See our fire horses - Alex and Joe!

"... Under the administration of Mayor John Albert (1863-1864) a law was passed creating a Fire Department. The ordinance provided for the spending of $1,000.00 for a fire engine and the department was to consist of at least thirty members between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The firemen were ordered to elect officers and to provide rules for the administration of the department. On July 25, 1866, during the administration of G. H. Cramer, the city council ordered the establishment of a hook and ladder company. In 1883 the "Good Intent Fire Company" asked for better equipment." Snider, Felix. " Cape Girardeau : Biography of a City ;" Ramfre Press, Cape Girardeau , 1956, p. 72.

"In July 1868 a law was passed legalizing the issuing of city bonds not to exceed $5,000.00 bearing interest at 10% for the support of the city government. At that time an apportionment was made of a sum of $200.00 for the support of the Fire Company. The Mayor, G. C. Thilenius, refused to sign the bill, no doubt on the grounds of economy, but the bill was passed over his veto." IBID, p.76.

The Presbyterian Church, Cape Girardeau ’s "..first house of worship was finished...[in] June 1854. It was a two-story brick on the southeast corner of Broadway and Lorimier Street , facing Lorimier. The sanctuary was on the second floor. The first floor was used for Sunday School on Sunday and by the Cape Girardeau Academy for Boys during the week. The same basement later housed the first public school in Cape Girardeau . The church bell, still in use (c.1956), was on a wooden tower at the northwest corner of the church. It was used to call worshipers to service and children to school. Its harsh clanging announced a fire or sometimes an escaped prisoner from the nearby jail." IBID p.109.

"RECORD SHOWS CAPE FIREMEN ONCE PASSED HOURS
IN FUNCTIONS BESIDES PUTTING OUT FIRES"
The Southeast Missourian - Thursday Evening, July 16, 1959

Combating fires in early Cape Girardeau was just one of the functions of the Good Intent Fire Co., which had its inception here some 83 years ago. Picnics and balls were a favorite diversion of the company which averaged three such events a year, holding one in the spring, another usually in July, and a third possibly during the local fair.

Proceedings of these early-day meetings, as recorded in a minute book by the hand of Wm. Paar, longtime secretary of the company, give a detailed account of the company, its members and their varied activities over a ten-year span (1876-1886). The book, still in very good conditions, was uncovered among the many record books stored in the Courthouse in the vault in the office of the clerk, Common Pleas Court .

Though little is entered in the book about fires the volunteers may or may have put out, history records the fact that the Good Intent Fire Co. was the first volunteer fire service in Cape Girardeau .

A small brick building in Courthouse Square housed most of the firefighting equipment as well as the city jail. To this place the firefighters hurried upon hearing the fire alarm, sounded by the Presbyterian bell in its outside belfry just off the courthouse lawn. Volunteers fetched the hand pumps, horsedrawn fire wagons, and other equipment from the firehouse.

The town was divided into four wards, and pre-arranged signals were worked out for sounding an alarm. The person turning in the alarm would tap the bell a certain number of time to correspond to the ward in which fire had broken out. Hose carts, placed in each ward, were pulled to the scene of the fire by firemen assigned to that particular ward.

When the men were not fighting fires they were busy planning something of interest for the community. An early entry in the book, dated Feb. 2, 1876, found the company "appointing a committee to consider the propriety of celebrating the anniversary of George Washington’s birthday with a ball or some other event." By the very next meeting real progress had been made. The committee advised that a ball be held on Feb. 22, and the company voted to have the event at the Wm. Paar house. Music, the committee reported, would cost $15.

Serving on the arrangements committee for the Washington Birthday Ball were: C. E. Vasterling, Fred Brunke, Michael Esweian, Max Kiehn, Louis Bender, George Kollass and Henry Schatz. It was further decided that admission price to the ball be 25 cents, and the men resolved that a salute be fired in honor of the anniversary, with a committee being appointed to conduct the same and solicit subscriptions for defraying cost of the salute. Carl Schulz, August Johns, Julius Heuble and Charles Vollners were appointed to the latter committee.

