINTING AND WAGON LETTERING.

Amoskeag Steam Fire Engines. 

MANUFACTURED BY 

MANCHESTER LOCOMOTIVE WORKS 

MANCHESTER, N. H. 

BOSTON OFFICE, 40 WATER STREET. 

EDWIN 

ROGERS, President. 

WM. H. MENDELL, Vice President. 

OTIS T. PETTEE, Treasurer. 

W. E. DECROW, General Manager 

THE NEW ENGLAND GAMEWELL CO. 

FIRE! POLICE TELEGRAPHS 

Manufacturers and Dealers in 

FIRE AND POLICE ALARM SUPPLIES. 

SOLE AGENTS FOR NEW ENGLAND OF THE GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM 

TELEGRAPH CO. 

BOYLSTON BUILDING, 657 WASHINGTON STREET, 

ROOM 

BOSTON. MASS.

! 

FRED. L COOK, 

MPORTED AND 

DOMESTIC GROCERIES 

AGENT FOR KING ARTHUR FLOUR. 

Washington Street, cor Elm, WEST NEWTON. 

ESTABLISHED 1845. INCORPORATED 1893. 

Wadsworth, Howland & Co. 

84 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, 

Largest Manufacturers in New England of 

PAINTS, VARNISHES,! ARTISTS' MATERIALS 

IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE VARIETY. 

All goods well known to be the standard of excellence. 

DIRECTORS. 

CHARLES F. HOWLAND. HENRY A. ROBBINS. JOHN WADSWORTH. 

LUCUIS TURNER. FREDERIC A. GUNNISON. ARTHUR P. FELTON. 

HIRAM W. WADSWORTH. 

BRANCH HOUSES. 

BOSTON, Grundmann Studios, Clarendon St. 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., 404 Main St. 

CHICAGO, 38 Randolph St. 

AMESBURY, MASS.. 9 Market St 

FACTORIES. 

MALDEN, MASS., Green Street. 

FISH MARKET. 

W. E. GLOVER, PROP 

ESTABLISHED 1879. 

Fresh, Salt, and Smoked Fish, Oysters, Clams, and Lobsters in 

their season. 

Particular attention paid to serving the celebrated Blue-point 

Cotuit Oysters on the half-shell. 

and 

TELEPHONE CONNECTION. 

1267 WASHINGTON STREET, WEST NEWTON.

T. R. COUGHLIN. J. J. MAHONEY 

GARDEN CITY COAL COHPANY, 

DEALERS IN 

Coal and Wood, 

MECHANIC STREET, NEWTON UPPER 

FALLS 

HENRY S. WILLIAMS, 

DEALER IN 

Domestic Dry Goods, 

STATIONERY, BOOTS, 

SHOES, AND RUBBERS 

Agent for Standard Patterns. 

SHOE REPAIRING A SPECIALTY. 

ASSOCIATES' BLOCK, NEWTON CENTRE 


ISAAC H. SNOW, 

REGISTERED 

PHARMACIST, 

1381 WASHINGTON STREET, WEST NEWTON, MASS 


CARPENTER=MORTON COMPANY, 

A\ANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS OF 

PAINTS, 

Varnishes and Artists' Materials, 

151 and 153 MILK STREET, BOSTON.

GEORGE M. FISKE. WILLIAM HOMES. J. P. B. FISKE 

FISKE, HOMES & CO. 

Fancy Building Brick, 

TERRA=COTTA SEWER-PIPE, LIME, CEMENT, ETC 

164 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON. 

Speare's Brand Starch, 

LAUNDRY SUPPLIES AND OILS, 

Laundry Printing and Specialties 

Alden Speare's Sons & Co 

MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS, EXPORTERS, 

367=369 ATLANTIC AVENUE, BOSTON. 

WORKS: EAST CAMBRIDGE AND WATERTOWN, MASS. 

BILLINGS, CLAPP & CO. 

Manufacturing Chemists, 

BOSTON and NEW YORK. 

