"Doing the best they could."
In the early 1840s, Independence was a pioneer village on the verge of becoming a
booming, wealthy outfitting and trading community. It had become the county seat in 1827. The 1830s
courthouse square was surrounded by one- and two-story wooden and brick buildings housing general
stores, traders, blacksmiths and wagon makers. There were a couple of hotels and several saloons.
Pioneers were rubbing shoulders with visionaries. The need for more churches and schools was becoming
apparent. It was becoming a town of families and merchants. As these people dug in and planted their
roots, they realized they had a real stake in the town. They realized they needed to protect themselves
from the ravages of fire and conflagration.
In 1843 Richard Ridgeway Rees, James McGill, Anthony Cosgrave, Benjamin Franklin Wallace and 36 others
petitioned the state legislature for incorporation as the "Independence Fire Company." The 12th General
Assembly approved and the volunteer fire company became incorporated by state law on February 6, 1843.
This group of civic-minded volunteers may have been highly motivated, but they were ill equipped for
their mission. They set out to do battle with fire armed only with buckets, axes and hooks.
Soon after Independence was incorporated in 1849, several large fires occurred around the public square.
In 1850 a fire ignited gunpowder stored in a warehouse on the west side of the square. The resulting
explosion and fire killed one man and threatened to consume the town. In 1852, a livery stable fire
killed one man and 26 horses.
Soon afterwards the following item appeared in the Independence Occidental Messenger: "When shall we
have our fire engine for which the legislature was so kind as to give us $1,400 to buy it with? More
than three years have elapsed since the appropriation was made, and yet no engine has been seen. There
has been shameful neglect somewhere."
By December
9, 1853, Independence had a fire engine. When the City ordinance was passed incorporating the
"Independence Fire Company" into the body politic, it also gave them possession and control of the
City fire engine, "The Independence 76," and the building which later became known as "The Engine
House."
In a few short years, the City set out to improve its fire protection by obtaining
another fire engine. This engine is discussed in an article from the Independence Examiner of July 26,
1901: "Independence has not always had a paid fire department or even a hose cart. Many now living here
remember very well when there was no water works and the fire protection consisted of a hand force pump,
commonly called a 'man killer.' There were two long arms at which a number of men could stand at either
end of the big engine and when this engine was working with a dozen strong men it would throw a large
stream of water about as far as the water works will throw it now. There were four fire cisterns; one
at each side of the public square and at the engine house was a well of living water. The latest engine
which was used until the water works was installed, cost the city $3,000 and was brought here on a
boat (1860), being hauled up from the Wayne City landing. The arrival of the new engine was a day of
celebration. The volunteer department was brass and polished wood. The old engine and the new were
tried and the new engine threw a stream of water over the top of the court house tower and the town was
considered to have a wonderful fire protection. When the hose cart and water works took the place of
the old force pump engine it was stored in a building on the market square which was burned and the old
engine destroyed."
From the time of the Civil War until the arrival of the water works in the 1880s, very little is known
of organized fire protection in Independence. It was a time of terrible destruction followed by a
determined rebuilding effort. One of the original founders, Benjamin Franklin Wallace, became mayor in
1869. It seems likely that the volunteer fire company was reorganized along with the other civic
enterprises.
The "water works" and its accompanying hydrants signaled the end of man powered pumping engines and the
beginning of the hose wagon era. The firemen no longer controlled the water pressure by using their
own pumping engine. They arrived at the scene of a fire with hoses and nozzles which they would attach
directly to the fire hydrants. Their ability to throw a stream was dependent upon the amount of water
pressure and flow available from the hydrants. This dependency upon hydrant pressure contributed
greatly to the loss of the First Christian Church on South Pleasant in October of 1918. The hose wagon
era began during the 1880s and lasted until 1928. It included man pulled, horse drawn and motorized
hose wagons. It witnessed the end of the volunteer era and the beginning of the paid department in
1894.
The first modern fire engines were a pair of 1928 American LaFrance pumpers. The steering wheel was on
the right side and chains, not driveshaft, transferred power to the rear wheels. The acquisition of
these pumpers; the reopening of Firehouse No. 2; the restoration of the second fire company which had
been out of service for eight years; and a building/fire code was in direct response to a fire
department rehabilitation program "introduced" by the Missouri Inspection Bureau.