The company met on March 1 and learned that net proceeds of the ball were $40. Fred Steck and David Holtz were elected to membership in the company at that time. Another new member, who joined in April, was August Stoffregen.

April 14 found the men planning a picnic to be held in May in a grove on the south side of Bloomfield road, a mile from town. The committee reported that music would be provided by a band at a cost of $14, and an additional $1.50 would be needed for the team to haul the musicians to the picnic. Total receipts of the picnic were $34, and disbursements, $34.50, the company heard at a later meeting.

Undaunted by financial loss, the company immediately began plans for another community event, this time a Fourth of July Ball to be held at the Marble City Hotel. Music was obtained at a cost of $20, and a man to run the bar required another $10.

In observance of the centennial of the national holiday the firemen joined in a torchlight procession through the city’s principal streets on the evening of July 3, the event being sponsored by the I.O.O.F. Christ Ulrich was chosen to act as marshal for the company in the grand parade, and George Kollass was ordered "to buy a keg of powder (at $4) and to collect same by subscription, and to arrange for a salute to be fired on the morning of the Fourth."

Once again the company came up on the short end of the unbalanced balance sheet. The ball brought in receipts of $136.75, but an amount of $139 was paid out for expenses of the ball, and $19.95 went for music for the procession and decorating the engine.

Small wonder that the next committee appointed to plan a ball, to be during fair week, failed to function. After three meetings, the committee of Schulz, Bender and Kollass failing to report, the same was fined, the minutes state.

With the coming of fall the men’s thoughts were turned to more practical things. Members voted to have the janitor get the stove in order by the next (October) meeting, and also agreed to hire a sub-janitor "to light the fire, ring the bell and keep the room in order." His salary was set at $1 a month.

The men met in December of 1879 to consider purchasing a steam fire engine. Four men appointed to canvass the city for subscriptions were Charles Schulz, W. F. Willer, Otto Friedrich and Anton Ketterer.

A discussion of installing fire escapes in the city was a part of a May meeting in 1880, and the matter was referred to a special committee to investigate the probable cost of the fire escapes.

The meeting also initiated plans for a company picnic for Sunday, May 23, at the Thilenius Garden , with music to be provided by the Marble City Band (which had underbid the Jackson Band by $4). Many heads went into the planning of this picnic, the committee consisting of: G. Frenzel, Fred Willer, W. Vorweg, O. Friedrich, Phil Stoll, George Henninger, C. E. Vasterling, A. Stoffregen and N. Nicaise.

The summer of 1880 brought new plans for celebrating the July 4 holiday. The company decided to join in a parade with children of the Evangelical Lutheran School , and to participate in the congregation’s holiday picnic at Thilenius Garden . This annual church-sponsored parade and picnic proved to be a popular entertainment with townspeople for a good many years, and the firemen in full dress uniforms usually took part in the children’s parade through town.

From Left to Right, kneeling: Milford Winchester,dispatcher; Norman Stallings, Paul Kesterson, Paul Lufcy, Dewey Hinton, Charles "Zeke" Benton, Warren Strack; first row, standing: Ca Norval Friese, Ca Elvis Crump, Chief Carl Lewis, Assistant Chief Richard Mahy, Fire Commissioner U. G. Pettigrew, Assistant Chief Henry "Peck" Eaker, Fire Marshal Wilbur "Bun" Kesterson, Ca Charles Mills, Master Mechanic Henry Miesner; second row, Lloyd Henson, Lloyd Kelley, Ca Jesse McLain, Wilbur Morgan, Charles "Whitey" Meinz, Ca W. D. Welker, James Baker, back row, Dispatcher Paul Mills, Romanus Halter, Charles Cora, Ca Calvin Lynch, Leonard Sachse, Ray McNeely, Oscar Goehman and Ca George Dunn.