WORKS AT NEWTON LOWER FALLS. 

J. E. HOLLIS & CO. FIRE AND JWARINE 

INSURANCE, 

i 

I 

35 KILBY STREET, COR. EXCHANGE PLACE. 

J. EDWARD HOLLIS. nr\£*^r\iî 

F. C. FIELD. BOSTON. 

A. A. LONOLEY. 

-

Save money by trading 

with 

HOWES & REES, 

413 Centre Street, Newton. 

THEY DO A CASH BUSINESS, 

thereby saving money for you and them also; if you don't 

believe it, try it and be convinced. We mean business. 

Echo Bridge Shoe=Store, 

J. T. THOMASON, Propr. 

NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASS. 

V. HAFFERriEHL & SON, 

Painters and Decorators, 

NEWTON CENTRE, MASS. 

C. J. POLLEY, 

Carriage Wood=Works, 

BEACON STREET, NEWTON CENTRE 

F. n. DUTCH, 

Provision Dealer, 

Corner Chestnut and Washington Streets, West Newton 


SIMPSON BROS. (CORP.) 

166 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON. 

WHITMAN'S 

Board and Hack Stable. 

Carriages furnished for parties, weddings and funerals. Carriage at depot. 

342 Centre Street, Opposite Bank, Newton, Mass.

THE HASTEN & WELLS 

FIRE WORKS H'F'G CO. 

Manufacturing Plant, Newton Upper Falls. 

Office and Salesroom, 18 Hawley Street, Boston, Mass 

LINNELL & 

SNOW, 

I 

I 

I 

Fine Groceries, Flour, Teas, Coffees, 

SPICES, ETC 

COR. BEACON AND CENTRE STS., NEWTON CENTRE 

THOMAS W. WHITE, 

Prescription 

Pharmacist, 

HIGH STREET, NEWTON UPPER FALLS. 

F. W. STRINGE, 

Harnesses, 

Blankets, Collars, Fly=Nets, Combs 

Carriage Trimming in all its branches Neatly and Promptly done. 

BEACON STREET, NEWTON CENTRE, MASS. 

ESTAB. 1851-INCOR. 1892. 

BRACKETT'S MARKET COMPANY, 

PROVISIONS, 

8 and 10 COLE'S BLOCK, NEWTON. 

JOHN BEAL, 

Groceries and Provisions. 

Fruit and Vegetables of all kinds. Fresh Fish and Oysters a specialty 

849 Washington Street, Beat's Block, Newtonville. 

B. S. HATCH, 

COAL AND WOOD, 

HAY, STRAW, AND GRAIN. 

TELEPHONE 66=3. 

WEST NEWTON 

A- V. HARRINGTON, 

News Depot and Cigar Store, 

Sumner's Block, 356 Centre Street. 

Agent for LEWANDOS FRENCH LAUNDRY AND DYE=HOUSE.

W. P. LEAVITT & SON, 

Slate, fletal and Gravel Roofing, 

29 PEARL STREET, NEWTON, MASS. 

Sheet fletal Work for Buildings, Gutters, Conductors, Finials, Sky 

lights, Ventilators and rietal Shingles. Telephone 215 

L. F. ASHLEY. ASHLEY & DOANE, 

w - H 

DOANE. 

Provisions, Fruit, Vegetables, oyJterel 

400 CENTRE STREET, NEWTON, MASS. 

OPP. B. & A. DEPOT. TELEPHONE 273=3. 

ECHO BRIDGE VIEWS. 

SODA WATER A SPECIALTY. 

ECHO BRIDGE PHARMACY, 

NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASS. 

BERNARD BILLINGS, Proprietor. 

LOWNEY'S CHOCOLATES. PERFUMES AND TOILET ARTICLES. 

GUSTAV W. ULMER, ESTABLISHED 1874. 

ELECTRICIAN, 

32 BOWEN STREET, NEWTON CENTRE, MASS. 

Electric=Light Plants installed in houses finished or in process of erection. 

