In September
of 1899, The Village of Manhattan purchased
two #6 hose carts, 650 feet of safety hose,
two play pipe nozzles, and other equipment
from the New York Belting Company, for 450
dollars. When the village started installing
water mains in the 1890's, it was then
possible to have pressurized water available
for firefighting, which could be applied
through the hose and nozzles carried on the
hose carts, rather then just throwing the
water on the fire with the buckets that had
been stationed throughout the town at horse
troughs and cisterns.
This type of hose cart was not pulled by
horses, it was designed and intended to be
pulled by men. The horse drawn hose carts
were much larger and usually of four wheel
design. In later years, once autos and
trucks became more common, the carts would
be pulled by car for short distances. At
least one of these carts was kept at Timm's
Garage for many years, several sheds or hose
houses were built in different locations
over the years. Eventually there was a North
and South hose cart shed with different men
assigned to each one.
1944 Chevy Fire Engine
Above is a
1944 Chevy Fire Engine purchased from
Central Fire Equipment. It was purchased in
August of 1944 for a cost of $4,835.00. This
engine later retired in 1961. |