The following spring the Turner Society asked the company to join in a parade on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. The company agreed to do so, and went a step further by planning a picnic for the gala occasion on May 29 at the Garden. It turned out the company gained $35 for its treasury from the event.

Another year, another July 4th celebration. This time the Cape Girardeau Gymnastic Society invited the company to join in its procession and to attend a ball at Turners Hall that night as guests of the society. Ten men were named to a committee to decorate the engine for the parade, and to procure a team to draw the hose carriage.

Men of the company decided "to assemble in full uniform at 1 o’clock on Sept. 24, 1881, the day of the funeral of President James A. Garfield, to join in a public demonstration of the occasion of the President’s burial."

The company held a picnic at Thilenius Gardens on Sunday, July 30, 1882, to raise money for a new fire engine. A profit of $30.40 was realized. Another picnic began taking form at the Aug. 8 meeting. This event, held on August 20 at the Garden, brought in net proceeds of $18.20.

At a meeting on Oct. 4, the chairman appointed two members to canvass the city for subscriptions toward purchase of a steam engine. The company headed the subscription list with a $100 donation.

And so the history goes on. The pages of the minute book contain also reports of sad occasions. It was a custom of the company to attend funerals of fellow members, turning out in full uniform. The company assembled on Jan. 30, 1880, to make plans for attending the funeral of member J. C. Vorhoff. It was arranged that "a member tap the bell at 1 o’clock, and that white gloves be procured for members to wear at the funeral."

Much of the minutes contain listings of accounts paid out for various purposes. The secretary was regularly instructed to issue warrants like these: D. Ulright for janitors fee, $3; Henry Schwepper for assisting janitor, $1; H. A. Pott for straps, $1.50; B. Bahn & Bros., 85 cents.

And recorded on June 11, 1883: To Ernst Schaefer for repairing nozzle for hose, $6; June 9, 1884: M. Eswein for services, $1.50; F. Hanny for beer, $2; Wm. Paar for secretary service, $11; Feb 8, 1886, John Greib, $2, and Alfred Astholz, $3, for keeping up fires in engine room during January.

Ernst Schaefer and Henry A. Astholz became new members on May 18, 1883, with the latter being elected to captain of the company the following month. Members voted to produce a half dozen axes for use at fires upon the suggestion of Mr. Astholz.

The company began "dressing up" a bit more, the project started with the purchase of new hats, 24 of them, at a cost of $120. It was duly resolved "that all persons admitted as members who receive a hat shall be required to pay at least ten months dues in advance."

At the April 19, 1884 meeting, the company adopted a resolution to "adopt as a uniform to be worn at parades, a blue jacket and shirt, and that a committee be appointed to provide same." The committee later reported that cost of making shirts would be 20 cents per shirt, and that material would cost 38 cents a yard, making total cost of each about $1.25. Conrad Stehr was awarded the job of making shirts, he being lowest bidder.

By June 9, a total of 24 shirts had been made and delivered to the company by Mr. Stehr. Later the committee on shirts and pants reported that the required number of each had been bought--pants costing a total of $60.75, and shirts, $48.92.

The company on Sept. 10, 1883, appointed a committee "to solicit subscriptions from citizens, sufficient to purchase Engine No. 271 from Rumsey & Co., amount of $275, and the same be bought forthwith." Anxious members assembling on Jan. 14, 1884, voted that "when the new engine arrives the captain shall have the company called for a trial run." The men adjourned subject to the sound of the bell.

By Feb. 11 meeting, at which time Phil Steck joined the company, it was reported that the engine had arrived and had been tried out several times by the apparently "satisfied" company.

The company was invited to participate in the Mystic Tribe of Capaha’s grand demonstration on Saturday, Aug. 23, 1881, to wind up with a picnic at Thilenius Gardens .

June 12, 1885 brought a communication from Cape City Guards inviting the company to join in a proper celebration of the national July 4 holiday.

Also that summer the members resolved that each member of the company in good standing be entitled to one pair of rubber boots, cost of which not to exceed $4. Result: Fifteen pair purchased at $2.25 a pair.

