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.
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