The original 18 men of Industry Hook and Ladder.    

On February 19, 1890, at a meeting upstairs in Hardy Smith’s Store, INDUSTRY HOOK AND LADDER was organized. Initial funds raised by the Ladies Industrial Union of $175.00 for a hand drawn ladder truck which could also be hauled by a horse.  The equipment included 2 roof ladders, 6 wall ladders one extension ladder with tormentor poles, 6 axes, 2 pike poles lanterns and a dozen rubber buckets.  There was no waterworks at the time.  Water came from wells and horse troughs.

The “hook” part of hook and ladder was a hook attached to a length of rope, which was used to pull buildings down to stop the spread of a fire by creating a fire break.  Dynamite was used out West, but all it did was create a pile of kindling that continued to burn. The hook was the forerunner of today’s pike pole.     

The building used for the fire house was located on Onset Avenue, and was probably used a freight/ baggage terminal for the street railway before becoming a fire house.  It had a meeting hall on the second floor where the SPIRITUALISTS held séances.  It was moved to East Central Avenue in 1895, after the District was formed.