Culver-Union Township Fire Department
 

The Culver fire department was organized January 22, 1903, in accordance with a resolution of the town board. The charter members were: 0ra M. Byrd, Ed Zeckiel, Charles Medbourn, Fred W. Cook, Al Mawhorter Walter Byrd, William "Will" Cook, Monton H. Foss, G. W. Smith, Thomas E. Slattery: Arthur Morris, T. 0. Saine and J. R. Saine.

First Officers: Chief, T. 0. Saine; assistant chief, Arthur Morris; secretary, J. R. Saine; treasurer, Thomas E. Slattery. T. 0. Saine held the position of chief until he resigned August 9, 1906, when 0. A. Gandy was elected to fill the vacancy, and was reelected January 10, 1907. March 16, 1905, the company purchased a building, where it has a permanent home.

At the time of its organization the company had no equipment save a few rubber buckets and three ladders purchased by the town, which were so heavy it required the combined efforts of a dozen men to erect them. With the installation of waterworks in the fall of 1907 a hose cart and hose was provided and the company had some real practice in the art of fire fighting, developing a degree of proficiency surprising in view of their unfamiliarity with fire apparatus. In November 1907, through the generosity of Chief Fred H. Kuhn, of the Plymouth fire department, the company was presented with a hook and ladder truck, which has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired and proves to be ideal for their requirements.

History of Marshall County Indiana (1908) Daniel Mc Donald pg. 128

Notation on the map was: the fire department had 14 men, the fire alarm was the church bell; streets were graded and unpaved and there were no street lights. The map was stamped May 2, 1906. In the offical round stamp was: Prevailing Winds SW; water facilties not good, Not Steam & No hand engine; No independent hose cart, No hook & ladder.

Notation on the map:
Prevailing winds SW & W.

No. Steam & no hand engine; Two hose carts; One hook & ladder.

Water facilities: Pressure tank system capacity of Tank 7,500. 1 National Constrution Co. F. P. triple 3"x0" drivenly 20HP gasoline eingine supply from 1.6" & 3.4" wells. daily consumption not known domestic pressure 30-60 lbd. fire pressure 60 lbs. 1 1/2 miles 4" & 6" water pipes 17 double hydrants installed 130 extensions since

Fire dept: Volunteer 15 members 2 hand carts 800' 2 1/2 C R.L. hose on one 1st class & 200' 2 1/2 " C R.L. hose on the other 2nd class 1 hand H & L wagon, fire alarm M. E. Church no fire limits.

Grades practically level 1 1/8 mile brick pavement being laid on Main & Scott Streets. Public lights, electic incandescent.

CULVER PURCHASES NEW COMMUNITY FIRE TRUCK
Culver, Ind., Jan. 20 - Sufficient funds have been received to allow H. G. Shafer and Roy Swigart, trustees of the community fire truck and to close the deal for the actual purchase of the truck. The contract was awarded to the General Fire Truck Co., of St. Louis, after a thorough investigation of all of the bids submitted.

The truck is known as the "Monarch" model and develops 30 horse-power. It has a speed of 60 miles on the open road. A detailed description of the truck will be given at a later date when an actual picture of the new truck will be printed.

Delivery is to be made in 90 days at which time the State Board of Underwriters will conduct a test for efficiency and the local trustees reserve the right to conduct a thorough test of their own before accepting the truck.

The News-Sentinel, Monday, January 20, 1930

Fire Truck in Ditch The Culver fire truck ended in the ditch while answering a silent call Sunday afternoon to Ober. The truck was on State Road 10 west of town when the front wheels hit the soft berm. The truck was to heavy to bring back on to the gravel road and ploughed on into the ditch. The soft ground and heavy truck made it a long and difficult job getting the vehicle back on solid ground . Which was not accomplished until late afternoon.

Word was sent to the fire of the mishap. The house at Ober was destroyed by the flames

Culver Citizen
July 2, 1930
Fire Company Called to Maxinkuckee This Morning
The Culver Fire department was called to the Verle Rhoades property at Maxinkuckee at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday when a hen house and an adjacent building caught on fire. The cause was unknown and the structures were completely destroyed. However, the damage was believed to be small. The run was made in fourteen minutes after the call was received. The department centered its attention on saving other buildings. From the din raised by the siren on the truck the community for a five mile radius was able to follow the route fo [of] the truck, though it is not believed probable that the traffic was so heavy to warrant the continual use of the strong siren.

