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Families:
History:
Rev 0608 |
1935-1941
A committee appointed at the 1935 Fire Chief's Convention, working with the Secretary of the Fireman's Association, defined what basis compensation would be available to volunteer and call firemen of Ohio if they were killed or injured while on fire duty. Apr. 10, 1935 Still
70 Mary Ave. - bird in tree
The firemen were sometimes called when women were locked out of their homes, or when kids were locked in a room. In October, 1935 a memo was distributed by the Ohio Inspectors Bureau explaining electrical conductivity of fire streams, a subject that had been interpreted differently by firemen on the line and the electrical industry. Also mentioned was electrical hazards of trolly wires and the danger of looking directly at the arc, and a reminder that, though neon signs were low voltage, a shock would be like a "spark-plug sting", strong enough to knock a fireman off a ladder. A list of the running order of first alarms was issued in November. Wagon #8 and Truck #14 were called first when alarms were issued from boxes 2257 to 2297, and 2353 to 2398; Wagons #9, #4 and #14 and Truck #14 were called first when alarms were issued from boxes 7127 to 7518. January 25, 1936 must have been unusually cold; there were three calls to homes where fires were started while trying to thaw the pipes out with a torch or paper. From May, 1936 through early 1937 most of the still and box alarms have an "s" designation. Feb. 6, 1936 Box
6326 and Still 1209-12-19 Oakridge, 3-3 alarm, factory,
8:51 pm-12:12 am Several listings in Tony's journal prove that boys have been fascinated with matches for a long time.
May 19, 1937 Still
2140 N. Main St. - friction from broom set fire to gasoline
On July 17 Tony worked for fireman
Blum. Truck Co. #14 answered 3 calls to fires started by lightning strikes
on August 7. At the December 11 alarm, Tony injured his back and was off
for 25 days.
Apr. 9, 1938
Box 1667 Mead St., Kuntz & Johnson, 3rd alarm responded
to by #3, 1:04 am-6:18 pm
In April, 1938, Tony filled in
for a couple of days at #3 and #2. He left for vacation to Houghton Lake,
Michigan in June. During the summer of 1938 and 1939 #14 responded to 2
calls where drownings had occurred. Tony was an excellent swimmer and participated
in this kind of recovery.
Jan. 9, 1939
Box 1612 22 N. Main St, 3rd alarm of 3-alarm fire
of unknown cause, 7:56 pm-9:08 pm
On June 22, in answer to a still
alarm, they spent all evening removing trees from several streets. Tony
went on vacation to Houghton Lake, Manisette, Travis City and Bear Lake,
Michigan in July. On September 2, while en route to a still alarm sounded at Brant
and Bickmore, the brakes on the rear wheel locked and the unit was unable
to respond. Tony went off-duty with a service injury on October 5, then
returned to light duty with New Engine House #26 on December 21st. He returned
to regular duty at #14 at Main and Forest on January 10, 1940.
McFadden was fire chief for 5 years, and left a wife, Odessa C. McFadden, and 2 adopted sons, Charles and John. In addition to membership to several fraternal organizations, McFadden had been a member of the firemen's retirement board, and at the time of his appointment as chief he was the vice-president of the Ohio Fire Fighters Association. A 31-year veteran with the
department, Joseph Kirby was a native of Dayton. He had spent his earlier
years as a railroad fireman and engineer. At the time of his promotion he was
secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Association of Fire Fighters and secretary
of the Ohio Police and Fireman's Association.
Feb. 15, 1940 Box 1251
310 E. Second St, 3-alarm fire of unknown cause, 1:26 pm-3:46 pm
In June Tony headed to Florida for vacation. He was acting lieutenant in several calls answered in July and August. Tony made notes on the operation and maintenance of the Seagrave V12 Parallel Series Pumping Engine on duty at Company #14. The U.S. President visited Dayton on October 12, 1940. Tony substituted at #4 that day. On December 19th he was transferred to #9 Engine for the afternoon. There were a total of 2610 alarms that year - 214 Wagon runs and 252 Truck runs.
In 1941 Tony was acting lieutenant
for many of the calls responded to in February. His last journal entry was on April 14,
1941, listing a response to a 3-alarm fire at 1048 N. Gettysburg Ave.
at the Kuntz & Johnson Lumbe Tony later noted that he "received a compound
fracture of the left leg just above the ankle by a wall falling down and
had no way to go. Had lockjaw 9 days after, had
106 degree fever. On July 25, 1941 was operated on same leg because it
would not knit and had high fever temperature of 105 degrees."
Other sites of interest: http://www.box21rescue.org/history.htm http://www.iaff136.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=DFD20History |
r Company.
Tony was one of
several firemen trying to pull a brick wall down, a normal practice that Chief
Kirby later defended. The brick wall buckled backward and fell on them.
In addition to Tony, firemen injured when the wall collapsed were Capt.
Charles A. Rommel, John Davis, and Al Kinder. A woman spectator was also
injured. The reddened skies had attracted several thousand spectators
and Kirby said firemen and police had a difficult time keeping onlookers
out of areas of danger and vigorously condemned the motorists who
clogged the roads and prevented the firemen from being able to get their
hose lines in in a timely manner. 4 additional firemen had slight
injuries and 13 suffered from smoke inhalation.