‘Rogers Hose Company’ Predated RFD
by Bille Jines

One hundred years ago, when Rogers residents organized the town’s first fire department, the town was only seven and a half years old.


The mists of time do not allow a clearly focused picture of Rogers in 1888, and only three issues of a local paper have survived that decade for public reference. Some things, though, are known from other records. D. A. Oakley was postmaster, but the post office kept moving from space in one building to a spot in some other. In October 1888, Rogers held its first county fair near Oak and First Streets (the latter then known as Douglas). Hitching racks for the teams of wagons and buggies bringing farmers into town not only occupied Frisco right-of-way, but even areas in downtown Walnut Street where business buildings now stand. The families ate their lunches beneath trees growing there. What today is known as Frisco Park then was a tie yard, with hundreds of carloads of tie timber stocked there. Streets were unpaved, and board walks kept the ladies’ long skirts out of the mud. The bank was heated with wood, and it would be seven more years before electric lights would make their debut in Rogers, in 1895.

Water, though, was the commodity needed to fight fires. In 1888, a group of businessmen headed by J. A. C. Blackburn conceived the idea of organizing a company to lay water pipes and distribute water from Diamond Spring. The company erected an elevated brick water storage tower not far from the intersection of East Walnut and Spring Streets. That reservoir continued in use until 1900, when it was replaced by a 100,000-gallon capacity elevated steel tank that stood near the old brick one.

It is known that the first water system included at least some fire hydrants, for the first notation in the minutes of the fire department organized in 1888 reported that W. H. Dyer and C. H. McCubbins were appointed as hydrantmen.

Those carefully kept minutes of the Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 begin on November 22, 1888, when the first volunteers showed up to form the fire department. An election at the meeting saw the following also named as officers: T. R. Price, foreman; Q. M. Bixler, secretary; Mr. Bryant, treasurer; T. C. Rearick, steward; W. S. Milligan and George Smith, pipemen; F. M. Smith and J. C. Pinkerton, policemen; and John H. Rebholz, chief. The foreman henceforth was always the officer in charge of meetings.

Other names mentioned within the first two or three meetings included R. Yount, R. L. Linesay or Livesay, Chas. W. Bacon, A. S. Cameron, A. B. Head, H. H. Miller, W. C. Chenoweth, and E. D. Dryden.

The secretary was to report the meeting to the local press, the firemen were to meet the next Tuesday afternoon for a run, and George Smith, Nelson and Dyer were appointed to procure a meeting place.

At the next meeting, on December 13, Chief Rebholz, Bixler and Miller were appointed to draft a constitution and bylaws. That committee reported back six days later, their report was accepted, and the constitution and bylaws were read by article and section and adopted.

That business attended to, the firemen went on to start planning on a firemen’s ball to be held. Committees were appointed for the invitations, music, reception, and floor management and arrangements. It was to be a New year’s Eve Ball, and was to be preceded by a parade at 2 p. m. A committee was assigned to polish the hand-drawn hose cart. The members then signed the constitution. The January 3, minutes reported thus:

"On December 31st, 1888, Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 participated in their first annual parade, which was well-attended by the members of the City Council and Rogers Band was in attendance. The parade was pronounced by all a success… The Fireman’s Ball given by this company on New Year’s Eve was a beautiful success in every particular. Committee on Ball invitation made the report of $69.85 taken in and a total expense of $18.50, leaving the net proceeds $51.35."

The minutes also note that it was "moved that the names of those who have refused to sign the constitution be dropped from the roll. Motion prevailed and so ordered"

Both of these items on the agenda were precursors of things to come. Reading the minutes for the Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 (RHC) for the next 10 years shows that the firemen loved putting on balls, parades and other festivities, and they also were sticklers for expecting perfect attendance at the meetings, drills or other assignments. Many a fireman during that time was fined 25 cents per meeting for those at which he was absent, and in addition, many a fireman was taken off the membership roll if he got behind with his fine payments or if he missed a given number of meetings, drills, or other responsibilities.

A fire bell became a wish of the firemen, and Miller, Dyer and Rebholz were to research that probability. On January 10, 1889, they reported that the Buckeye Foundry had agreed to furnish such a bell for 21 ¾-cents a pound with 50 percent discount on the bell hanging. The bell had arrived by February 7. Meanwhile, there was a fire on January 3, and some of the firemen did not show up. They were excused from paying their fines, however, because there was no fire alarm.