Burglar Alarms, Gas=Lighting Apparatus, Speaking=Tubes, Bells, Etc. 

NEWCOMB «& SNYDER, C. G. NEWCOMB, Proprietor. 

Newton and Boston Express. 

Newton Office, 334 Centre Street. Boston Offices, 15 Devonshire, 174 

Washington, 67 Franklin Street, 34 Court Square, 25 Merchants Row, 

11 Harrison Avenue Extension. PIANO and FURNITURE MOVING. 

HORSES EXAHINED AS TO SOUNDNESS PREVIOUS TO PURCHASE. 

R. J. BARTON, 

ft. R. C. V. S., London, England. 

Telephone, Newton Highlands 34=2. 

VETERINARY SURGEON 

NEWTON CENTRE, HASS. 

J. W. BEVERLY, 

JEWELER, 

77 UNION STREET, 

NEWTON CENTRE. 

SMITH & COSTELLO, 

Tin, Sheet=Iron, and Copper Workers, 

And Dealers in Furnaces, Stoves, Family Hardware, Tools, 

Cutlery, and Kitchen Furnishings. 

73 UNION STREET, opp. the Depot, NEWTON CENTRE.

W. H. FRENCH, 

Plumber, Gas=Fitter, 

AND 

SANITARY 

WALTON'S BLOCK, 

WEST 

ENGINEER, 

NEWTON. 

CHESTNUT STREET, 

All work promptly attended to and satisfaction guaranteed 

GEORGE B. WILSON, 

Furniture and Piano Hover, 

Furniture Stored in Clean, Dry Rooms, $1.00, 

$2.00, $4.00 a Month, according to size. 

FURNITURE PACKED FOR 

SHIPPING. 

Piano=Cases, Boxes, and Barrels always on hand, for sale 

Residence, Clark Street, off Centre Street. 

P. O. ADDRESS, NEWTON CENTRE, MASS. 

JOHN HARGEDON, 

Contractor and Builder, 

WEST NEWTON, MASS. 

P. A. MURRAY, 

Carriage Builder. 

CUSTOn WORK AND FINE REPAIRING A 

SPECIALTY. 

Rubber Tires Fitted on any kind of a Carriage. 

WASHINGTON, near Park St., NEWTON, MASS

established HOWARD ICE CO. SES5PR2. 

DEALERS IN 

PURE ICE. 

Residents of Newton (Wards One, Two, and Seven) will be supplied with a 

choice quality of PURE ICE. 

Order Box at T. L. Mason's Sons, 390 Centre Street, Newton. 

Perkins & Co., Main St., Watertown. 

ABRAHAM 

L. HOWARD, Proprietor, 

Telephone 13=3, Newton. Office, 56 Galen St., WATERTOWN. 

JOHN FLOOD, 

UNDERTAKER, 

371 WASHINGTON STREET, NEWTON 

C. M. HEWITT. B. M. THOMAS. 

HEWITT & THOMAS, 

Plumbers and Gas=Fitters, 

247 WASHINGTON STREET, 

NONANTUM BLOCK. 

NEWTON, MASS. 

JOHN T. CUSHMAN, 

Hardware, Kitchen Furnishings, 

STOVES, RANGES, AND FURNACES. 

Steam and Hot=Water Heating, Plumbing, and 

Gas=Piping. 

CORNER WASHINGTON AND WALTHAM STREETS, 

WEST NEWTON, MASS.

ELBRIDGE BRADSHAW, NEWTONVILLE, HASS. 

Bradshaw's 

SWEET HOME" Candy, 

CORNER WASHINGTON STREET 

AND WASHINGTON TERRACE. 

RICE BROS. 

FINE GROCERIES, 

1299 WASHINGTON STREET, WEST NEWTON, MASS 


J. F. WASHBURN, 

PAINTER AND GLAZIER, 

Kalsomining an Paper=Hanjiing, 

P. O. BOX 55, AUBURNDALE, MASS 

WILLARD 

F. RAND, 

Wheelwright and Carriage flaker. 

