History of Preble County, Ohio. That practice

EATON FIRE DIVISION

Technology in this history can best be exemplified by changes

in the Eaton area fire service, which have been many since its

early beginnings in 1835 when the thirty member Eaton

Independent Fire Engine and Hose Company was organized to fight fires in the village. Village council purchased a hand-

Document of Origination 1835

engine called the "Water Witch," with which many of "Eaton's

best citizens regularly drilled and practiced," according to the

1915 Lowry History of Preble County, Ohio. That practice

continued, giving two reasons for the enthusiastic drilling--the

Document of Origination

large number of wood frame houses and the fact that fire company members1w83e5re freed

from militia duty and from working out their poll tax.

The first real test for the pumper was a March 13, 1838, fire that destroyed the Eagle house, a dwelling and stables, all located in the 100 block of North Barron Street. In 1844, a new engine, "The Fannie," later renamed "Red Rover," was added and membership in the company was increased to seventy men. On June 5, 1859, Eaton's first major disaster occurred when twelve businesses burned. The fire originated in a building that is now the east part of Star Bank, formerly the location of the Eaton Book Shoppe. The flames swept east to the Longnecker Building, west to the corner of Main and Barron and north to the alley.

A second large fire on July 4, 1859, destroyed many of the wood frame business buildings on the south side of Main Street, east of the present Courthouse, resulting in their replacement with brick buildings named Commercial Row. In 1872, the village council purchased an Ahrens steam fire engine. Horses were used to pull the steam engine and a hose wagon, which utilized fireplugs on the city's water distribution system after 1892.

The Fire Department was first located in a livery stable on North Barron Street and later moved to the back portion of the old City Building at the southwest corner of Barron and Somers Streets. The horses were retired in 1915 and sold for $50 when the company became motorized with the purchase of a Seagraves auto fire truck for $4,995. The twenty- and twenty-one-year-old horses had been purchased in 1900 for $400, according to early records. The steam engine was sold July 2, 1919.

Fire chiefs in the early years included David Raybourne, 1892-1893;

William McCabe, 1893-1898; Jim Ortt, 1898-1906; William Butler,

1906-1907; Cash Taylor, 1907-1916 and George A. Shaver, 1916-

1942. Shaver, with sixteen years on the department prior to his appointment, was an ice cream manufacturer by trade but a firefighter at heart. An early account of Shaver's tenure said, "He

George Shaver 1916-1942

served that position with efficiency and faithfulness, far surpassing the $150 annual

salary. On that salary, he equipped and maintained his own Fire Chief's car, the first

vehicle being a Model T pickup truck with no top."

His legendary twenty-six-year career ended with his

death on June 9, 1942, as the fire siren atop the city

building sounded the noon hour. On May 1, 1937,

the village took delivery of a new American

LaFrance fire truck at a cost of $9,400. An amateur

talent contest and moving pictures taken of the town businesses

where shown in the high school auditorium to raise money for the

department. Local plumber John Campbell became fire chief upon

Shaver's death and served in that capacity until 1948. He retired

John Campbell 19421948

from the department in 1964 with fifty years of service.

In 1947, a contract was signed for a tanker pumper unit that was completed two years later on a Dodge chassis. Also in 1947, contracts for providing fire protection for surrounding rural townships were signed by the village council and township trustees. While the specific area served has varied from time to time, the Eaton Fire Division has been largely responsible for fire protection in Washington, Dixon and parts of Gasper and Jackson townships. Those contracts are still renewed annually.

Elbert "Pop" Druley took the helm of the fire department in

1948 and served until 1964. Druley and Homer Piatt were

burned severely May 20, 1949, when a homemade gas tank

exploded at the Eaton Country Club. Residents took up a collection for medical bills and to help their families. Druley

Elbert "Pop" Druley 1948 - 1964

sustained the more severe injuries but eventually returned to his duties. Fire Department

chiefs since "Pop" Druley include William Sliver, 1964-1965;

Dick Shock, 1965-1971; and Dean Steinke, 1971-1990.