While awaiting the bell, the firemen had decided to divide the city into four firewards as follows: center of fire District corner of Walnut and Douglas (First) Streets; first ward from Douglas Street west and Walnut Street north; second ward from Douglas Street west and Walnut Street south; third ward from Douglas Street east and Walnut Street south; and fourth ward, from Douglas Street east and Walnut Street north.

Now to work out a code of fire signals: "Rapid ringing of Bell, Fire. One tap for first ward, two taps for second ward, three taps for third ward; four taps for fourth ward, one tap, rest, and one tap and repeat, for practice or meeting.

The February 19, 1889, minutes reported that G. P. Woodruff, a member, was sick and needed watchers from the roll. Four watchers were appointed to watch as their turns came until no longer needed. At a March meeting, three of the four were "excused for failing to watch with G. P. Woodruff. (Another) was found absent two meetings and gave no excuse, fined 50 cents, and $1 for neglecting to watch George Woodruff when called upon, gave no excuse."

The firemen began setting schedules for practice and drills, sometimes weekly, other times twice a month, and in some winters, disbanding them.

At the February 22, 1889, meeting the secretary noted that "Company met and in connection with the city officers and city schools participation in a grand parade and dedicating the Hose house. The City Mayor J. B. Steele made the dedicating speech and the boys indulged in throwing water to their satisfaction and everyone else, considering the inclemency of the weather, the parade was a success, the schools turning out about 300 strong…"

By August, the firemen were talking uniforms and everyone was measured for his. At times after the uniforms were available, firemen were ordered to wear theirs to meetings, and at another time, hooks were purchased for each to hang his uniform on in the firehouse. Each uniform had a number to correspond with the number a fireman had on the roll. Mrs. Frank Newsham volunteered the numbering on the uniforms.

Some minutes reported that the RHC had asked the City Council to recommend someone as chief. This appeared now and then without any report on the results until some years later.

The minutes included a motion that they work up an initiation ritual, then a need to investigate the probable cost of running harness, and on one occasion, that they select two or three light ladders from the council. In 1890, there was a motion to look into the cost of drill tactics, running harness and buckets, ladders, pants and practice nozzle. In November, a list of needs was presented to include a dozen rubber buckets, two lanterns, a half-dozen spanners, set of running harness, three ladders, 24 pairs of pants, frame for draining hose, one light practice nozzle and one service nozzle.

For some reason, the firemen needed a room to rent for use of the RHC, and they found one over Applegate’s Drug Store for $2 a month. Then they needed things for the room. The firemen had another ball at Christmastime, and netted a profit. They purchased 15 chairs for $7, a lamp for $2, a table for $3, a broom for 30 cents, and a stove for $3. They drafted a warrant for $15.30 to pay for these, and composed a card of thanks to "the ladies who so ably assisted in the supper, also the citizens for their assistance."

Sometimes, the minutes discussed tournaments to be held with other firemen at Fort Smith or Springfield, and sometimes there was correspondence with the state fire association as plans were made to join that organization.

Apparently there was a drought in Rogers in 1892. The September minutes mentioned that Miller reported and turned over to the treasurer $10.25-$8.25 for sprinkling streets August 6 and $2 for filling D. A. Oakley’s cistern. It was agreed to pay each fireman who helped sprinkle the streets 25 cents an hour.

In April, 1893, the RHC voted to publish a card of thanks to the city council "for building our room." At the same time, they again asked the council to appoint a suitable chief of the department, whom a committee of firemen was to recommend.

The May 9 minutes included this: "Met at home room at 9 a. m. for the purpose of attending the funeral and burial of A. B. Wilkerson. Accompanied the remains from the depot to the residence of D. A. Oakley. Returned to hose house. Adjourned to meet at 2:30 p. m., next marched to Oakley’s, accompanied remains to M. E. Church South where the funeral services were held after which the remains were interred in the city cemetery after which the company returned to hose room. One motion, a committee consisting of Horton Miller, Head and Vandover was appointed to draft a resolution of respect to their deceased member."

July 13, 1893, the entry said it was agreed that the bell should not be rung any more for meetings or practice "on account of the membership being so small." The firemen also heard a motion that was not acted on to cease fining members for absenteeism. By September, it was agreed to notify all absentees that if there was not a quorum present at the next meeting, that a motion would be in order to disband the company. Things picked up at the next meting, and by December, the firemen again were planning their holiday Grand Ball and Supper, this time to celebrate their fifth anniversary at Blackburn Hall, which was indicated in parenthesis to be Opera Hall.