A pair of 1949 Seagrave pumpers finally replaced the venerable 1928 American LaFrances. The City's
decision to purchase these Seagrave pumpers was precipitated by the public's call for an investigation
of the fire department following two disastrous fires on the Independence Square. The first occurred
January 20 as Harry S Truman was being sworn in as President of the United States. It caused $500,000
damage and burned out nearly an entire block of South Main Street. The second Square fire April 15
resulted in $200,000 damage. Both fires required the assistance of neighboring departments to control.
The City Council passed a resolution which stated in part..."That the fire and water committee of the
Council make a thorough investigation of the fire department as to the personnel and their
qualifications as firemen, and the equipment and its adequacy under present conditions; that the
committee report its findings and recommendations to the Council."
This investigation and another rehabilitation program initiated by the Missouri Inspection Bureau,
guided the department into the growth period of the 1950s. It began that decade with 12 firemen and
two stations protecting a population of 16,000. It found itself in the early 1960s with more than 100
firemen and eight stations protecting nearly 100,000 citizens. During the 1950s and 1960s the
department boasted that it was as well equipped and well trained as any comparable sized department in
the country. The newspaper articles of those days seem to verify this and also show that the
department had a successful public relations program.
While the 1950s and 1960s were a period of rapid expansion for the entire community, it was also a
unique time of pride and progress for the fire department. Under the caring tutelage of Mayor Robert
P. Weatherford, Jr. and veteran Fire Chief Thomas J. Pollard, it became a truly professional, dedicated
and innovative organization. The firemen rode out on a matched fleet of the latest Seagrave engines
and a Seagrave ladder truck. These rigs carried equipment that reflected the latest advances in modern
fire apparatus. The fireman were trained in the latest firefighting techniques. Class-A dress uniforms
were introduced into the department. Chiefs and firemen from other departments would often visit
Independence to inspect, to admire and to learn. The few remaining veterans of that era and their
family members recall those days with a great sense of pride.
July of 1968 brought with it a benchmark in Independence Fire Department history.
Thomas J. Pollard's career on the department reached its conclusion. He was a veteran who first began
as a horseman in 1923 and became fire chief in 1950. His career spanned 45 years. It began with him
riding on the tailboard of the first motorized fire engine and ended with him overseeing one of the
largest, most up to date fire departments in Missouri. He was representative of an era when a fire
chief was more likely to be found behind a nozzle than behind a desk. In some local circles, he had
achieved almost legendary status.
He was followed in office by Willard Swoffer whose term as fire chief lasted until 1981. During Chief
Swoffer's term major funding was acquired for the fire department. A new engine company, two truck
companies, two rescue units, and two district chiefs were created. In 1970, four new Seagrave engines
and two Snorkel trucks were integrated into the fleet. Six other engines, including a mini-pumper,
were added during his tenure. Fire Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 were replaced with new buildings.
Fire Houses No. 3 and No. 4 were enlarged and remodeled. Also, while Willard Swoffer was chief the
first women and minority members were hired by the Independence Fire Department.
Norman Birch was fire chief from 1981 until his retirement December 31, 1991. While he was chief two
new engine companies were added. Fire House No. 6 was replaced and No. 9 and No. 10 were built.
Three engines were purchased. Both rescue vehicles were replaced.
During an interim period between Chief Norman Birch and his successor, Assistant Chief Lester Merrell
was acting chief. It was during this time that it became necessary to replace both of the 1970 Snorkel
trucks.
About the Author
Retired Fire Captain Jerry L. Hall was a 23-year veteran of the Independence Fire Department. Hall, who
became a fire fighter in 1981, helped organize the Harry S Truman Independence 76 Fire Company
historical society in 1991 because he believed that learning the events of the past may help him to
understand the present and to have a positive influence on the future. He considers himself to be an
advocate of the modern fire service and a concerned citizen of his hometown, Independence, Missouri.
Fire Captain Jerry L. Hall can be e-mailed at
firecaptp7@hotmail.com.