When the Siren Sounds

Firemen, something that many people take for granted or do not pay much attention to. I am the total opposite, my family has a long line of full time and part time firemen, my grandfather, my father, and my brother all are fireman. In my parent’s home hangs a picture of the development of the horse drawn fire engine and one of the City of Middletown’s first motorized fire engines. This got me thinking, the City of Middletown (where my father is a full time fireman) has a rich history and a rich presence in the City of Middletown.

The Middletown Division of Fire was established in June of 1882 replacing the volunteer fire department that was in place since 1848. In 1882 reel drivers were paid $25.00 per year with the ‘runners’ receiving $5.00 per year, the fire chief was paid $100.00 per year and appointed by the mayor. The fire department was located in Middletown’s first city building built in 1880 which also housed the police department, courts, and jail. Atop the building set a large bronze fire bell that now is located at Headquarters on Roosevelt Boulevard. Alexander Hill was the first recorded fire chief and until 1920 the position was a rotating door with every new city administration that was put into place.

The horse drawn apparatus appeared in 1886 and stayed in commission until the entire department went motorized in 1914. 1891 was a big year for the department as a Babcock aerial ladder was purchased; this apparatus was drawn by three black horses which were the pride of the department and of the City of Middletown.

With the location along the Great Miami River and the Erie Canal, Middletown was forever growing in size. By 1917 all the horse drawn apparatuses were gone from the department and the department kept growing. The current system of 24 hours on duty and 24 hours off duty was established in 1919. The Great Depression halted hiring of new personnel and the buying of new fire equipment. By the 1950’s the department was in full swing again with the addition of two new fire stations and 26 new firemen.

The 70’s and 80’s were a busy time for the Middletown Fire Department with major fires effecting the furniture store on Central Avenue which spread to the union Sanitary Landry building and the Miami Cabinet Company building, which due to the winds spread and caused smaller fires elsewhere throughout the city.

Now the City of Middletown has six fire stations with five in services, roughly 66 on duty personnel who are still making history. The IAFF Local 336 is the home of the Middletown Firefighters Union and the birthplace of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF). Established in 1936 the union has served the Department for over 75 years.

Sources for this Blog:

City of Middletown History: www.cityofmiddletown.org  

City of Middletown Division of Fire