At the January 4, 1894, meeting, the members agreed to confer with J. A. C. Blackburn to ascertain as to whether he would accept the appointment as chief of the company. He agreed.

The November 19, 1896, Rogers Democrat carried a city directory, and it included this: "J. A. C. Blackburn, Chief. Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 meets first Thursday in each month at City Hall. C. A. Miller, foreman; G. F. Smith, asst. foreman; Hugh Puckett, secretary; Oscar Oakley, treasurer."

Blackburn, as well as many others who served the Rogers Fire Department through the years as volunteers, was a prominent businessman, War Eagle miller, state senator and confederate veteran. He had acquired the Van Winkle milling interests, including 17, 000 acres of pine timber land in 1884, and lived at the mill site until 1890, when he moved to Rogers to conduct a lumber business. Earlier he had built and operated the water power grist mill which stood on the east side of the bridge at War Eagle, as well as the large, two-story store and several residences. In Rogers, he took an active interest in the upbuilding of the city of Rogers, and operated in addition to his lumber business, a tannery, the water works, flour mills, fair associations and other enterprises. Elected state senator in 1895, he served four years. The home that once was his at 220 N. Fourth Street was on the Rogers Historic Homes Tour in 1987.

A complete list of fire chiefs for Rogers is not compiled, but it is known that others in those early years included J. W. Frey, 1898; W. D. Baker, 1892; and John H. Rebholz, 1897.

More than a year after Blackburn was named fire chief, the RHC voted to get him a badge or sash "price not to exceed $5," to be presented with a speech. This was done, and the next meeting, May 2, 1895, the RHC minutes included this: "…after making the correction in speaking of J. A. C. Blackburn as our chief instead of state senator…" The purchase price of the bell had been $2.35.

On July 11, 1895, the following officers were elected: foreman C. A. Miller; asst. foreman G. F. Smith; treasurer E. A. Pollack; secretary A. L. Cadman; steward Jim Herron; standing committee Perry Martin, Forest King, J. L. Edrington, J. M. Derreberry and Hugh Puckett; pipemen, G. F. Smith, first; and W. H. Vandever, second; policemen, Puckett and Derreberry; and hydrantmen, J. F. Miller and Forest King.

The firemen were meticulous about voting for every purchase, from a cash book on to a desk or a light for the front of the building. They kept a close eye, too, on the bonds for the officers handling the funds.

November 5, 1895, the company again prepared to make arrangements for their annual firemen’s ball, that one to be a "Masque Ball." They lost money on that one, the receipts of which were $38, while expenses had totaled $41.60. They took the other $3.60 out of the treasury.

The group began fretting about presenting seven-year certificates to those who had served as long as the company was old. Secretary Cadman was to consult the city attorney to learn what was required, and Foreman Miller was to consult the city council about agreeing to exempt the seven-year members "from all city duties." Finally, on June 4, 1896, the minutes noted that the secretary was instructed to properly fill out, sign and present to town officials for their signatures, certificates of seven years service in the Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 and present them to W. H. Vandever and G. F. Smith "with seal of this co. and Town of Rogers thereon."

There was a problem, though, the RHC did not own a seal, so at the same meeting, a committee was appointed to purchase such a seal.

The April before, the RHC agreed that after April 2, 1896, "any member who is guilty of smoking in meeting room and spitting on floor may be fined 10 cents whether meeting is in session or not." Things went along unpolluted in the meeting room for over a year, then on July 1, 1897, one member was fined 10 cents for smoking and another 10 cents for chewing tobacco in the meeting house.

Meanwhile, electricity had come to Rogers, and the firemen dreamed of getting an electric alarm to be erected in the town of Rogers for the benefit of Rogers business interests and the convenience of RHC No. 1. Alas, though, the July 2, 1896, minutes showed that the committee appointed to research that matter had found that such a system would cost about $100. "The effort dropped for the time being," the minutes said.

The firemen decided that for their annual festivities in 1896, they would have a "Calico Ball." A committee was to make arrangements with Harry Morgan to furnish oysters at 20 cents a dish." The firemen made a net profit of $10.75 on that annual event.

