1911-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Rule 7. All members must leave the Engine House at 10 o'clock each evening. Members rooming in the House cannot have com- pany after that hour. Rule 8. If a man resigns or is dismissed from the department the Board of Engineers will appoint a man to fill the vacancy. Rule 9. The driver is held responsible for the strict enforcement of these rules. From the time the rules were posted, up to the present day we have had no trouble at the Centre Engine House. The men of both companies accepted the rules as a step toward increased efficiency in the Department, and have shown by their conduct and their attendance at fires and meetings, that they have the interests of the Fire Department at heart. When the rules were posted at East Lexington they were called a disgrace to the Engine House, and were deliberately broken, not only by members of the fire department but also by some citizens. These citizens had used the Engine House as a loafing place, and as the ten o'clock closing rules interfered with their pleasure, they were instrumental in stirring up discontent among the members. The engineers did all in their power to show that they were simply work- ing for what they considered was for the best interest of the depart- ment, but things got so bad that after a four months' trial it was necessary to take some action. Four men were discharged, two for refusing to obey orders and two because the engineers con- sidered them disturbers in the department and for various other reasons. A petition was sent to the Board of Selectmen calling for a public hearing to find out why these men were discharged. The Select- men, without considering the merits of the case, granted the petition and a public hearing was called. The Board of Engineers, knowing that they were in the right, refused to answer any questions and the hearing was closed. 133 Since the new men have been appointed at East Lexington the department has been running very smoothly. The way the men respond to fires, the work they do at fires, and the efficient way in which fires are handled, are the best answers that we can make to our critics. AUTOMOBILE APPARATUS The committee in charge of purchasing new fire apparatus have bought an American La France automobile, two tank chemical and hose wagon, which is expected to arrive at Lexington Jan. 8, 1912. We wish to congratulate the committee on their selection of this machine, as we consider the American La France machine to be the best piece of fire apparatus on the market. When this auto is turned over to the fire department it means the employment of another permanent man. We have been fortu- nate enough to secure the services of Mr. S. A. Cook to operate this machine. Mr. Cook is an old fireman, an expert chauffeur, and having had two weeks' experience in the American La France factory at Elmira, New York, should be in every way qualified to give complete satisfaction. ENGINE HOUSE The Engine House at the Centre is still in the hands of mechanics. It will not be completed until February. The land owned by the town upon which this building is placed is not large enough to meet the needs of the department. For some years we have been using land owned by Mr. Boutelle, and we shall be obliged to continue to use it. At the present time the fire apparatus is housed in the Boutelle stable just across the street from the fire station. These temporary quarters are answering the purpose very well, but it has cost the town considerable money to fit them up and maintain them. 134