| Jefferson City
was founded on February 7th, 1901 when the communities of Mossy Creek and Carsonville
incorporated. The Jefferson City Fire Department was established 8 years
later. Details about the early years of the department have proved difficult to
discover. Like many other fire departments of the time, it was made up of
volunteers. In later years, a siren mounted in the bell tower of the City Hall would
alert the firefighters of a fire. In going over old fire records, it was found that
fires caused by coal, wood, and oil buring stoves or furnaces were very common. It
was surely rough going fighting these fires with the primitive tools and equipment these
men had available to them. Jefferson City's earliest known mechanized fire apparatus
was a 1927 Buick automobile that had been converted to a fire engine, complete with
ladders strapped to the side. With the help of local businesses, the fire department
was able to buy its first real fire engine, a Ford/American LaFrance, in 1937.
Designated Engine 1, it was purchased new and is still with us today. Although much
is not known about the very early years of the department, careful documentation has been
kept through the 30's until present day. With this information and the stories I
hope to glean from our senior citizens, I will attempt compile a complete history of our
department. Any information concerning the Jefferson City Fire Department's history
will be greatly appreciated. Email me at: webmaster@jeffersoncityfire.com |
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A Jefferson City firefighter's badge
from the 1940's. These were the first hasp-back pins issued to Jefferson City
firefighters to be worn on a uniform.
Courtesy of Deputy Chief Britt Farrar |
This wallet badge
belonged to Roy E. Farrar, who started with the Jefferson City Fire Department during the
1920's.
Courtesy of Deputy Chief Britt Farrar |
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Jefferson City Firefighters pictured
with Engine 1, sometime during the late 1930's or early 1940's. Exact date of photo
is unknown. Photo was taken outside of the old city hall building on South Branner
Avenue. |
1927 Buick road car
converted to a fire truck.
This was the first known fire engine used by the Jefferson City Fire Department. Photo was
taken outside the old city hall building, prior to the construction of the fire station. |
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Jefferson City Firefighters pose with
Engine 1. Photo was taken sometime in the 1940's. Location of photo is
unknown. |
Photo of Engine 1,
shortly after it's arrival in Jefferson City.
The large brass bell that is now on the front of Engine 1 was donated by the Southern
Railway in 1953. It is believed to have come from a retired locomotive. |
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Jefferson City Firefighters with
Engine 4 in an early
80's photo. |
Engine 1 pays a
visit to the old Jefferson City
fire station, located on Branner Avenue, in the
downtown area. |
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