Although the Dept. was not an official fire department until April 30th 1909, fourteen gentlemen met on Wednesday November 27th 1909, at Frederick City hall to form a volunteer fire company. Those brave men that formed Frederick’s first fire department were: A.R. Smith; Fire Chief, John Waggoner; Asst. Chief, P.R. Rodgers; Captain, Earnest Smith; Asst. Captain , Albert McDaniel; Sec/Tres, other members included: J.B. Wilson, Walter Wright, Lum Lemmon, John B. Lemmons, John B. Stephens, R.K. Dunlap, C.C. Hines, W.G. Roe, Oscar Winningham, Roy Soule, D.L. McClure, J.C. Johnson.
On December 19th 1907 the Frederick City Council agreed to purchase some fire fighting equipment, such as pike pole spanner wrenches, ladders, axe and etc. J.O. Waggoner was elected fire policeman. That same month on the 25th the department threw its first benefit ball to raise money for the department. A total of $22.00 was raised.
In January of 1910 the department received from the City of Frederick a hook and ladder wagon, fire hoses and a team of horses (which were named Jim and Charlie). Lum Lemmonds was named teamster driver. The picture of the team can be seen at Cold Front Express at the time. On August 8th, 1910 the fire department was moved to their new station at the end of the city hall, which is where the old police station was. The first two motorized fire trucks where purchased some time between 1913 and 1920. One was a 1919 REO ant the other was a 1917 American Lafrance. The 1917 is now in the Oklahoma firefighter museum in Oklahoma City. The first paid fireman was believed to be Lum Lemmons. He was the fire chief in the 1920’s.
In 1927 the city agreed to buy a new pumper truck for the department. A 1927 Seagraves was bought and the truck is still located at the Frederick Fire Department and is used every year by Santa Clause to ride in the Christmas parade. The 4th truck was a 1947 Seagraves and was taken out of service in 1981. The 5th truck was a 1962 International and it is being used at this time by the Manitou Fire Department. The next was a 1971 International and is was bought by the Davidson Fire Dept. In 1973 the County Commissioners helped the Dept. buy a 1973 Model Ford for a grass truck to help fight county fires. The 8th truck was a 1999 Pierce, 9th 2001 Pierce. A grass rig was bought by the City in 2001. In 2008 ASCOG gave the City and the Fire Department a new Ford F350 to make a grass firefighting truck. We took the bed of the 2001 Ford and put it on the 2008. Leaving our 2001 Model Ford 550 to make it a rescue truck. A few months ago the city received a $45,000.00 grant to be used to buy a bed for this truck. The new truck bed is being built at this time in Kansas.
The records show that in April 1939 the Frederick City Council agreed to start paying the volunteer fireman a monthly salary making the part-paid members of the Oklahoma Firefighters Association.
During the celebration we want to take a moment to recognize the Fire Department Chiefs: Lum Lemonds 1923-1937, R.A. McBrien 1937-1946, Frank Gower 1946-1950, Jack Harper 1950-1953, Arthur Holloway 1953-1961, Buck Falconer 1961-1969, Robert Perkins 1969-1971, Hugh Hunt 1971-1973, Ralph Anthony 1973-1976, Jim Whitson 1976-1981, Dariel Mathews 1981-1981, Joe Bradley 1981-1989, Gary Gallaham 1989-1991, Louis Hickerson 1991-1994, Merlin Scott 1994-1996, Mike Jones 1996-2001, Buddy Mealor 2001-2003, Bobby Givens 2003-2008, Tracy Newman 2008-Present.
We would like to invite everyone out on the 29th of April to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the dept. with cake and balloons. Come see all the new and old trucks and say Hi to all the new members of the department. Thanks for your support. Kyle Davis
Captain Frederick Fire Department
Post a Comment