Mrs. Burns;

I thank you for your letter written to me just before Christmas - hence my delay in answering.

I remember Dave will and always enjoyed talking with him about "old times". He was a master craftsman and the Academy is indebted to him for the splendid workmanship he preformed on the CMA campus.

I wish. I could help you more on the questions you asked about the Culver Fire Department:

• 1. I don't know why the badges were presented to members of the Department or when the occasion was!
• 2. Mrs. E. R. Culver was my aunt and lived at Culver many years first in what was later the superintendent's house 1912-1915 (just torn down) and leter in the "Farm House" on the East side until 1930 when her husband E. R. Culver died.
• 3. I can't recall Mrs. E. R. Culver's maiden name but her first name was Alice.
• 4. E. R. stands for Edward Raymond.
  

The above brings back many fond memories to me and I only wish I could be more helpful.

Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
(hand signed - B. B. Culver Jr.)

The notations on the map were:
S.W. & W. prevailings winds.
Paving: all streets paved or improved. Grades: Level.

Water facilities: Muniocipally owned. Source from 2 deep wells, 14" diameter and average depth 108'. Direct and gravity pressure system. One 60,000 gallon gravity tank, elevated 100' feet abouver ground on steel tower. 1 Worthington centrifugal pump, capacity 450 gallons per mintue, gasoline engine driven. 1 Worthington centrifugal pump, capacity 350 gallons per minute, oil engine driven. About 5 1/2 miles of 2" to 8" water pipes. 38 doundle and triple hrdrants. Average daily consumption about 50,000 gallons. DOmestic pressue 42 lbs. Fire pressure 100 lbs.

Fire Department 1 chief, 1 assitant chief, and 10 men. 1 station. 1 Diamond "T" truck, General-St. Louis equipment, 500 gallon per minute pump with one 100 gallon booster tank, 1,000' 2" hose, 300' jhose and 150' 1" hose. 1 Ford truck, Genral-Detriot equipment, 350 gallons per minute pump with one 200 gallon booster tank, 800' feet 2" hose, 200' 1" hose and 300' 1" hose. Fire alarm by telephone and electric siren. Fire-resisitive roofing ordinance. Ordinance prohibits wooden shingle roofs within Corporate limits, adopted 1926.

In early 1937 a film was made of Culver and its people. After its showing it became the property of the fire department. A copy of this film may still exist if someone can find it.

Since its establishment more than 45 years ago, eleven local citizens have served as fire chief of the Culver Volunteer Fire Department. Dave Burns heands an efficient organization of men who now work with modern equipment in combatting and protecting the community from fires.

Its a long cry from the modern equipment of the present day back to January 24, 1903 when thirteen men petitioned the town board to organize a volunteer fire company. The petition reads: This is to certify that on January 22, 1903 a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a Volunteer Fire Company for the City.

The project of the meeting was fully carried out and the company was organized with a charter membership of twelve members. These members with the officers are: T. Saine, Chief; Arthur Morris, Assistant Chief; J. R. Saine, Secretary; Thomas SLattery, Treasurer; Ora Byrd, Edward Zechiel, Charles Medbourn, Fred Cook, AL Mawhorter, Walter Byrd, William Cook, Monton Foss and G. W. Smith.

At the time of the organization an invoice was made of the fire fighting apparatus wuch reaveals that the equipment included: two extinguishers, 22 rubber buckets and the inventory points out that one of these was not good, 13 cans of chemicals, and one very heavy extension ladder."

The new fire chief requested two sets of ladders, two ladders with hooks, one cart for ladders, one fire hook with chain, two keys for church, one-half inch rope for extra tapper on bell (we presume for chruch_, one pick axe, and more rubber buckets.

AN appendix indicated the town council received the report favorably increasing the number of buckets by four, and purchasing twp axes. They went on record as saying that the would look the matter up and buy where they could get the materials the cheapest.

The fire chiefs following Mr. Saine are as follows: O. Gandy, A. Roberts, C. C. Waite, Fred Cook, Roy Swigart, A. M. Fisburn, A. Cromley, Wayne Von Ehr, Carry Cummins and Dave Burns.