Carriage Repairing in all its Branches. 

WASHINGTON STREET, near Walnut, NEWTONVILLE 

N. W. TUPPER, 

DEALER 

COAL, FLOUR, GRAIN, AND HAY, 

IN 

NEWTONVILLE. 

W. F. HAHN, 

PRESCRIPTION DRUGGIST, 

OPP. NATIONAL BANK, 


NEWTON 

NEWTON HORSE=SHOEING SHOP, 

WASHINGTON STREET. 

Particular attention paid to Interfering. Over-reaching, and Tender-footed 

Horses. Also, any kind of Fancy Shoeing desired for Trotting Purposes. 

DELANEY & HEWITT. 

WARD & CO. 

Carriage Painting and Repairing. 

Best Work at Lowest Prices. 

Repairing of Fine Carriages a Specialty 

Elm and Washington Sts., near City Hall, W. Newton.

FRENCH'S former, yJ^NNISONS 

WEST NEWTON AND BOSTON EXPRESS, 

67 FRANKLIN STREET, 36 MERCHANTS ROW, BOSTON. 

109 ELM STREET, WEST NEWTON. 

Leave West Newton, 9 A. M. Leave Boston Boxes, I P. M. Telephone Connection. 

HENRY G. LELAND, 

HORSESHOER, 

Opposite City stables. Crafts Street, Newton. 

B. F. BARLOW, 

HORSESHOEING AND CARRIAGE WORK. 

Particular attention paid to Interfering, Over-reaching, and Tender footed Horses. 

WASHINGTON STREET, NEWTONVILLE. 

AT REASONABLE PRICES. 

FINE TAILORING 1 

Foreign and 

Domestic Goods always on hand. 

We also do First-class Repairing and Pressing 

Satisfaction Guaranteed. 

J. H. TOOMBS, Merchant Tailor, Robinson Block, WEST NEWTON^ 

FRED A. HUBBARD, 

PHARMACIST, 

425 Centre St., Newton, Mass. 

HENRY P. DEARBORN, 

TELEPHONE CONNECTION 

Meats. Lard, Butter. Cheese. Eggs, Fruits 

VEGETABLES AND CANNED GOODS. POULTRY AND GAME 

* 

Dennison Block, 841 Washington St , Newtonville, Mass. 

J Q KILBURN THIRTY YEARS EXPERIENCE. 

APOTHECARY, 

291 Watertown Street, corner Faxon, Newton. 

Specialty: Physicians' Prescriptions. 

J. CHEEVER FULLER, 

Public Pay Station. 

REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE, 

NOTARY PUBLIC, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, 

297 Walnut Street, Newtonville, Mass.

FRANK L. TAINTER. 

CIRCULATING LIBRARY. 

NEWTONVILLE NEWS DEPOT. 

All the leading- Daily Papers, Magazines, and Periodicals for sale. 

TOYS, STATIONERY, CIGARS, AND TOBACCO. 

LAUNDRY AGENCY. 

Newtonville Paint and Wall Paper Store. 

A. R. CARLEY, Proprietor. 

PAINTS, OILS, AND VARNISHES, GLASS, PUTTY, ETC 

WALL PAPERS OF LATEST DESIGNS AND COLORS. 

GEORGE H. LOOMER, R^H. N 

DRY, FANCY, AND MILLINERY GOODS, 

Boots, Shoes, and Rubbers, Ladies' and Men's Furnishings, Etc. 

BRAY'S BLOCK, NEWTON CENTRE. 

HENRY TOLE^ 

SHAVING AND HAIR CUTTING PARLOR. 

Private Parlor for Ladies. Hair Cutting", Shampooing:, Etc 

I SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO CHILDREN S HAIR CUTTING. 

CLAFLIN BLOCK, NEWTONVILLE. 

ARTHUR MULDOON Estimates on all kinds of Stone Work. 

MASON AND CONTRACTOR. 

Excavation of Sewers, Cellars. Streets, and all kinds of Grading; done to order 

at short notice. Address: P. O. Box 2^8. 

