WPBFD History

rutted unimproved road." Another fireman who rode the old pumper that night was A. P. Sadler. In October of 1912, the department purchased its second motor driven piece of equipment. The triple com- bination hose, pump and chemical engine went in service on December 28, 1912. The department added one addi- tional man to the roster of paid firemen. Despite the many changes over the past decade, the department remained basically a volunteer organization with minimum funding from the town. Change was in the wind, however. The Henry Morrison Flagler of the West Palm Beach Fire Department prepared to make his grand entrance. His visions would guide the department through trying times and change the struggling volunteer fire company into a professional fire department. 1913 A new era began with the election of Alfred P. Sadler as Fire Chief January 9, 1913. Prior chiefs (also known as foremen or presidents of the association) had been selected more or less as an honor rather than having any specific qualifications. This system resulted in chiefs serving for a year or two before the duties were turned over to someone else. Prominent businessmen and civic leaders joined the volunteer fire department not only to provide manpower, but also as a social activity in the community. The history of many towns can be traced through the members of their early fire departments who were, in most cases, active in business and politics. Chief Sadler would serve as Fire Chief until his re- tirement in 1949, a period of more than thirty-six years. His extended leadership had a stabilizing effect allowing for continuity of planning and orderly growth during dec- ades of dramatic change. During this time the department evolved from one of limited capabilities into a modern municipal fire department. Sadler's vision was on the fu- ture. Alfred P. Sadler was

'Twas two o'clock and ten minute more, As the "aut" went out of the firehouse door; She was loaded down and all gave heed To the way she picked up an awful speed, Clang went the bell - went the whistle higher - 'Twas forty-three miles down to the fire! Down past Lucerne - by Lantana's curve; "Are you all on, boys? Just keep your nerve! Ah, here is Boynton - We're on our way - Hurrah! We've made it! We're in Delray!" No thought of a break - of a bursting tire - 'Twas twenty-six miles to reach the fire! And out from Delray they rushed along With shriek of whistle and clang of gong; On, on, they go! Past Yamato! Through Boca Ratone at a pace not slow! It's Deerfield now - and now they're by her - And sixteen miles beyond's the fire! Now over the roughness - Lord! What a pitch! A fraction more and they'd made the ditch; Around the curve like a lightning's streak - Arousing the sleepers with awful shriek; Here's Pompano, they're drawing nigher - But eight miles now to Lauderdale's fire! Through Pompano like a swiftwinged steed, With never a slack to the frightful speed; Crossing the bridge with it's narrow tread - Never a care for the dangers ahead! Progresso's passed - the fire's in reach - 'Twas fifty minutes from West Palm Beach! The poet was a little off on the time the run took. Cecil R. "Popcorn" Hull, a young fireman at

the time, remembered the record forty-seven minute run to Fort Lauderdale in the old American La France Type 10. "Henry Franklin was at the wheel and if you con- sider there's nothing remarkable about that [the response time] you'll have to remember that back in 1913 the road south of here was just a twisted, deep-

born October 5, 1888, in the farming community of Pablo Beach (now Jacksonville Beach). His father, Charles M. Sadler, was a sheriff there until his death in the 1890's. Alfred moved to West Palm Beach in 1903 at the age of fifteen. On April 11, 1907, he joined the fire department and was elected secretary/ treasurer of the associa-

The Fire Department Band 1912 2