As the years passed, the company welcomed many new members to its ranks. Among these were: C. Hoffmeister, Engelbert David, Charles Desselman, Charles Hutmann, Simon Kollmer, F. Unnerstall, Henry Johns, John Vogelsanger, Henry Schrader, Wm. Bode, Theophile Besel, Charles Vogelsang, George Lind, August Allers, Alois Zimmer, Charles A. Bock, Martin Roth, Gus Stein, Henry Kopper, John Wolter, Henry Almstedt.

Also, Christian H. Allers, Charles B. Allers, Jacob Musbach, Joseph DeBinder, Gust Angst, D. Ulright, Frank Tenkhoff, Henry Strack, Henry Bremmer, Fred Fassolt, Fred Luckmann, Sam Green, Henry Baehre, Christian H. Krueger, Ashley S. Coker, Charles Seehausen, Wm. Blank, Fred Brunke, E. H. Engelmann.

Some of the men who headed the company as chairman were: Wm. Willer, Charles Schultz, Nick Nicaise, Christ Allers, Phil Stoll, Fred Willer, J. A. DeBinder, Fred Brunke and others. Elected to the post of captain were Charles Schultz, Mr. Astholz, D. Ulright and Wm. Blank, among others, and serving the groups as secretary for ten years, possibly longer, was Wm. Paar. Upon his resignation the job was passed on by election to Wm. H. Willer.

The company was strict in its policies and insisted that it membership roster consist of honest, upright citizens. Just as the company took on new members at regular intervals, it dropped members who were delinquent in their dues or who violated the company’s constitution.

One member, "having failed in response to repeated notice sent him to report regarding certain monies collected by him to defray expenses of firing salute on Washington’s birthday" was duly expelled as a member. On another occasion the company saw fit to expel from membership one who had behaved in a manner "unbecoming a gentleman" at one of the company-sponsored picnics.

The minutes record the "ups" as well as the "downs" of the Good Intent Fire Co. The group miraculously survived a "slump season" in the fall of 1880 when on four occasions meetings were adjourned for want of a quorum. Then, the following January, 12 members were ousted for being in arrears a year with their dues.

The minute book contains many incidents of a lighter nature. A very generous member once proposed to foot all bills against the company for beer used on trial runs. It was a policy with the company that members could borrow from company funds, paying back at interest. Thus, it was not unusual to find a man tapping the till for a $6 loan to see him through the month.

A FIRE WAGON, ALEX & JOE By Charles Mills, Cape Girardeau Fire Chief (with picture of First Cape Girardeau fire wagon, 1908 - The Southeast Missourian). Published October 5, 1980.

"Hitch your wagon to a star" is an old saying and a very worthy one. Literally speaking, this is exactly what the people involved in forming and maintaining the Cape Girardeau Fire Department have done through the years since it was organized, always improving and working for that goal. The department was a source of pride at its very beginning in 1880, and citizens can still feel that it has continued this tradition through the years. The men involved in this department are very conscious of the importance of keeping this department effective and shipshape in all respects.

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Back in the old days it was the "Pride of Cape Girardeau " . . . and today, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department is still second to none

The fire department originated with the town’s first volunteer service, "The Good Intent Fire Company," organized in 1880. In those days firemen were called into action by the clanging of the old Presbyterian Church bell.

That bell brought volunteer firefighters...hand pump...bucket brigade... and a fire wagon to the scene of the fire for many years. This original company was headed by Chief Henry A. Astholz and Captain George W. Greene. Since then the department has had only 12 fire chiefs -- Arthur Leher, Rudolph Stehr, Barney Kraft, Al Dittlinger, John Sullenger, Fred Meyer, George D. French, Harry Rabe, Robert Kammer, Dewey Hinton, Carl Lewis and the present chief, Charles Mills.

In these early days the volunteer firemen under Henry Astholz received $3 for fighting a fire and $1 for a drill, averaging about $10 per month.

