WPBFD History

CHAPTER TWO The Flagler Alerts November, 1894 to 1901 You are dealing with a work full of dangerous hazard, and you are venturing upon fires oerlaid with dangerous ashes. Horace

1894 The Flagler Alerts officially organized as a fire com- pany November 17, 1894. J. E. Phillips was elected President; Joseph Elliott, Vice President; James T. Sand- ers, Treasurer; H. Papworth, Secretary; J. K. Marvin, Foreman; and C. L. Dorothy, Assistant Foreman. Joseph Elliott owned a lucrative fishing business, was a Justice of the Peace, and represented the Standard Oil Company as a local sales agent. Working as a com- missarist for the East Coast Railway, Elliott had moved south from St. Augustine with the expansion of the rail- road. James T. Sanders was the prosecuting attorney for the county criminal court and was, for a time, the only attorney in the area. J. K. Marvin owned a grocery store on Clematis Street and was also part owner of Marvin & Nokes, an undertaking and embalming business. The volunteer ranks soon reached a strength of nearly forty able-bodied men. The first piece of fire- fighting apparatus was a hand drawn hose cart purchased in 1894. A two-story wood frame building at Datura Street and Poinsettia (Dixie) housed fire equipment. A large bell mounted on top of the temporary Town Hall called the Alerts into action. Anyone who discovered a fire had to rush to Town Hall and pull the rope to sound the alarm. 1895 Adaptations to the water system were necessary for use by the Alerts. O. W. Weybrecht, a local plumber, installed water pipes and hoses in the Sun block January 31, 1895, the first adaptation of Flagler's water system for the purpose of fire control. February 15, 1895, the Flagler Alerts held a benefit ball to raise funds for the purchase of much needed equip- ment. The festivities took place at the new school house on the corner of Clematis Street and Poinsettia (now Dixie Highway). With little money available, the new town of 1,228 people left financial matters up to the fire company. After a year of incorporation, the town offered some monetary support for the purchase of fire equipment and land for a future fire hall. The hand written minutes of the town council meeting held November 11, 1895, indi- cate, "Progress in the matter of the fire apparatus now

being bargained for." Arrangements were also made for acquiring Lot 11, Block 12, from Flagler, ". . . for the fire engine and other purposes." In the town council meeting of December 7, 1895, the Flagler Alerts elected new officers: Joseph Elliott, President; Eli Sims, Secretary and Treasurer; V. A. Strumpe, Foreman; and C. L. Dorothy, Assistant Fore- man. Eli Sims was also the Town Clerk at the time. Among the most active volunteers on the rolls were: Walter M. "Dooley" Hill, Oscar Chatham, Dick Ray, George Currie, H. Papworth, J. E. Phillips, Victor O'Neal, J. W. Harper, Clarence Lauther, Milton Dick, and Don C. Morris. Henry Morrison Flagler and the mayor entered into a contract for the purchase of Lot 11, Block 12. The council read and accepted the proposal. The terms of the sale were: Four hundred and twenty dollars as per notes, in three annual installments. On the pay- ment of which notes, the first for one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and twenty cents, pay- able in twelve months from dates. The second notes for one hundred and twenty-nine and sixty cents, payable twenty-four months from dates, and the third note for one hundred and twenty dollars payable in thirty-six months from date, and in interest on deferred payments. The sum of eighty-eight dollars and eighty cents to be paid in hand. H. M. Flagler is to make good sufficient deed to said lot. And the Mayor was asked to complete the contract for the town as per contract. The council also named a committee ". . . to ascer- tain the cost of a building for engine house" on the newly acquired lot. The Town fathers seemed to take the fire threat seriously. 1896 The first major fire after the incorporation of West Palm Beach occurred on Thursday, January 2, 1896. At 2:00 p.m. fire broke out in the Midway Plaisance Saloon, a large wood frame building on the south side of Banyan Street. Flames quickly spread from one building to the

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