[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3739-S3740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYANNIS FIRE DEPARTMENT

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, May 8, 1996, marks the 100th 
anniversary of the establishment of the Hyannis Fire Department and the 
Hyannis Fire District. It is a privilege to take this opportunity to 
commemorate this important milestone and to commend Commissioner 
Richard Gallagher and all the brave men and women who have served in 
the Hyannis Fire Department over the past 100 years.
  Over the years, the members of the department have done an 
outstanding job protecting the people of Hyannis, and they have also 
been valued friends and neighbors. My family and I, as longtime 
residents of Hyannis, have many friends in the department, and we 
greatly admire their ability and dedication.
  I welcome this opportunity to join many others in Massachusetts in 
praising the Hyannis Fire Department on this auspicious centennial 
anniversary, and I ask that an article by Edward F. Maher published in 
1930, entitled ``The History and Functioning of the Hyannis Fire 
District,'' be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

        The History and Functioning of the Hyannis Fire District

       The history of the Hyannis Fire District, as given by 
     Edward F. Maher before the Hyannis League of Woman Voters on 
     Tuesday, Dec. 29th last, was of such general interest and so 
     informing in detail that it is printed herewith in its 
     entirety;
       The science of Civil Government enlightens us on the great 
     aspect of National life, describes the divisions and sub-
     divisions of the great body politic into which our nation is 
     divided and sets forth the laws and methods by which they are 
     administered.
       The National government, at Washington levies taxes, makes 
     and executes laws applicable to the country as a whole and to 
     the territories thereof. The various state governments make 
     and execute laws applicable to the states as a whole.
       The states are divided into counties which have functions 
     dealing with large sections of the state and separated from 
     the rest for political or judicial purposes.
       The counties of the state are divided into cities and 
     towns.
       The cities are the large populous and compact sections 
     incorporated as muncipalities usually having a mayor and 
     council in charge.
       The towns are the more numerous sub-divisions, often large 
     in area but of not sufficient wealth and population to be 
     incorporated as a city. The rights and duties of a city. The 
     rights and duties of the voters of towns are unique in that 
     the matter of raising moneys and its appropriation is 
     exercised by the voters themselves whereas in cities, 
     counties and other large divisions this power is delegated to 
     others. It has been said that the New England town meeting is 
     the ideal form of Democratic government.
       Now it may transpire that there is a certain populous, and 
     important community within a town that desires certain 
     conveniences, improvements and protection that the town as a 
     whole may not wish to provide funds for. In that case the law 
     provided that this community may petition the town to set it 
     aside as a Fire District and define its boundaries. If the 
     town refuses to comply the petitioners may proceed to 
     organize a Fire District under the general laws.
       A Fire District may be formed also by special act of the 
     legislature.
       In the course of events it came about that the village of 
     Hyannis required improvements, conveniences and protection 
     comparable with its material growth, and it was evident these 
     could only be acquired through the incorporation of the 
     village of Hyannis as a Fire District.
       Now a Fire District is in some respects like a little town 
     with restricted rights. Its powers being the right to raise 
     money by taxation for the maintenance of a Fire Department, 
     including fire houses, fire engines, chemical engines, hook 
     and ladder trucks, articles used in the extinguishment of 
     fires, hose carriages, hydrant rental, pay for firemen, a few 
     other minor matters and the installation and maintenance of 
     street lights, Its activities are limited to these matters, 
     unless by special act of the legislature.
       Now the establishment and organization of the Hyannis Fire 
     District was achieved in this manner:
       An article was inserted in the warrant for the annual town 
     meeting held, on March 2, 1896 on petition of a number of 
     citizens, inhabitants of Hyannis, to see if the town of 
     Barnstable will receive and act on said petition for the 
     establishment of a Fire District in the village of Hyannis.
