Seneca Volunteer Fire Department
Near where City Hall is today. picture likely before 1900

Click on above picture to see a different view of the same fire station.
Click here to see present day Fire  station.

 A preliminary meeting toward the organization of a fire department was held in Seneca on December 14, 1880. On January 17, 1881, this organization of 22 members was perfected by the election of the officers including Simon Conwell as President. In March of that same year, the Council decided to purchase hook and ladder trucks, with four Babcock extinguishers, six ladders aggregating ninety-six feet in length, ten oak-tanned fire buckets, and other accessories. 

 In 1884, a department was organized called the Hook and Ladder company. John Gilchrist was the fire chief. The first fire engine, a Halloway Chemical  “Squirter” was purchased for $1,500 in July of 1889. This  engine was credited with saving the Opera House on January 17, 1890.   Information and photo from Courier-Tribune files at Library of Historical Society.

The Fire Station was located in the 500 block on north side of Main where the City Hall is located today. The  City Hall was contracted to be built in 1916 and dedicated January 1 1918. The Fire Station shows up in several other pictures on this website.  

The Tower in the back of the fire station contains the Fire Bell, which was rung to summon the Volunteer Fireman in time of a fire. Should it happen you discovered a fire you would run or have someone younger run and ring the fire bell until some firemen showed up and relay the location of  fire and any other vital  information  to those that responded to the call.

The bell was retired and placed in the City Cemetery on a base and can be seen there today.
This bell  was rung many times by the dedicated  firemen of The  Volunteer Fire Department of the city of Seneca. A copy of that bell is along the left side of the picture.

The Bell has the following information, "Seneca Fire Bell 1897"   J. R. Gleason - Mayor, J. A Gilchrist - Ch.  F. D. Near the bottom on the east side of the bell is the following "Cracked Nov 11, 1918." The was the  day the first World War ended.  There is a six inch crack on the east side.  Was this bell rung till it cracked on that day?  Can anyone give me that information.

The top emblem as shown here is not on the bell at this date, I have information as to what this may have been.. Picture was taken looking to the northwest.  I have no information as to the date bell being placed in the Cemetery.  The picture is an old photo, date unknown. Picture and information from Mike Haug

Picture below is as it appears today. photo by Ken Stallbaumer

    V. F. D home page              V. F. D. Request New Fire Engine
City Council Purchased Stutz    Stutz is Restored
Home page