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From the Cape Girardeau Public Library archive of stories by the Southeast Missourian General Histories
Headlines Reveal History
12-7-1904
Chief R.W.Stehr puts firefighters through practice drill.
6-1-1908
Council appointments for city fire department.
11-13-1908
Gamewell fire alarm boxes are placed at Main & Themis, Broadway & Fountain, Broadway & Pacific, Sprigg & Merriwether, Frederick & Good Hope, and Spanish & William.
12-29-1908
New fire wagon arrives by boat from St. Louis .
5-1-1909
Team of horses for fire department purchased in St. Louis by Aldermen Alex Vasterling and Joe Wilson.
5-4-1909
Barney Kraft is named chief.
5-18-1909
Charles Hawn is appointed first assistant fire chief at $50 and Lee Albert second assistant at $40 per month.
5-25-1909
New fire engine horses are harnessed for first time.
6-7-1909
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.
8-22-1909
Alex, one of big horses of fire department, got away this morning and enjoyed romp on Independence .
9-15-1909
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.
2-21-1912
Firemen give masquerade ball for purpose of securing boots and coats.
4-15-1913
George D. French and Martin Oberheide are selected as salaried firemen.
9-19-1913
Big Ben, barred rock rooster, mascot at city fire station, is trampled to death by Alex, horse which helps haul fire wagon.
4-22-1914
City Council adds another man to fire dept. to handle horses.
5-13-1914
City fire wagon is undergoing repairs
1-16-1915
Wooden pole has been installed for city firemen to slide to lower floor from their bunks and men are practicing fancy slides.
3-15-1916
Cape ’s biggest fire in business section. Call for new fire fighting equipment.
4-18-1916
Special election for $15,000 bonds for modern fire equipment lost.
5-23-1916
Another election; carried.
12-7-1916
New motor fire engine arrives.
12-20-1916
New hook & ladder truck breaks.
1-1-1917
New equipment gets first real test at fire.
4-7-1920
Jumbo, fire engine, is stuck in mud on North Henderson answering alarm.
2-2-1922
Gas masks for firefighters are provided by city.
5-1-1922
George French succeeds Fred Meyers as fire chief.
10-17-1923
R. C. McCarty, service-car driver, succeeds Ira Collins as member of fire department.
12-3-1924
Citizen of Marble City Heights suburb is fined on charge of driving auto over fire hose.
2-26-1925
City Council buys new fire truck, $5,400.
4-18-1925
Members of Cape police and fire departments, who, 6 weeks ago, ordered uniforms from itinerant salesman, are still waiting for suits.
5-1-1925
Cape’s new fire truck is on display at Harris Motor Co.
9-22-1931
Petition is presented urging City Council to promptly give Cape adequate fire protection; Council takes immediate steps.
11-26-1931
City firemen give dance at Community Clubhouse for funds to purchase equipment.
12-10-1931
Firemen spent first night in new annex last week.
1-2-1932
Cost of building annex to fire department building, also improvements to old structure, is $5,389.27.
2-10-1932
City’s new $10,500 American-LaFrance fire truck arrives.
2-20-1932
Formal opening of new addition to fire department and new truck is held today and tomorrow.
4-3-1932
Inhalator is installed on new fire truck.
8-8-1932
Harry Rabe and Roy Smith are injured when fire truck crashes into motor truck.
8-3-1933
Drill tower at fire department headquarters is finished.
8-16-1933
SEMO firefighters hold 4th annual convention here. Roy Smith of Cape department is presented with medal for saving girl’s life.
6-29-1936
Carl Lewis is added to department.
11-14-1940
Carl Lewis is appointed temporary chief succeeding late R. J. Kammer.
12-16-1940
Carl Lewis is appointed chief of Department.
12-29-1940
New fire truck, built in Cape , except chassis, has been placed at station for use.
1-24-1942
Leland Albert, who trained first fire dept. horses, died 1-5-42 in Arkansas.
6-13-1942
Louis Hellmeyer, Rose Street , is appointed to fire department by City Commissioner Philip H. Steck.
9-23-1942
Fire truck, constructed according to Chief Carl Lewis and City Commissioner Philip Steck, has been placed in service.
8-1-1943
Fire department takes on war job of preparing meals for prisoners in City jail.
9-27-1950
G.M.C. 750 gallon pumper received; old one sold for $2,500.
7-28-1951
Fire Station No. 2, $30,000 structure on Independence , holds public inspection.
2-2-1951
New fire alarm system installed at Central department.
9-17-1951
New Fire Station No. 3, Emerald Street, north side, formally opened.
1-10-1952
Casey Ransom recalls he was on city fire wagon when electric wire accident killed two fine gray horses drawing pumper.
2-1-1954
City Council, in heated session, agrees to give hearing to three ousted firemen.
10-2-1954
Fire Department has grown from volunteers to force of 30 men.
3-2-1955
George French, fire chief, retires after 24 years service to department; succeeded by Harry Rabe.
1-15-1959
Fire department starts registration of invalids to improve chances of rescue.
7-17-1959
Good general history
1-1-1960
Police department transfers from Independence-Frederick location, leaving fire department in charge of building.
7-19-1960
City Council burns $165,000 retire fire station bonds.
8-23-1960
Firemen request ordinance increasing pay on length-of-service basis. Rejected by City Council 8-30-60.
9-24-1960
Firemen petition for initiative election for length-of-service pay.
8-7-1961
Special mayor’s Finance Committee recommends salary increases for city employees.
9-1-1961
City Council orders salary hike for city employees–includes length-of-service schedule for police and firemen.
11-7-1961
Firemen withdraw suit for length-of-service pay.
4-17-1963
Police and fire department seek pension plan.
2-25-1964
City Council turns down firemen’s request for $20 per month pay increase.
3-20-1964
Police and firemen campaign for retirement plan. Election on issue fails 4-7-64.
5-6-1964
Firemen are busy readying new $22,000 fire truck for service.
11-3-1964
Firemen again ask for salary increase.
8-8-1966
Trucks replace horses – General History
10-5-1980
Department second to none – General History
2-15-1981
Cape has new fire house – new headquarters – Station 1 at Sprigg & Independence
