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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-04-17, Page 25• km' • Well I'll tell you of a Scotchman who is both big and 0 Seaforth Fire Brigade with hose and reel Streets. An early fire engine rendered a priceless service to the town. John F. Scott stuck it out twenty-two years; 1951 - 1973 and won the honor of being chief for the longest number of years. The following, is a tribute, to the Seaforth Fire Brigate of 1913 written by "The Cook". There's a bunch of boys in town that we all call firemen, • And as brave a bunch of fellows now, as you would wish to "ken", If you'll wait a little while, .as I have to think them out, I will tell you what they call themselves, "The Red-Hot Fiery Scouts". There is Mr. "Cotton" Bell, who is chief of all the boys, And when any fire is raging, he's the man can make a noise, • As he hollers out his orders, while the boys jump to obey, He's been chief for many seasons, and I think he's there to stay. There's the steady, sturdy Captain, and his name is Johnnie Cluff And when dangers on the program, Jack can never get enough, When with Billie Reid to help him, and "Doc" Scott, who keeps the cash They're a mighty husky trio, when there's hydrants to go smash. Charlie Stewart is the sprinter, Geel y ou'd ought to see him run, Why he grabs the reel and hoofs it, just as if 'twere only fun, With Frank Sills at his heels, now they make a lively pair And the autos are not in it, when it comes to "Gettin' there," flarker Oughten is a dandy, yes, and so is Dicky Parkes While Jim Rankin and Jack Cummings are the two, who pay the larks, With the Boxes there is plenty, Mr. Alf and crafty Pat Now the fire has got to go some if it gets ahead of that Then along come the Smiths, they're a pretty smooth quartette, There's Jack and Bill and Henderson, and Frank is there, you bet, They are always on the spot, at the ringing of the bell, And they fight the fire like demons, if it is as hot as ---- at the corner of Market and Jarvis (Continued from Page 8) pools in the homes. Frame Stores To the north, across the street, in December 1922 three frame stores' owned by Will Kerslake quickly disappeared between John A. Stewart's blacksmith shop and Regier's garage and transport building. The garage Regier built later on part hal now been demolished, leaving here again the lar gest yap ap onMain Street. Another fire in February, 1896, left the vacant space . at the south side of Phillips Fruit Store. This was originally Foster's Royal Hotel, but at the time of the fire it was used as a restaurant by Robert Haxby. Many were surprised the next morning to find the building gone: Unfortunately the rope of the fire bell broke and the absence of steam at the Rroadfoot and Box factory that night prevented the unearthly shrieks of the whistle from disturbing the citizens, only those nearby. This restaurant had a good reputation for quantity with the young people. When Margaret Smithers and Hattie Murray decided on an ice cream treat, Margaret would suggest haxby's saying: "We always get a bigger dish there." The quantity may have been greater but it is doubtful if the quality could any way near equal the ice cream made and sold by Alf Box in his restaurant in later' years. Losing Battles These are the Main Street tires where our firemen fought losing battles. All they could do was centre their efforts on saving adjoining buildings. But at many inside fires they kept the damage down to a minimum, sometimes at danger to themselves. One of these was at Crich's Restaurant early in the morning of the last day of 1940. Soon after they arrived, "Musty" Reid when groping his way through the smoke-filled building stepped into a, trap h ole on the floor. Aft er he 'made his escape he sent out a "Beware" warning to the others. "Where is it? Where is the hole, Musty?" they asked but got no answers. The reason - Musty had himself fallen again into the same hole. • Before that fire was under control four other firemen :D'Orlean Sills, Frank Sills, Frank Kling and Norman Scoins were overcome by smoke. Such dangers as these have been encountered many times by our Volunteer. Fire Brigade. Firemen are prone to give preference to their Brigade even when home duty seems urgent. A stubborn fire was fought in the Kidd block in what is now Knapp's Antique. Shop, on a November night in 1911. FrankSills had to make a quick decision. With a new baby arriving and the fire almost at his own back door, he quickly grabbed what he could lay his hands on and was'off to fight that fire. When preparing to return home, the firemen laughted at the peculiar garment he was wearing. In his hurry, he had picked, p the coat of Mrs. Warwick, the midwife, and the peculiar thing about it was that the coat had leg-o-mutton sleeves. Queen's Fire When the firemen arrived at the Queen's Hotel stable fire in September, 1911, the building was a mass of flames. For some unknown reason the hose did not come off the cart as they should and to make matters worse the hydrant at the Royal corner was not working properly. All these lost precious moments the flames were gaining headway nearer and nearer to the hotel itself. For a time things looked serious, but in the end the boys won - the hotel was saved. Sometimes the fire victims showed their appreciation by giving treats for well earned service. Was there any wonder that "Dad" stephens (owner of the Queens) that day, after the danger was over, treated the boys royally to both food and drink, so much so that a few of them would not have been capable of fighting another fire. At least for 'a few hours. Drayman Pat Box, when he got back to his stable, let out all his own horses and with a whip in his hand and still dressed in his fireman uniform was chasing the horses around the yard calling out as he did so: "I won't let you burn, no, I will not let you burn." The poor frightened animals soon made their escape out of the yard and never stopped till they reached Pat's farm at the west end of the town. Here they were found and brought back by Tom Habkirk. Fire Chiefs The fire chiefs, from the first one, James A Cline, to the present one, Don Hulley, with their helpers have I will sing just one more verse, which must really be the last, We'll have firemen in the future as we've had them in the past, But for swiftness and for bravery and for courage not to slink, The Brigade of 1913 is the best of all, I think." This might well be a tribute to all our volunteer Fire Brigades. They are a swift, brave and courageous bunch, ready to run at the sound of the siren„ either day or night. What would we have done in the past and what would we do today without our Fire Brigade. To all of them we are deeply indebted. Speaking of tributes here is one given to the town in 1887. A Scotchman who had first landed met an Irishman whose parents were early settlers. The' Scotchman enquired of him: "Is this a healthy town?" "It sure is", Said the Irishman, "When I came here I couldn't utter a word. I had scarcely any hair on my head. I hadn't enough strength to walk across the room and I had to be lifted from my bed and look at me now". "Well, well, that's wonderfgul" said the Scotchman, "How long have you lived here?" The young Irishman then replied: "Why, Sir, I was born here." We are proud that our town, as well as our Fire Brigade, has also reached its Centennial year. Picture if you can it's Main Street in 1875. Then think of those who have carried the responsibility of town affairs down through the years'- the Mayors from Alex Armitage to our new "Lady Mayor", Mrs. Betty Ca rdno and also their council members. They have served faithfully and to them great credit is due. To visualize out town one hundred years hence - 2075 - is impossible. This we must leave to the builders of the future, only hoping that they will build wisely and well upon the foundation laid by the Town Fathers of the past century. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 17; 1975 —9 Tommy Scott and McPhee are a pair of likely scouts, And with Henderson and "Peck" they soon put a fire to rout JackMcKenzie runs a show, he can also run a line, Mack McLeod is alright too, and is always there on time. strong, He's our old friend Bill McDougall, and he's great to help along, Whether up at the nozzle, boys, or down there with the hose, He can take a hand at anything, as everybody knows. Joseph Dorsey is not big, but he's mighty in a fight, And where the fire is hottest, he is there alright, alright, While that handy little chap, who turns out in case of need, Who can climb the highest building, you all know him? Dalton Reid.