02
May
MAIN STREET ADVISORY COMM.
Thursday, Civic Center
MPFD HISTORY
WHEN DUTY CALLS, ’TIS OURS TO OBEY…
The Mount Pleasant Fire Department was organized on December 15, 1903 with 25 charter members. Mr. G. A. Mount, the last surviving charter member, died in 1974. The motto adopted then, “When duty calls, ’tis ours to obey,” is the same today.
The fire hose was carried in a hand pulled cart from 1903 until 1908. From 1908 to 1915, the hose was transported by a horse drawn wagon. Mount Pleasant’s first fire truck was a 1915 Brockway. The chain-drive vehicle, which arrived in a “plain vanilla” condition, was fitted out after its purchase with brass headlights and decorated with a fancy paint job, even to the wooden wheel spokes. This first pumper was replaced by a 1929 Seagraves. Then in 1938, the department took delivery of a 1936 Ford truck with a Boyer 500 gallon per minute pump. The Mount Pleasant Fire Department still owns this piece of equipment which is frequently seen on special occasions.
The department was all volunteer until 1933, when one paid driver, Carl Huckabee, was employed. In 1949, a second paid driver was added. In 1968, the City appointed a full-time, paid Chief (Rex A. Mars) and hired seven full-time firefighters. In October of 1978 Drue Dees was appointed Fire Chief and was followed by Taft Nelson in March of 1981. Chief, Larry McRae, took office in November of 1984. Today the department is made up of 36 full time firefighters, an administrative assistant and 2 volunteers.
In 2001 a new central fire station was built in Dellwood Park at 728 E. Ferguson Road.
Prior to this, central station was located at 402 N. Washington from 1961 to 2001. Before moving to Washington Street location it was located with the old City Hall/Police Department Complex. Prior to that it was at the NE corner of West Third Street and N. Madison Ave. facing Third Street.
1936 FIRE ENGINE
FORD/BOYER
This 1936 Fire Engine was purchased by the City of Mount Pleasant on August 17, 1936.
The truck was manufactured by Ford Motor Company and assembled by Boyer Fire Apparatus Company. The purchase price of the truck was $3,450 paid in three equal installments of $1,150 each. The truck was officially accepted by Mayor E.M. Lide and City Council Members J.D. Holland, F.W. Stephenson, and Frank Henderson after it was driven to the corner of North Jefferson Avenue and West 12th Street, connected to a fire hydrant at that location, and tested.
The truck was in full-time service until the early 1960s when it was retired and replaced by a newer unit. The truck remained a backup unit for several years before being removed entirely from active service. The truck was stored in or near the fire station until about 1978, when it was moved outside to make room for additional trucks as the fire department grew.
In 1996, the truck was moved to the City Fleet Shop where restoration began and was completed by members of the Fleet Services Staff in early 1998. City employees involved in the restoration were Bobby Reese, Bill Brockman, Perry Ryan, Ronald Duncan and Jim Carroll. Current value is estimated at $22,000.