       Following such refusal a petition signed by a number of 
     freeholders, inhabitants of Hyannis was addressed to the 
     selectmen of the town of Barnstable asking them to notify a 
     meeting of the inhabitants of the proposed District to meet 
     in Hyannis for the purpose of considering the expidiancy of 
     organizing the Fire District and establishing a Fire 
     Department.
       The selectmen of the town of Barnstable called a meeting of 
     the voters of Hyannis the same being held in Masonic Hall, 
     Hyannis on May 6, 1896 and there after fullfiling all the 
     legal requirements was voted to stablish the Hyannis Fire 
     District with the same limits as set forth in the petition to 
     the selectmen of the town of Barnstable.
       At this meeting the Fire District organized by the choice 
     of Henry H. Baker, Jr., as clerk and appointed a committee 
     consisting of Messrs. Franklin Crocker, James H. French and 
     Charles C. Crocker to investigate water works and other 
     methods of fire protection.
       The first Prudential Committee of the District elected May 
     20, 1896 consisted of F. Percy Goss, Charles C. Crocker and 
     George M. Smith.
       On May 29, 1896 it was voted to purchase a chemical engine, 
     a hook and ladder truck, four hand, extinguishers and to 
     build a house for the use of the department the whole 
     entailing an expenditure of $1,500.00. It was voted at this 
     meeting to establish a Fire Department and at a subsequent 
     meeting O. Howard Crowell was chosen the first Chief Engineer 
     of the District.
       On May 23, 1902 the sum of $1,100.00 was raised and 
     appropriated with which to purchase a new chemical engine the 
     first one not being deemed adequate as it had been in use 
     elsewhere before coming to Hyannis.
       During this period and at each annual meeting there were 
     discussions, suggestions and investigations concerning street 
     lightning by the District but nothing was really accomplished 
     until the year 1904.
       The matter of lighting the streets of Hyannis had always 
     been one of much concern. Years ago the individual would 
     place a kerosene lamp in front of his house and would keep it 
     lighted. This was done here and there throughout the village.
       Then the Village Improvement Society was organized and with 
     such leaders as Miss Ida Bearse, Miss Clara J. Hallett, Mrs. 
     Sarilla H. Smith, Mrs. Maud P. Chase, Mrs. Cleone Chase, Mrs. 
     Ida Frost and others a more general system of lighting the 
     streets was accomplished.
       Later under the management of the Hyannis Womans Club the 
     matter was gone into more seriously, more lights were added. 
     A system of gas lighting was introduced and a man employed to 
     care for the lights and light them at the proper time. Much 
     progress was made under that management and through their 
     untiring labors and efforts.
       On May 25, 1904, the following vote was passed at the 
     Annual meeting of the Hyannis Fire District: Voted to accept 
     certain street lamps, poles and other appurtances, together 
     with a certain sum of money from the Social Service 
     Department of the Hyannis Woman's Club. That sum of $325 was 
     raised and appropriated at this meeting for the erection and 
     maintenance of street lights within the District, and thus 
     the Fire District formally assumed the duties of street 
     lighting. (20 street lights on moonlight schedule).
       And thus began through the instrumentality and Co-operation 
     of the women of Hyannis a system of street lighting which has 
     steadily increased and today compares favorably with the best 
     in any town in the state.
       In the year 1905 a movement was started to investigate the 
     installation of Hydrant and Water service in the District and 
     it was voted to petition the legislature for an act 
     authorizing it to produce pure water to the said District for 
     domestic, fire and other purposes.
       The Legislature, in June 1906, passed an act to provide for 
     a water supply for the Hyannis Fire District to become 
     operative upon its access to the District.
       The matter was twice formally presented to the voters of 
     the District and each time rejected.
       Many believe that had we than accepted the provisions of 
     that act and installed our own water system, today we would 
     be free from debt and water would be had at a very low rate.
       In 1907, a new chemical engine was purchased at an 
     expenditure of $1,300.
       In 1909, the street lighting system had been so extended as 
     to call for an appropriation of $1,000.
       Since its establishment and up to the year 1911, the 
     District through its Fire Department depended upon the valor 
     of its firemen and the use of hand drawn chemical engines,