On the Fourth of July, 1897, the firemen formed a parade from town "to the picnic grounds." Another ball was being discussed for late 1897, and apparently was held. The minutes for 1898, marking 10 years of the Rogers Hose Co. No. 1, ended on March 3, 1898, before that year’s firemen’s ball would have been in the planning started.

In addition to any profits netted from the annual ball, the RHC seemed to provide most of their own operating funds through $1 initiation fees and fines for absenteeism. The last page of the 1898, minutes carried a detail of all receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year just ended.

The balance of this story is based chiefly on the history of the Rogers Fire Department as it has been researched and published by other reports.

There was one year, from October 1, 1902, to October 1, 1903, when the fire alarm was sounded but once. That was a summons to a flue fire, which firemen were able to extinguish without the necessity of connecting the hose.

Throughout the 34-year history of Rogers Hose Co. No. 1 until it was formally reorganized in 1922 to become the Rogers Fire Department as an integral part of city government, it was made up entirely of volunteers.

The first fire chief named after the reorganization in 1922 was Dr. George M. Love. He maintained an interest in fire fighting until his death in 1953 and remained the chief, although an acting chief, Frank "Jake" Jacobs, was appointed to serve during Dr. Love’s final illness. Jacobs succeed Love as chief, and he, too, served long and well.

A long-time Rogers physician, Dr. Love was connected with Rogers’ first hospital. A 1918-19, city directory said this of the hospital: "Dr. Love’s Sanitarium, Established in 1909, a home-like place for the sick, convalescent, obstetrical, and surgical." That hospital and the present St. Mary’s – Rogers Memorial Hospital were not connected. In 1950 when St. Mary’s opened as Rogers Memorial Hospital, the old hospital on East Spruce was transformed into Wilmoth Convalescent Home. Many present-day Rogers residents were born in the institution known as "the old hospital".

Chief Jacobs joined the department in 1923 as a truck driver, and became chief 30 years later. His years of service and "the rest of the story" regarding modern history of what has been rated one of the finest fire departments in Arkansas is left for another story to be carried elsewhere in this special edition saluting the Rogers Fire Department on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.



Rogers Devastated by Early Day Blaze

(Editor’s note: Firefighters were unaware of the downtown fire reported in the following story which appeared in the Diamond Jubilee edition of the Rogers Daily News, published in 1956. Note the reference to "Walnut Street between Elm and Poplar." Officials believe that reference is probably correct, although it does not accurately reflect the current downtown layout. They have found many references to streets for which they have no record and believe that names were changed at some point.)

As is the case of most cities when the population and town begins to outgrow its water system and its fire fighting equipment, Rogers once suffered a disastrous fire.
The big fire in Rogers broke out early in the afternoon of September 3, 1909, and when the flames were finally halted and the loss was counted, seven buildings lay crumpled in ruins and an estimated damage of over $7,500 had been done.
The flames rushed down the east of Walnut Street between Elm and Poplar, and many of the buildings destroyed dated to the early days of Rogers.
According to old-timers who remember the blaze, there was little or no chance to save the destroyed building and the seven volunteer firemen spent their efforts to protect warehouses across the street from the flames. It is remembered that temperatures were over 100 degrees during the day of the fire as the city was suffering from an early fall heat wave.
City firemen battled the blaze for about six hours, according to reports from those living here at the time. Their equipment was inadequate but they used every means at heir hand to keep the fire under control. Some of the people present even remember buckets being used to get water to the blaze.
Following the blaze it was noted that additions were made to the fire fighting equipment in use in the town.
Property damaged or ruined by the disastrous fire included: The Ozark Hotel, which was a two-story frame building. At the time of the fire the building was owned by John Miller and occupied by Mr. And Mrs. Maurice Stroud. Estimated loss to the hotel was $2,500.
The H. P. Hansen residence was destroyed in the fire as well as all the household goods of the family.
The J. G. Steinhelber second-hand clothing store burned. The building was a small frame structure and loss was estimated over $500.
The John Plyer grocery building, owned by John Gardiner, was burned with an estimated loss of over $1,000.
The Kentucky House, a two-story frame structure owned by Mrs. L. C. Howard was destroyed and the loss was estimated in excess of $1,500.
The Wagonyard, owned by Mrs. Warren Kellog, was burned. The structure was occupied by the J. W. Brammer junk shop and the loss was estimated at around $500.
Also burned was a residence owned by W. H. Mullins and occupied by Tom Horan. Loss to the house was estimated at 1,500.

