On March 18, 1912 the Fire Commissioners of the Town of Kendall met for the purpose of organizing a Fire
Company. At a second meeting in June of that year a Chemical Company of 15 members and a Hook and Ladder
Company of 14 members were organized. F. J. Whitehouse was elected chief.
The original Fire District extended approximately from the present site of the Elementary School on the South to
include the Benke property north of the Concordia Lutheran Church and roughly to the eastern and western
outskirts of the village.
A canvas was made of the town for subscriptions to purchase a piece of fire apparatus, and as not enough money
was subscribed, the deficit had to be guaranteed by the firemen.
On September 16, 1913, fire broke out on the east side of main street. As the only apparatus consisted of bucket
brigades, a blacksmith shop, hardware store, harness shop, pool room, dentist office, and another unoccupied
building were consumed by the flames.
Company. At a second meeting in June of that year a Chemical Company of 15 members and a Hook and Ladder
Company of 14 members were organized. F. J. Whitehouse was elected chief.
The original Fire District extended approximately from the present site of the Elementary School on the South to
include the Benke property north of the Concordia Lutheran Church and roughly to the eastern and western
outskirts of the village.
A canvas was made of the town for subscriptions to purchase a piece of fire apparatus, and as not enough money
was subscribed, the deficit had to be guaranteed by the firemen.
On September 16, 1913, fire broke out on the east side of main street. As the only apparatus consisted of bucket
brigades, a blacksmith shop, hardware store, harness shop, pool room, dentist office, and another unoccupied
building were consumed by the flames.
This fire pointed out the need of better fire protection and a contract was signed with the International Harvester
Company to build a motor truck fire apparatus. This apparatus consisted of a Gould Piston pump mounted on an
International chassis. The price complete, less hose, was $1,305. The apparatus was constructed at Hilton, New
York. As this was said to be the first self-propelled fire apparatus with a motor operated pump "between the rivers"
and one of the first, if not the first, in the entire state, a women was heard to exclaim when it was delivered on
December 30, 1913, "Kendall against the world."
Company to build a motor truck fire apparatus. This apparatus consisted of a Gould Piston pump mounted on an
International chassis. The price complete, less hose, was $1,305. The apparatus was constructed at Hilton, New
York. As this was said to be the first self-propelled fire apparatus with a motor operated pump "between the rivers"
and one of the first, if not the first, in the entire state, a women was heard to exclaim when it was delivered on
December 30, 1913, "Kendall against the world."
As there was no provision for carrying hose on the truck, a hose cart was purchased the next year for $135. A large
cistern was constructed at the Methodist Church as a source of water supply. At this time an Engine Company, a
Hose Company and a Hook and Ladder and Chemical Company of 15 members each were formed.
On April 6, 1914, fire again struck, this time on the west side of main street. As the I.O.O.F. block was of tile
construction and considered fire proof and the safest building in town, the fire hose was stored in the basement. Mr.
Lucas operated a store on the ground floor. At 4:00 am when the fire was discovered, the interior was a mass of
flames and it was impossible to get the hose. The firemen had to rely on the small hose carried on the truck and an
inadequate water supply. As a result, six businesses were lost and the firemen were hard pressed to save nearby
dwellings.
There being no snow plows to open the roads during the first years the new truck was in operation, the firemen
badly handicapped in answering some calls outside of the village. On some occasions they were unable to reach the
scene at all.
cistern was constructed at the Methodist Church as a source of water supply. At this time an Engine Company, a
Hose Company and a Hook and Ladder and Chemical Company of 15 members each were formed.
On April 6, 1914, fire again struck, this time on the west side of main street. As the I.O.O.F. block was of tile
construction and considered fire proof and the safest building in town, the fire hose was stored in the basement. Mr.
Lucas operated a store on the ground floor. At 4:00 am when the fire was discovered, the interior was a mass of
flames and it was impossible to get the hose. The firemen had to rely on the small hose carried on the truck and an
inadequate water supply. As a result, six businesses were lost and the firemen were hard pressed to save nearby
dwellings.
There being no snow plows to open the roads during the first years the new truck was in operation, the firemen
badly handicapped in answering some calls outside of the village. On some occasions they were unable to reach the
scene at all.
In August, 1926, another major fire destroyed the Hollwedel Vinegar Plant, the towns leading industry. Also lost was a
large warehouse.