[[Page S3740]]

     hand fire extiguishers and the hook and ladder equipment to 
     cope with any conflagration and wish to say that on all 
     occasions the Fire Department has done the best of work.
       In 1911 the Barnstable Water Company installed a water 
     system in Hyannis and the Fire District in 1912 appropriated 
     $2,380.00 to cover the rental of 68 hydrants which was at the 
     rate of $35.00 per hydrant, per annum. We have one of the 
     best water systems in the state there being a pressure of 80 
     lbs. to the square inch at the hydrants and capable of 
     throwing three streams of water from the same hydrant to a 
     height of more than 70 ft.
       Much can be accomplished by the chemical engines if they 
     reach a fire early, but water is the most effective agent 
     after a fire is well started.
       In 1914 a substantial and artistic drinking fountain 
     dedicated to the use of human beings and dumb animals and 
     erected at a cost of several hundred dollars was presented to 
     the Hyannis Fire District. This fountain is located in Depot 
     Square and is a monument to the benevolence, charity and 
     humanity of the Hyannis Womans Club.
       The appropriation for Street lighting was increased from 
     year to year according as additional lights were needed and 
     is 1922 electric lights were installed on that part of Main 
     Street between Ocean Street and the residence of Dr. Harris. 
     For a number of years there had been a division of opinion as 
     to whether pole locations should be granted on that part of 
     Main Street, but this matter having been amicably adjusted 
     Main Street received the lights as was its due.
       In 1922 the Fire District was * * * was given further 
     attention and Main Street from the Yarmouth line to Sherman 
     Square was converted into a great white way by the 
     installation of forty 250 watt lights throughout its length. 
     This has been very satisfactory and strangers entering our 
     village are favorably impressed.
       The Distrct seems to be very well taken care of at present. 
     There was appropriated for Street lighting at the last annual 
     meeting the sum of $4,728.00 which provides one hundred 
     sixteen 40 watt lights equitably--distributed throughout the 
     district and the forty 250 watt lights on Main Street.
       For many years a fire alarm system was considered and there 
     was appropriated the sum of $1,100 in 1923 and the following 
     year a siren was purchased and through the courtesy of the 
     officers of the Federated church, it was installed in the 
     belfry of the church. The telephone company have co-operated 
     cordially with the District and when notice of a fire is 
     received the operator through a system of wires connected 
     with the siren sends out the alarm.
       Heretofore all the equipment in use by the District was 
     drawn by hand or conveyed by horse or automobile but in 1923 
     a new motorized chemical engine was purchased at a cost of 
     $3,500 which is really a credit to the community.
       In 1923 the Fire District was enlarged by the addition of 
     adjacent territory at the request of the residents.
       The organization of the Hyannis Fire District is as 
     follows:
       A Prudential Committee of three members whose duties in the 
     Fire District are similar to the duties of Selectmen of 
     towns.
       The following have served at various times since the 
     organization of the District:
       Chas. Grocker, Percy Goss, George H. Smith, Arthur G. 
     Guyer, Edw. L. Chase, Luther G. Hallet, Irving W. Cook, Edw. 
     C. Hinckley, N.A. Bradford and the present board--Frank 
     Thacher, Chas, W. Megathlin and Edw. F. Maher.
       The following have served as Clerk and Treasurer: Henry H. 
     Baker, Edw. F. Maher, Walter S. Chase and the present 
     incumbent Wm. G. Currier.
       The following have served as Chief Engineer: O. Howard 
     Crowell, N. Alphonso Bradford, Irving W. Cook, W.R. Nickerson 
     and the present Chief, Everett O. Bond.
       The present Asst. Engineers are Winslow K. Thacher, 
     Frederic Scudder and J. Lester Howland.
       All the officers of the District serve without pay with the 
     exception that for the last few years the Clerk and Treas. 
     held by the same person is paid $50 per year.
       The Fire Department is organized under the engineers in to 
     Fire Policy Day Crew, Night Crew, and are on call at all 
     times and should the apparatus be called out of town at any 
     time, competent men are always on duty at Hyannis.
       The money appropriated at Fire District meetings is 
     assessed by the assessors of the town and collected by the 
     tax collector of the town and paid over to Treasurer of the 
     Fire District.
       A total of $118,416.33 has been appropriated in the Fire 
     District since its establishment.
       The assessed valuation of property real and personal within 
     the District in 1898 was $970,000.00 and on April of this 
     year it amounted to $2,757,610.00 and at the present time it 
     is probably more than $3,000,000.00 and is larger than most 
     towns in Barnstable County.
       For some years the old engine house has been inadequate for 
     the needs of the Fire Department and last year the District 
     voted to expend the sum of $28,000.00 for a plot of land and 
     the construction of a new engine house.
       A plot of land was purchased on Barnstable Road for the sum 
     of $3,000.00 and there has been erected thereon a model fire 
     proof engine house complete in all details and it is believed 
     it will serve the needs of the District for years to come.
       There is ample room to store the engines, hook and ladder 
     truck, hose reels and other equipment. There is an apartment 
     for drying the hose after a fire. There is an assembly room 
     for the firemen. The building is heated with a modern Spencer 
     heater so there is no danger of the radiators freezing in the 
     cold weather. It is a building that any city might be content 
     with and I am recently told by the Chief Engineer that the 
     assembly will soon be furnished after which open house is to 
     be held to which the public including this worthy gathering 
     are to be invited to attend.

                          ____________________