HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Bryan Fire Department of 1870 notes; paperIn December 1870, Bryan officials inspected every chimney in the city.
In doing so, they created a valuable record that provides a glimpse
into the history of early Bryan.
Two newspaper articles provide some details concerning that inspection.
Efforts to locate the original report in the 1980s and 1990s were unsuccessful.
One of the mysteries surrounding this document is how it escaped being
destroyed when the Bryan city hall burned in 1879 and again in 1888.
All the other Bryan city records were destroyed in those fires.
The other mystery is what became of it after it was written about in
the late 1940s.
A house to house inspection is being made at this time by city officials, in the
interest of fire prevention in Bryan. It is a free service to the people, which is
reported as highly appreciated. All flues, chimneys, electric wirings, etc., is being
examined for fire hazards, with the hope of lessening the loss of property by fire.
The work being done so thoroughly at this time is the more appreciated when it
is compared with the report of the first fire inspection in Bryan, made in 1870,
when Bryan was in the village class. The original report of this first fire
inspection committee, is in the office of City
Secretary Bittle, and from that record were copied the following items, which will
be of interest at this time. The inspection was made in
December, 1870, under direction of J.M. Thurmond, mayor; W.B. Forman,
Marshal. Places inspected and with safety recommendations made include the
following:
Baptist Seminary: flues, all out of order. Will be repaired.
John N. Henderson, 1 flue and stove in McCraw building. Wants zinc under stove
and around flue.
Commercial Hotel, 9 flues, all want repairing. Order given.
Joseph Hearne, 1 flue. Wants zinc under stove.
Frank Clark, 1 flue in good order.
S.D. Foot's Bar, 3 flues, all out of order, and he was requested to make repairs
at once.
Adou & Lobett, 2 flues all in good repair.
J.S. Fowlks, 1 flue in good order.
Sanger Brothers, 1 flue in good order.
Spencer Ford, 1 flue in good order.
D.M. Dansby, 1 flue, in good order.
J. Franklin, 2 flues, all in bad order. Requested not to use.
W.B. Eaves, 1 flue; wants a brick flue.
J.J. Adams & Co., 1 flue; needs new elbow for pipe.
Smith & McQueen, 2 flues, both in very bad order. Requested to be fixed
immediately.
Jas. P. Wilson, 2 flues, in good repair.
Cole Brothers, 1 flue, in good order.
F.L. Ward, 1 flue in good repair.
W.C. Pagitt, 1 flue. Stove very unsafe. Ordered no use till fixed.
J.S. McLendon & Co., 2 flues in good shape.
Theatre Hall, 1 flue and stove in very bad order.
T.P. Wooten's Shop, 2 flues in good repair.
Bowman House, 7 flues; must have zinc under stoves.
Dr. F.M. Law, 1 flue, wants a brick flue.
Esq. Pierce, 2 flues, in good order.
Dr. F.M. Hall, 2 flues; wants brick flues.
The full report of the fire inspection committee in December 1870, was
completed and showed 388 homes and business houses in Bryan reported.
The above list of names of former residents and business concerns will bring to
mind many memories of the long ago to the older residences of Bryan and
Brazos County. The record of this first Fire Prevention inspection is kept securely
in the office of the City secretary.
Bryan Weekly Eagle, 31 August 1932, page 3
Fire prevention inspections are no new thing in Bryan. Old city records show
that a flue inspection was made almost 80 years ago. Guy
P. Bittle, former city secretary, came up this morning with a report of the
inspection dated December, 1870. H.T. Downard was mayor of the city when
the 394 flues were inspected. 207 residences and businesses were inspected,
and most of the listings were just ~~Mrs. Jones," or
Mrs. Smith," with no identifying initials. Leading the list of buildings was the old
Baptist Seminary. All three flues there were ~~out of order." Bryan Eagle office
was listed with three flues ~~in good order." Flues of the jail were in need of
work, but since a new jail with new flues was being built, the repairs were not
recommended. Inspection of all buildings in Bryan was completed in the four
days from Dec. 31 through Jan.3. According to the historic document,
inspections were made even on New Year's Day. Bryan Daily
Eagle, 29 September 1949, page 1
The flue inspection was just part of local citizens' efforts to fight the threat of
fire.
The first meeting of the Bryan fire department had been held some six months
earlier, in July 1870, as told in the following story.
First meeting of the Bryan Fire Department...July 27, 1870. The company
organized by calling J.M. Stockton to the chair as chairman, and E.F. Baxter as
secretary pro tem. C.A. Stearns was nominated and elected president by
acclamation. J.M. Stockton was nominated and elected secretary by
acclamation. O.P. Yates was nominated and elected treasurer, vote 9 to 1. B.
Frank Leman, nominated and elected foreman by acclamation. George Gender,
nominated and elected first assistant foreman by acclamation. L.G. LeGrand,
nominated and elected second superintendent...following members were
assigned respectively: Constitution and By Laws: J.S. Fowlkes, N.B. Davis and
W.C. Bunger.
Uniform and Dress: N.Q. Wilson, O.B. Beall and O.P. Yates. Finances:
L. Sanger, J.O. Jackson and Milton Parker. On Contracts, etc.: S.L.
Horner, J.M. Stockton, S.M. Hunter and C.A. Sterne.... Weekly Bryan
Appeal, 18 Aug. 1870, quoted in Mrs. A.J. Buchanan, "Organization of
Bryan's Fire Department Told ...." Bryan Weekly Eagle, 31 Jan. 1934,
page 1, col.4.
One year later, on 5 July 1871, the Bryan Fire Department was incorporated by
the State of Texas as Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.
Most sources erroneously give 1871 as the date of Bryan Fire
Department's organization, but the 1870 newspaper article makes it clear that
the department - as common sense would suggest -existed for some time
before receiving its charter from the state.