The Culver-Union Township Fire Department has an illustrious record extending back more than 77 years. In pioneer days, at least until the mid 1890's, the prevention, and fighting of area fires was largely carried out by a neighborhood bucket brigade. Records indicate that in the late 1890's a self-designated group was recognized for their volunteer fire fighting efforts.

On January 24, 1903, a petition carrying names of 13 men was presented to the Town Board requesting approval of and sanction for organizing a Volunteer Fire Company. The 13 petitioners, all charter members of the Community Volunteer Fire Co., included: T. Saine, chief; Arthur Morris, assistant ' chief; J.R. Saine, secretary; Thomas Slattery, treasurer; Ora Byrd„ Edward Zechiel, Charles Medbourn, Fred Cook, A1 Mawhorter, Walter Byrd, William Cook, Mont Foss, and G.W. Smith.

An inventory of original fire equipment reveals "2 extinguishers, 22 rubber buckets (one reported to be no good), 13 cans of chemical, and one very heavy ladder. "

The Town Board was asked to consider the Fire Company's request for "two sets of ladders, two ladders with hooks, one cart for ladders, one fire hook with chain, two keys for church, one half-inch rope for extra tapper on (church) bell, one pick­axe, and more rubber buckets." An ap­pendix shows the Board "received the report favorably, increasing the number of buckets by four, purchase of two axes."

In nearly 80 years the Volunteer Fire Company has involved the services of more than 120 men with little turnover of personnel. Since 1903, 12 men have served as Fire Chief; T Saine, O. Gandy, Al Roberts, C.C. Waite, Fred Cook, Roy Swigart, A.M. Fishburn, A. Cromley, Wayne Von Ehr Cary Cummins, Dave Burns, and Don Overmyer.

Today Don Overrnyer, a 29-year veteran, heads the Fire Department, comprised of 16 men, including Alvin Triplet, assistant chief; Don Mikesell secretary-treaserer Bill Wagner, captain; Don Stubbs Leon Bennett, Lance Overmyer Bob Curtis, Bill Martin, Ray Houghton, Mike Bennett. Jim Grover, Dick Shoddy, Jim Dickey, Bill Snyder and Glen Whitmarsh. Volunteer dispatchers are Erma Weirick and Darlene Smith.

Meetings are held twice each month. Equipment checks and involvement in training are among the regularly scheduled firemen activities. Equipment today is a far cry from the original 1903 requests.

An abbreviated inventory shows today a broad range of fire fighting equipment, including 3 John Bean trucks with equipment; 1 GMC grass truck with Hale Pump; 1 emergency van with portable power; 1-1,100 gallon tank truck; resusitators; asbestos suits, portable light plant, smoke ejector, communications system, first aid equipment, etc.

In 1903 some time before a central town water system, water buckets were essential. In earlier times equipment was housed in the former Town Hall. Today the Fire Department is housed in the former IH building, Lake Shore Dr., at State St.

Through the years the Volunteer Firemen have been called upon to fight fires ranging from grass fires to major building fires; from life saving or rescue efforts and accidents to assisting with community activities. Fire Chief Overmyer says that the number of calls has increased measurably in the past 20 years.

Since establishment, the Fire Department has rendered yeoman service to the community-area. Whether it has been the burning of the CMA Riding Hall in 1916; or the Academy Boat House, The Beach Lodge, retrieving bodies from the Lake in the 1930's; or the fire-rescue efforts of the '40's; or the tragic Hibbard home fire, the St. Mary's Catholic Church fire, or the rescue efforts at Miller's in the '50's; or the Grace Church fire in the '60's; or the more recent fire fighting efforts,- the CMA-Gym, Morrison fire. Bowling Alley­Restaurant, or the Elevator fire of the '70's, the Culver-Union Volunteer Fire Co., has had a vital role in area urgencies.

And along the way they have reciprocally lent a hand to neighboring communities. It's a record in which the community takes pride.

Pictured left to right are: Dave Cooper, Bobby Cooper Jr.; Jim Bonine, Jim Grover, Lance Overmyer (fire Chief), Ralph Winters (town board me member), Glen Whitmarsh, Ed Pinder Sr. (town board member), Jerry Siler, Mike Grover (Assistant Fire Chief), Tim Mc Carthy, Mark Rogers, Dave Allen and Pete Peterson (Secretary-Treasurer).