Residence: LANGLEY ROAD, NEWTON CENTRE. 

GEORGE"s. NODEN, 

HOUSE PAINTING AND GLAZING, 

Tinting, Whitening, and Graining. Jobbing promptly attended to. 

p. o. BOX 176. NEWTON, MASS. 

E. W. Masters, ^teaie?"' All Kinds of Harnesses. 

A full assortment of Whips, Blankets, Robes, Soaps, Oils, Brushes, 

Curry-Combs, Etc., always on hand. 

| Repairing Promptly and Neatly Done. Fine Work a Specialty. Prices Reasonable. 

WASHINGTON STREET, NEWTONVILLE, MASS. 

S.'F. CHADBOURNE\ 

CABINET-MAKER AND UPHOLSTERER. 

NEW AND SECOND-HAND BICYCLES, BICYCLE REPAIRING. 

Residence: WILLOW STREET, NEWTON 

Orders by Mail promptly attended to. 

CENTRE.

•'' v*« »»* »•* »** »•* »*» »•< V*' »»» »•* »»/ »*f »"» »»» *•/ »»* »*' »** *~ I \*' %' i »'» \* I »** »•/ »*' »•/ ••/ »~* *~* *•» »» »' * »» »•» *»/ || *~« •"* »•* *•* »~i «•» »•* *"' ••* »»* »•* »** »» »• • »"• »»* 

FIRE HOSE. 

* RUBBER. COTTON, RUBBER LINED. LINEN. 

s. 

^ - 

• 

* _ • 

< _» 

» 

- - 

if: SUCTION HOSE. CHEMICAL ENCINE HOSE. % 

§ FIRE ENCINE VALVES. I 

MANUFACTURED BY 

BELTING CO., 

^ 

- 

* _ * 

BOSTON 

: S 256, 258, 260 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON. > 

,\x - - » ..* . .v . .» ..» ' .* ..» -AV ..» «*» < .» ..» *A* 'A* 'A' *A* 'A* 'A* 'A 1 'A* 'A* 'A* ' A' 'A* 'A* * ' A* ' A* 'A* 'A* ' A X ' A X ' A* 'A N 'A X 'A* ' A X ' A* 'A* 'A* ' A* 'A* 'A^ 'A* 'A' 'A* 'A V 'A* '»» '.» '-» * 

, • , > , * , . • . 'A A A A " A A'A" A A A A A A A A A A A A • • • . . • . • . . • . . • . . • . • . . • . • . . • . • • • • • A A A A > . * . , • .• • . • • • • 

lEWANDO'S 

NONANTUM COAL CO. 

W. L. CROSBY, MANAGER 

DEALERS 

IN 

FRENCH CLEANSERS J 

COAL AND 

WOOD, 

FANCY DYERS J 

FINE LAUNDERERS 

9 GALEN ST., WATERTOWN. 

1 

LIME, CEMENT, BRICKS, 

AND 

FLUE LININGS. 

BUNDLES CALLED FOR AND DELIVERED 

IN THE NEWTONS. 

OFFICE IN CLAFLIN'S BLOCK, 

821 Washington Street, Newtonville 

We Dye or Cleanse Everything. 

YARDS AT 

BEMIS. 

Lace Curtains and Blankets, $1 per pr. 

Men's Suits, $2 per suit. 

MANAGER, H. H. KEITH 

TELEPHONE 

CONNECTION.

J. B. FULLER & CO. 

WINE MERCHANTS, 

AGENCY FOR INCLENOOK TABLE WINES, 

GROWN AND BOTTLED AT THE VINEYARD, 

NAPA CO., CALIFORNIA. 

SOLE PROPRIETORS - _ « • • • ., _. — _ . _ _ _ 

1 8 M , L K 

POMPEII RYE, 

ELECTRIC PUNCH, 

IMPERIAL COCKTAIL. 


STREET, 

RONTON 

' * * n 

D U O 

INCORPORATED UNDER CHARTER FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 1882. 

