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James K. P. Gillaspie
became fire chief in 1886. Martin V. Curtin (Liberty No. 2)
and Henry Ross (Mechanic No. 6) were elected
assistant chiefs.
One of the stories
told on Chief Gillaspie was during the Southern Pacific
passenger depot fire in the Fifth Ward. He felt he could
handle the fire with just the apparatus in the ward. Soon it
became evident the fire was spreading beyond control using
only the normal water pressure in the fire mains, and the
chief put in a call for a steamer. Roads were muddy from the
winter rains, and there was a chance the heavy steamer could
not make it, but Chief Gillaspie took the chance. If anyone
could make the trip, he felt, Liberty No. 2 would be the
one. Sure enough, Liberty 2 arrived a short time later, but
there was not a wisp of smoke coming from the stack. The
grate bars had been jolted loose on the rough trip and
rendered the steamer useless.
Bell's Variety Show,
commonly called the "Bucket of Blood," burned in 1886. The
fire threatened the entire business district before
volunteers brought the fire under control.
Two artesian wells
were drilled in 1887 to supplemented the water from Buffalo
Bayou for the distribution system. It was later determined
to be the third largest artesian reservoir in the United
States.
That same year Curtin
No. 9 fire company relocated in the fire station abandoned
when Brooks No. 5 disbanded in 1883.
Henry Ross was
elevated to fire chief in 1988 by a vote of the members. His
assistants were Eugene R. Parker (Hook & Ladder
No. 1) R. M. Floeck (Curtin No. 9).
Volunteer firefighters
bought a lot in Glenwood Cemetery on Washington Avenue in
May, 1888. It was intended for the burial of deceased
members of the volunteer fire department. Cost of the
cemetery lot was $300. The following month, firefighters
began a drive to raise money for a monument to erect on the
lot. They put on balls, picnics, theatricals, and other
entertainment. Proceeds soon reached the needed amount, and
a stone monument was ordered from a T. E. Byrnes.
Eugene R. Parker took
over as fire chief from Chief Ross in 1889. Frank McGovern
and Joseph J. Walker were elected assistant
chiefs.
Protection No. 1 moved
into a two-story brick fire station at 612
Fannin.
Cleveland's warehouse
at the foot of Main Street was destroyed by fire in 1889.
Loss of the four-story building was $40,000.
The monument for the
Glenwood Cemetery arrived in December, 1889. Atop the
monument was a marble statue made in Carrara, Italy. It was
a life-size statue of Robert Brewster, the oldest living
volunteer firefighter at the time. The statue stood 5 feet,
2 inches tall, weighed 1,400 pounds, and cost
$3,500.
FOOTNOTE:
The monument in the Glenwood Cemetery was moved to the front
of Fire Station No. 1 at 410 Bagby in 1976. Few people saw
the monument in the cemetery, and some felt the move would
give the monument better exposure to the public. In 1992,
the monument was returned to its original spot in Glenwood
Cemetery.
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