In 1928 a petition was drawn up by the tax payers of the town outside of the Fire District for fire protection. The
petition was approved, and the Fire District then included the entire town with the exception of those parcels of land
which touched on the Norway Road. A fire tax was levied and a new truck was purchased.
The present firemen's field was purchased in 1933 at the rate of $65 per acre. As a fund raising project a Field Day
was held with the gross receipts of $491.34 and a net profit of $271.63. This project has been continued throughout
the years with ever increasing size and popularity. Also the firemen sponsored a very successful baseball team for
several years.
At this time the Fire Company was incorporated and the bylaws were revised. After incorporation, the Engine
Company, Hose Company and Chemical Company were combined under the name of the Kendall Fire Department,
Inc.
During the first years of the company, meetings were held in various places, such as stores and homes. As the
members wished to have a fire house, The I.O.G.T. building and grounds, known as the gymnasium property, was
purchased for $600. Extensive alterations were made over a period of years.
large warehouse.
In 1928 a petition was drawn up by the tax payers of the town outside of the Fire District for fire protection. The
petition was approved, and the Fire District then included the entire town with the exception of those parcels of land
which touched on the Norway Road. A fire tax was levied and a new truck was purchased.
The present firemen's field was purchased in 1933 at the rate of $65 per acre. As a fund raising project a Field Day
was held with the gross receipts of $491.34 and a net profit of $271.63. This project has been continued throughout
the years with ever increasing size and popularity. Also the firemen sponsored a very successful baseball team for
several years.
At this time the Fire Company was incorporated and the bylaws were revised. After incorporation, the Engine
Company, Hose Company and Chemical Company were combined under the name of the Kendall Fire Department,
Inc.
During the first years of the company, meetings were held in various places, such as stores and homes. As the
members wished to have a fire house, The I.O.G.T. building and grounds, known as the gymnasium property, was
purchased for $600. Extensive alterations were made over a period of years.
The Annual Convention of the Lake Shore Volunteer Firemen's Association, of which Kendall was a member, was
held in Kendall on August 11-13, 1938.
As an adequate water supply was the main problem at nearly all rural fires, a tank truck with 1,500 gallon capacity
was purchased in 1943. With the addition of more equipment, the number of active memebers was increased from 45
to 60.
The I.O.G.T. was purchased in 1947 and a year later the Ladies Auxiliary was formed. Over the next several years
the I.O.G.T. hall was completely renovated, including the installation of a modern kitchen.
As some of the fire fighting equipment was becoming obsolete, a Bean High Pressure Rig was purchased in 1951.
Disaster again struck on December 18, 1957, when a flash fire totally destroyed the Masonic building, including
Russell's grocery store on the ground floor. Firemen from Holley, Morton, and Hamlin were called under Mutual Aid,
and in freezing cold weather they helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
In 1961 the membership was increased to 85. With the purchase of a new truck equipped with a 750 gallon pump and
a 1000 gallon supply tank, plus optional high pressure lines, the installation of water mains, and the Mutual Aid
set-up, the community was now fairly secure from such disastrous fires that plagued it in the past.
_________
held in Kendall on August 11-13, 1938.
As an adequate water supply was the main problem at nearly all rural fires, a tank truck with 1,500 gallon capacity
was purchased in 1943. With the addition of more equipment, the number of active memebers was increased from 45
to 60.
The I.O.G.T. was purchased in 1947 and a year later the Ladies Auxiliary was formed. Over the next several years
the I.O.G.T. hall was completely renovated, including the installation of a modern kitchen.
As some of the fire fighting equipment was becoming obsolete, a Bean High Pressure Rig was purchased in 1951.
Disaster again struck on December 18, 1957, when a flash fire totally destroyed the Masonic building, including
Russell's grocery store on the ground floor. Firemen from Holley, Morton, and Hamlin were called under Mutual Aid,
and in freezing cold weather they helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
In 1961 the membership was increased to 85. With the purchase of a new truck equipped with a 750 gallon pump and
a 1000 gallon supply tank, plus optional high pressure lines, the installation of water mains, and the Mutual Aid
set-up, the community was now fairly secure from such disastrous fires that plagued it in the past.
_________
| This History was copied from the Kendall Sesquicentennial Book |
Our History from 1962 to present coming soon
Kendall Apparatus - 2004
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