HOLLINCSWORTH & WHITNEY CO. 

MANUFACTURERS OF 

MANILLA PAPER! PAPER BAGS, 

44 FEDERAL STREET, 

SUMNER HOLLINGSWORTH, President. 

EDWARD B. EATON, Treasurer. 

CHARLES A. DEAN, Vice-President 

and General Manager. 

RnQTON 

tSUO I UIN. 

207 BROADWAY, 

NEW YORK. 

T. STUART & SON, 

GENERAL 

CONTRACTORS, 

MASONS AND TEAMSTERS, 

RESIDENCE, 22 PEARL STREET, NEWTON, MASS. 

TELEPHONE 8-2. 

NEWTON PLANING AND MOULDING MILL. 

J. H. WENTWORTH, 

MANUFACTURER OF 

BUILDERS' FINISH, PLANING, 

MOULDING, TURNING, 

BAND AND JIG SAWING, VARIETY MOULDING, ETC. 

LUMBER KILN-DRIED AND WORKED IN ANY 

FORM AT SHORT NOTICE, AND FOR SALE. 

OFFICE AND FACTORY, CRAFTS STREET, NEWTON. 

TELEPHONE 280, NEWTON.

JAMES PAXTON, 

CONFECTIONER AND 

CATERER 

ICE CREAM, SHERBETS, SALADS, ICES, ETC. 

WEDDINGS AND COLLATIONS A SPECIALTY 

BRAY'S BLOCK, NEWTON CENTRE. 

TELEPHONE se. ELIOT BLOCK, NEWTON 

H. A. MANSFIELD, 

FLORIST AND DECORATOR, 

PLANTS, CUT-FLOWERS, AND DESIGNS. 

FUNERAL DESICNS A SPECIALTY 

CRAFTS STREET, NEWTONVILLE. 

POST OFFICE BOX 111. 

FRANCIS 

MURDOCK, 

INSURANCE 

AGENCY, 

ALL LOSSES SATISFACTORILY ADJUSTED 

AND PROMPTLY PAID 

421 CENTRE ST., BRACKETT'S BLOCK, NEWTON 

RESIDENCE: 126 CHURCH STREET, NEWTON. 

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. 

HADDOW'S BICYCLE AGENCY, 

IN CONNECTION WITH 

WATERTOWN PATENT DUST BAG GO, 

MANUFACTURERS AND 

MACHINISTS. 

BICYCLE REPAIRS IN ALL ITS BRANCHES PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO IN OUR 

OWN FACTORY. OPEN EVENINGS. 

49 GALEN STREET. 

D. HUNT, JR., MANACER. WM. HADDOW, SUPERINTENDENT.

GEORGE W. BUSH, 

LIVERY, HACK, AND BOARDINC 

STABLE 

ALSO FUNERAL FURNISHING 

UNDERTAKER. 

ELMWOOD STREET, - WARD SEVEN, 


NEWTON, MASS 

GEORGE H. GREGG, 

UNDERTAKER, 

MASONIC BUILDING, NEWTONVILLE, MASS. 

ALSO 

No. 

20 MT. AUBURN STREET, WATERTOWN, MASS 

TELEPHONE 

CONNECTION 

WATERTOWN COAL ELEVATOR. 

W. H. PEVEAR & CO. 

DEALERS IN 

COAL AND 

WOOD, 

HAY, STRAW, BRICK, AND SAND. 

OFFICE, 5 SPRING STREET. 

TELEPHONE 

WALKER & PRATT MFG. CO. 

MANUFACTURERS OF 

STOVES, RANGES, AND FURNACES, 

HOTEL COOKING APPARATUS, 

RADIATORS AND BOILERS FOR STEAM AND HOT-WATER HEATING 

31-35 UNION STREET, BOSTON. 

20-22 CALEN STREET, WATERTOWN.

TELEPHONE CONNECTION. ESTABLISHED 1861 

STEPHEN F. CATE CO. 

