Snapshots of History: Mount Ayr Fire Department
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Sometimes folks need to be motivated and on May 10, 1879, they were.
Fire broke out in the early morning hours on the north side of Mount Ayr’s square and didn’t stop until it had reached the alley in the middle of the block. Going the other way, the fire turned north on the northeast corner of the square and raced up to the alley on the 100 block of North Taylor Street.
No loss of life occurred but the loss was great nonetheless.
Less than two weeks later, the Mount Ayr City Council appointed Thomas Leisure to organize a “hook and ladder” company to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
Leisure became the first fire chief and gathered a crew of about twenty volunteers.
But, the promised equipment never materialized and it wasn’t until 1883 that the department received any tools or equipment. A large bell was used as a fire alarm.
The firemen got their own building in May 1885, 113 S. Fillmore.
Despite the improvements, half of the south side of the square burned down in November 1885. The city council elected to pay the firefighters for their effort, anyway.
Another devastating fire occurred in November 1889 when fire took out several businesses on the northeast corner of the square (East Madison and South Taylor) including the old courthouse at 104 S. Taylor.
The fire department got an impressive new cart in 1891 that would shoot a stream of water sixty feet. This was probably a steam-powered engine that drew water from a well or cistern.
But, the fires continued.
In February 1894, five business houses were burned from the alley to the north corner on the west side of the square. In 1897, the hook and ladder company moved to 117 E. Madison. It was also in 1897 that William Timby got burned out at 108-110 S. Taylor St.
The fire alarm was upgraded in 1897 when the city council authorized the construction of a 40-foot tower in the courtyard, where the Soldiers’ Monument is today, with the bell attached at the top. This was also used as a curfew signal.
The fire company’s equipment continued to improve as did the alarm.
In 1916 a fire whistle was purchased to replace the bell and tower. The whistle was located at the Light & Power Plant just north of the depot. The last big fire on the square happened in November 1900 where the library is today.
Home to Mount Ayr’s fire department in 2009.
In 1901 the fire house was moved to 200 S. Taylor where it stayed for 67 years. This location is the Mount Ayr City Council Room today.
New equipment arrived but the big change came in 1915 when fire plugs were installed throughout the town. I should also mention the city council passed an ordinance saying “no more wood-frame” buildings on the square. This happened about 1900. The last wood-frame buildings on the square burned in 1927.
The fire on the east side of the square in 1977 took out three brick buildings, 102, 104, and 106 South Taylor Street.
More next week.