In 1906 the company headed by Chief Astholtz and Capt. Greene divided the town into four wards. Signals were worked out for the alarm. The person giving the alarm would tap the bell a certain number of times to correspond to the ward in which the fire was located.

The second fire chief, Arthur Leher, reorganized the department’s fire alarm boxes in 1908. The boxes were placed in six prominent corners of the city with wires leading to the department in city hall, then being built at Frederick and Independence . In December that same year, the new $1,100 fire wagon arrived by boat from St. Louis , and another $400 went to purchasing a team of dapple gray horses, Alex and Joe.

In 1909 the department was reorganized with Barney Kraft as chief. Chief Kraft’s tenure marked three phases of the department’s history: the hand-pulled hose cart, when the volunteers pulled the pump on wheels; the horse-drawn wagon, and the motorized unit. As the city grew the horse-drawn wagon became out of date and the motorized unit quickly became inefficient.

In 1916 Cape Girardeau ’s most disastrous fire resulted in demands for new firefighting equipment for the department. The big fire on March 15 destroyed the Riverview and Terminal Hotels, the Buckner-Ragsdale store and other small storerooms along Main Street .

Fifty businessmen met soon after to raise money for new equipment. On June 5 the situation became even more critical when the team of horses, "Alex" and "Joe", were killed by lightening during a severe storm.

A special election was held to issue $15,000 bonds for modern fire apparatus. The two-thirds vote required was short only three votes. The following May 23 a second election carried, and in December two trucks were purchased.

From the CAPE GIRARDEAU PUBLIC LIBRARY archive of stories by THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN GENERAL HISTORIES:

Headlines reveal history:

12-7-04 Chief R.W.Stehr puts firefighters through practice drill.
6-1-08 Council appointments for city fire department.
11-13-08 Gamewell fire alarm boxes are placed at Main & Themis, Broadway & Fountain, Broadway & Pacific, Sprigg & Merriwether, Frederick & Good Hope, and Spanish & William.
12-29-08 New fire wagon arrives by boat from St. Louis .
5-1-09 Team of horses for fire department purchased in St. Louis by Aldermen Alex Vasterling and Joe Wilson.
5-4-09 Barney Kraft is named chief.
5-18-09 Charles Hawn is appointed first assistant fire chief at $50 and Lee Albert second assistant at $40 per month.
5-25-09 New fire engine horses are harnessed for first time.
6-7-09 New Firefighting apparatus is given first test: team of greys responded to signals and made run of six blocks in 10 minutes after receiving alarm.
8-22-09 Alex, one of big horses of fire department, got away this morning and enjoyed romp on Independence .
9-15-09 Fire Department horses are weighed--Alex 1,325, gain of 63 pounds; Joe, 1,323, loss of 38 pounds, since they were installed in their new home.
2-21-12 Firemen give masquerade ball for purpose of securing boots and coats.
4-15-13 George D. French and Martin Oberheide are selected as salaried firemen.
9-19-13 Big Ben, barred rock rooster, mascot at city fire station, is trampled to death by Alex, horse which helps haul fire wagon.
4-22-14 City Council adds another man to fire dept. to handle horses.
5-13-14 City fire wagon is undergoing repairs
1-16-15 Wooden pole has been installed for city firemen to slide to lower floor from their bunks and men are practicing fancy slides.
3-15-16 Cape ’s biggest fire in business section. Call for new fire fighting equipment.
4-18-16 Special election for $15,000 bonds for modern fire equipment lost.
5-23-16 Another election; carried.
12-7-16 New motor fire engine arrives.
12-20-16 New hook & ladder truck breaks.
1-1-17 New equipment gets first real test at fire.
4-7-20 Jumbo, fire engine, is stuck in mud on North Henderson answering alarm.
2-2-22 Gas masks for firefighters are provided by city.
5-1-22 George French succeeds Fred Meyers as fire chief.
10-17-23 R. C. McCarty, service-car driver, succeeds Ira Collins as member of fire department.
12-3-24 Citizen of Marble City Heights suburb is fined on charge of driving auto over fire hose.
2-26-25 City Council buys new fire truck, $5,400.
4-18-25 Members of Cape police and fire departments, who, 6 weeks ago, ordered uniforms from itinerant salesman, are still waiting for suits.
5-1-25 Cape’s new fire truck is on display at Harris Motor Co.
9-22-31 Petition is presented urging City Council to promptly give Cape adequate fire protection; Council takes immediate steps.
11-26-31 City firemen give dance at Community Clubhouse for funds to purchase equipment.
12-10-31 Firemen spent first night in new annex last week.
1-2-32 Cost of building annex to fire department building, also improvements to old structure, is $5,389.27.
2-10-32 City’s new $10,500 American-LaFrance fire truck arrives.
2-20-32 Formal opening of new addition to fire department and new truck is held today and tomorrow.
4-3-32 Inhalator is installed on new fire truck.
8-8-32 Harry Rabe and Roy Smith are injured when fire truck crashes into motor truck.
8-3-33 Drill tower at fire department headquarters is finished.
8-16-33 SEMO firefighters hold 4th annual convention here. Roy Smith of Cape department is presented with medal for saving girl’s life.
6-29-36 Carl Lewis is added to department.
11-14-40 Carl Lewis is appointed temporary chief succeeding late R. J. Kammer.
12-16-40 Carl Lewis is appointed chief of Department.
12-29-40 New fire truck, built in Cape , except chassis, has been placed at station for use.
1-24-42 Leland Albert, who trained first fire dept. horses, died 1-5-42 in Arkansas .
6-13-42 Louis Hellmeyer, Rose Street , is appointed to fire department by City Commissioner Philip H. Steck.
9-23-42 Fire truck, constructed according to Chief Carl Lewis and City Commissioner Philip Steck, has been placed in service.
8-1-43 Fire department takes on war job of preparing meals for prisoners in City jail.
9-27-50 G.M.C. 750 gallon pumper received; old one sold for $2,500.
7-28-51 Fire Station No. 2, $30,000 structure on Independence , holds public inspection.
2-2-51 New fire alarm system installed at Central department.
9-17-51 New Fire Station No. 3, Emerald Street, north side, formally opened.
1-10-52 Casey Ransom recalls he was on city fire wagon when electric wire accident killed two fine gray horses drawing pumper.
2-1-54 City Council, in heated session, agrees to give hearing to three ousted firemen.
10-2-54 Fire Department has grown from volunteers to force of 30 men.
3-2-55 George French, fire chief, retires after 24 years service to department; succeeded by Harry Rabe.
1-15-59 Fire department starts registration of invalids to improve chances of rescue.
7-17-59 Good general history
1-1-60 Police department transfers from Independence-Frederick location, leaving fire department in charge of building.
7-19-60 City Council burns $165,000 retire fire station bonds.
8-23-60 Firemen request ordinance increasing pay on length-of-service basis. Rejected by City Council 8-30-60.
9-24-60 Firemen petition for initiative election for length-of-service pay.
8-7-61 Special mayor’s Finance Committee recommends salary increases for city employees.
9-1-61 City Council orders salary hike for city employees--includes length-of-service schedule for police and firemen.
11-7-61 Firemen withdraw suit for length-of-service pay.
4-17-63 Police and fire department seek pension plan.
2-25-64 City Council turns down firemen’s request for $20 per month pay increase.
3-20-64 Police and firemen campaign for retirement plan. Election on issue fails 4-7-64.
5-6-64 Firemen are busy readying new $22,000 fire truck for service.
11-3-64 Firemen again ask for salary increase.
8-8-66 Trucks replace horses - General History
10-5-80 Department second to none - General History
2-15-81 Cape has new fire house - new headquarters - Station 1 at Sprigg & Independence.

Later Fire Department stories are filed according to year and dates are available from 1968 to present through the Cape Public Library ’s Missourian Index, printed annually.