BOARDING. LIVERY, AND HACK STABLE 

, UILMI, mil* ..rw.x v>inwi. M 

WASHINGTON 

STREET, 

FOOT OF CHESTNUT STREET, WEST NEWTON, MASS 

ALSO PROPRIETORS 

OF 

CHESTNUT STREET BOARDING STABLE. 

CARRIAGES AT THE RAILROAD STATION UPON THE ARRIVAL 

OF ALL TRAINS. 

J- A. NUGENT, 

HORSESHOER AND BLACKSMITH, 

COR. WALTHAM AND WASHINGTON STREETS, 

WEST 

NEWTON. 

C. A. HARRINGTON, 

DEALER IN ALL KINDS OF 

LUMBER, 

ALSO 

LIME, CEMENT, PLASTER, ETC. 

CRAFTS STREET, NEWTONVILLE, MASS 

TELEPHONE 249-5, NEWTON.

VETERAN FIREMEN ARE LEADERS 

WHETHER IN FIRE MATTERS OR BUSINESS 

THEY ALWAYS READ THAT LEADER IN 

NEWTON'S 

AFFAIRS, 

THE NEWTON JOURNAL 

VETERANS AND THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO 

INSPECT OUR NEW OFFICE, 

NONANTUM SQUARE, NEWTON 

VETERAN 

FIREMEN 

ARE 

INVITED 

TO 

READ 

THE NEWTON CIRCUIT 

TO 

INSPECT 

THE CIRCUIT BUILDING 

TO 

PATRONIZE 

THE CIRCUIT PRESS 

NEWTON CENTRE, MASS.

HOWARD B. COFFIN 

DEALER IN 

FINE TEAS AND GROCERIES, 

COLE'S BLOCK, NEWTON, MASS. 

W. H. MAGUE, 

General Contractor 

: 

RAILROAD AND WATERWORKS BUILDER. 

Estimates given on all kinds of Public Works. 

OFFICE, 44 CHESTNUT ST., WEST NEWTON, MASS. 

Nonantum Fife l Drum Corps ? 

HENRY MEEKINS, Leader. 

Open for business. Address all communications to 

C. H. FLORANCE. Secretary and Treasurer, 

374 Cherry Street, WEST NEWTON 

F. T. BURGESS 

Plumber and Gas-Fitter, 

DEALER IN 

Steam and Gas-Fitters' and Plumbers' Supplies. 

Cor. Washington and Cherry Sts., WEST NEWTON.

H. W. CRAFTS, 

Beef, Lamb, Hams, Pork, Eggs 

J 

BUTTER, CHEESE, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, ETC. 

ROBINSON'S BLOCK. 

WEST NEWTON. 

C. H. FARRELL & CO. 

Doors, Sash, Blinds, Mouldings, 

DRAWER CASES, COUNTERS, PANEL WORK, 

Store-Fronts, Window and Door Frames. 

DETAIL WORK A SPECIALTY. 

ALLEN & BARRY, 

House Painters and Decorators. 

GLAZING, GRAINING, KALSOMINING, and WHITENING. 

PAINTS, OILS, AND VARNISHES CONSTANTY ON HAND. 

Hard Wood and Piano Polishing a Specialty. 


WEST NEWTON 

HARRIS E. JOHONNOT, 

INCANDE S[ N G ELECTRICIAN. 

Electric Bells, Annunciators, Burglar Alarms, Gas-Lighting Apparatus, Speaking-Tubes. 

All kinds of Electrical Apparatus Installed or Repaired. 

ELECTRIC 

SUPPLIES. 

Estimates furnished for Complete Installation of Isolated Plants. 

419 CENTRE STREET, NEWTON, MASS. 

BRACKETT'5 BRICK BLOCK. OPPOSITE FREE LIBRARY. 

TELEPHONE CONNECTION.

RODNEY O. BARLOW, 

^MANUFACTURER OF 

MATCHLESS ICE CREAM. 

Terms Cash. 