Modern Day Blazes No Less Disastrous

(Editor’s note: The following story appeared in the July 2, 1978, edition, of the Morning News and recounts a fire which destroyed a portion of downtown Rogers.)
Suddenly, it was like night on Walnut Street. The smoke blown over from the fire by a light southerly breeze filled the area between the buildings and no light from the setting sun could penetrate through the haze.
In the darkness, the curious milled, concerned for the buildings that had stood for so long on the corner of the block on First and Walnut in the downtown area.
Some paid no attention to the ropes stretched from light post to parking meter and meandered down the smoky street. Their eyes stung for their trouble, and their throats itched from fumes from an unknown source. Most, though, hung back, frightened but curious.
The firemen, some strangers to the area, worked on through the smoke. As the evening drew on, the fumes became too much for some. As the evening drew on, the fumes became too much for some. They sat on the curbs across the street from the endangered structures, swathing their faces and necks with towels soaked in buckets of ice water. Some were ill from the effects of inhaling the inky smoke. Some were overheated in their heavy protective coats and lay on the sidewalk shivering. All were tired.
The policemen, for the most part, were away from the crowded block. They stood at corners and intersection, pointing people away from the areas where congestion or danger lay. They did their best to prevent bottlenecks and to keep lanes clear for the ambulance that might go by at any minute. They answered questions as best they could.
The curious ones hung on into the darkness, most crowding into the small park between the railroad tracks and First Street. For the most part, they remained quiet, almost solemn. Some were worried about the Historical Museum, "their museum," which was too close to the flames to disregard.
The children, out of school and eager for the Fourth of July, watched with wide eyes and open mouths as the flames finally engulfed the roof of one of the buildings, shooting up into the air like too-large Roman candles. The littlest ones whimpered and squirmed as the heat on First Street climbed past the nearly 100-degree point reached that afternoon.
The older children gasped when the Snorkel from Springdale, like a giant claw, swung across the flames, shooting a jet of water into the inferno. This wasn’t television or movies. This was real, in their town and just across the street. The tragedy didn’t escape them.
The owners and managers of the downtown businesses stood quietly. They grieved for the businesses they lost and feared for the businesses that stood near the flames.
The crowd gradually thinned out. The women who handed out soft drinks, coffee, water, and food to the firefighters and policemen remained, watching as those they loved walked close to flickering red windows and timbers which crackled when they hit the ground. The children, too tired to watch any longer, slept in back seats. Finally, one by one, the red places inside the buildings went dark. The flames sputtered in the constant drenching from the fire hoses and died. The smoke was pushed out of the streets and on out into the farm country. The fighters, knowing they had won, trudged to waiting cars and trucks and families. The citizens who stayed on shook a few hands and leaned on a few shoulders.
The day after, a few curious ones left drove by and peered through rubble and boarded-up windows. A lone policeman stood at the corner to keep the curious ones from getting too close and the dishonest ones from taking something that didn’t belong to them.
The damage is still being surveyed, and a monetary estimate is not yet available. Some people grumbled, wondering why there was no such thing as an estimate of what was saved with what was lost.
The woman who was helped along the street while in tears asked her companions, "Why? After we had worked so hard." There was no one to answer her. Everyone felt that they had lost something. But everyone was thankful for what had been saved.

Rogers Fire Chief Bob Whitley said that the Sears-Roebuck store and the House of Fabrics on First Street were total losses and the Bible Book Store sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage.

Other stores sustaining damage due to the heavy smoke and water were the Gift box, Tom and Jerry’s Shoes, Mode O’Day, and Hunts on Walnut. Townzen’s Barber Shop had smoke and water damage on First Street.
As the fire blazed up about 8 p.m. city officials began to express concern over the fate of the Rogers Historical Museum on First Street. The museum, which shares a common wall with the Bible Book Store, suffered only minor water damage, but records and artifacts were removed by city officials and firemen for safe-keeping.
Fire Department officials said the fire began about 6:45 p.m., when a tar pot used in roofing the Sears building ignited. "They had some kind of leak in the fuel system (of the tar pot) and it got on fire under the fuel tank and the fuel tank exploded. It immediately spread to the nearby buildings," Whitley said.
The fire spread into the Sears and House of Fabrics buildings soon after ignition. Columns of smoke rose several hundred feet into the air and flames could be spotted several miles away.