Succeeding Steinke as chief on January 7, 1991, was John J.

Stover, Jr., who was the first full-time person in the city's Fire

John Stover 1991-1995

Division in April 1981 with the title of Fire Inspector and Assistant Fire Chief.

The next disaster to strike the community was a tornado on April 25, 1961. The Town Hall that housed the fire and police departments was severely damaged by the wind and declared unsafe. Those departments moved to a temporary structure in the city parking lot along the east-west alley between Barron and Cherry Streets, behind Ray Webb's Store. In May 1963, the city purchased the former Eaton Screw Products Building at 328 North Maple Street for housing the fire and police departments in addition to city administrative offices.

A record $5 million fire loss was recorded June 13, 1965, after a fire at Parker Hannifin Corporation, 725 North Beech Street destroyed half of that facility. Parker, which had constructed the plant after purchasing the Eaton Screw Products Company, rebuilt and enlarged its production space. A mysterious fire destroyed the wood frame grandstand at the Preble County Fairgrounds on September 24, 1966. The department helped the Junior Fair Board build its new steel stands just before the 1967 fair.

On April 6, 1968, the department's new 1,000 gallon Ford pumper was put to its real test when Eaton joined many other departments after an explosion and fire destroyed most of

Richmond, Indiana's, downtown area. The new pumper was stationed near Sixth and Main Streets to help supply water through several hundred feet of hose to other units working the fire scene. Also responding to this fire was Eaton's 1937 American LaFrance unit that was excellently maintained by the department. This unit is still driven for parades and special events. New quarters were constructed at the south side of the City Building in 1968-69 to house the fire and police departments.

On March 15, 1985, the department purchased a new 1985 Ford Seagraves 100-foot aerial truck costing $169,996. This unit replaced a used Dodge aerial that had served several years. Eaton was growing and much of its residential, commercial and industrial area was located on the north side of the railroad tracks that bisect the city. Local residents Wallace and Mary Campbell, on March 18, 1986, made a proposal to City Council to construct a building shell in the north part of

the city on land purchased from Eaton City Schools. The building would house the Fire Division and Emergency Squad. Ground breaking at 391 West Lexington Road was on August 18, 1986, and on March 22, 1987, Fire Station #2 was officially opened

after a ribbon-cutting and public open house. The facility provided three truck bays and cost $59,300. Nu-Way Builders of Greenville completed the structure and city employees and members of the Fire Division finished the interior at an estimated cost of $50,000.

City Council entered into a lease-buy agreement with Allegheny Fire Equipment of West Virginia to buy a 1987 Ford "Emergency One" pumper. The state-of-the-art vehicle has a 1,250 gallon per minute pumping capacity, automatic transmission and a diesel engine. It has an all-aluminum body and carries 750 gallons of water. The truck, a former demonstration unit was purchased for $118,000 and delivered on February 17, 1988. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held August 27, 1989, for an addition to Station #2 to provide space for training and departmental offices. Nu-Way Builders contracted

the structure at a cost of $44,475. The addition, which included a kitchen, was completed in early 1991. Funds were raised from donations, fire department projects such as the annual chicken barbecue, proceeds from the estates of Eaton attorney Thurston F. Bittle and the Zelly sisters totaling $70,000 financed the project. No city funds or tax dollars were used.

Through the years as technology increased in the fire service, additional leadership was deemed necessary. A major restructuring on February 6, 1990, resulted in six appointments. Named captains were Scott Aten and Rick Crowe, with thirteen and sixteen years service respectively. D. C. Kelly and John Walker with thirteen years service; lieutenants named were Pat Taylor with nine, and Dave McDermitt with five years' service. The contract for a new 1,500-gallon tanker with a 1,250 gallon per minute pumping capacity was awarded to Emergency One, Inc., Ocala, Florida, at a cost of $145,934 for the Ford chassis and all aluminum body. Delivery was in August 1990.

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