PARSONS STREET 

C. STROUT & SONS, 

GROCERS, 

843 WASHINGTON STREET, 

NEWTONVILLE, 

flASS. 

SPENCE BROS., DEALERS IN 

BEEF, PORK, AND MUTTON, 

FINE PROVISIONS. 

Caroline Block, 1403 Washington Street, West Newton. 

J. E. MORGAN, 

HAIR CUTTING ROOM, 

256 WASHINGTON STREET, NEWTON. 

Opposite the Y. M. C. A. 


Newton's Most Popular Hair Dresser, 

JOHN T. BURNS, 

COLE'S BLOCK. 

A. SIMEONE & CO. 

FRUIT, CONFECTIONERY, 

CIGARS, TOBACCO, TONICS, ETC. 

WASHINGTON STREET, WEST NEWTON. 

L. N. DAVIS, 

HAIR DRESSER, 

Nickerson Block, Washington Street, West Newton. 

J. T. BAILEY. 

PAINTER AND DECORATOR, 

TINTING CEILINGS A SPECIALTY. WEST NEWTON, MASS 

All mail orders promptly attended to. P. O. Box 91.

FINE MILLINERY. 

DRESSMAKERS' SUPPLIES. 

W. H. DOWNS CO. 

169 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON. 

H. E. WOODBERRY, 

FINE GROCERIES, 

Cor. Washington and Highland Sts., WEST NEWTON. 

Telephone Connection. 

D. F. HEALY, 

UPHOLSTERER and DECORATOR. 

Orders by mail or in person promptly attended to. P. O. Box 322. 

Chestnut Street, near Depot, WEST NEWTON. 

LYMAN B. MORRILL, 

CONTRACTOR. 

CONTRACTING DONE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. 

Stone Work a Specialty. NEWTONVILLE, MASS. 

W. E. SCRIBNER, 

MASON, 

g| LEXINGTON STREET, AUBURNIMLE 

AARON R. GAY & CO. 

Stationers and Account Book Manfrs 

I 1 

122 STATE STREET, BOSTON. 

EDWIN W. GAV. 

J. W. POMFRET, D. D. S. 

DENTAL ROOMS, 

ROBINSONS BLOCK, WEST NEWTON, MASS 

Office Hours: 8.30 A. M. to 12. 1.30 to 5 P. M. 

BOSTON ICE CREAH CO. 

Central Block, Washington St., West Newton. 

Families, Parties, Lodges, and Churches supplied. 

Telephone 230, 

Special rates given

STOVE, FURNACE, AND PLUMBING REPAIRS A SPECIALTY. 

A. F. FISKE & CO. 

Practical Plumbers and Tin 

Smiths, 

Dealers in Stoves, Furnaces, Ranges, Hardware, and Kitchen Furnishings 

Agents for MAGEE FURNACE CO.'S GOODS. Telephone Connection 

987 WATERTOWN STREET, WEST NEWTON. 

MITCHELL WING & CO., Importers and Dealers in 

BORAX SOAPS 

AND GENERAL LAUNDRY SUPPLIES, 

For Hotels, Hospitals, Colleges, Institutions, Steam Laundries, Steam 

boats. Railroads, Mills, and Public Buildings. 

223 and 225 CONGRESS STREET, BOSTON, MASS. 

THE NEWTON GRAPHIC, 

E. D. BALDWIN, Proprietor. 

A 

SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. 

The Graphic has the largest circulation of any paper 

published in Newton. The 

BOOK AND JOB PRINTING 

department is the best this side of Boston. 

TELEPHONE 297=2. 16 CENTRE PLACE 

W. J. FURBUSH, dealer in TELEPHONE 236=3. 

Choice Groceries and Provisions, 

Fine Teas, Coffees, Fruits, Canned Goods, and Vermont Creamery in 

boxes and tubs of all sizes. 

Walton's Block, Chestnut St. near Depot, West Newton. 

C. A. HILL, 

HOUSE AND SIGN PAINTER, 

13 CENTRE PLACE, NEWTON.

U - Newton Free Library

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?