As America Approaches 250: History of the Troy Fire Protection District
The Howe Pump and Engine Company out of Indianapolis, Indiana advertised horse-drawn fire engines, which preceded the motorized versions.
By the Troy Fire Protection District • Although people settled in this area around 1800, Troy did not officially receive its name until 1818 by James Riggin and according to records, Troy did not have an organized fire department before 1884, after a fire did extensive damage that year to the business district and a residential area.
1800-1915
In the late 1800s or early 1900s, with community volunteers, the foundation for today’s Troy Fire Protection District began and continues to provide this community more than 120 years of firefighting service.
Originally, the members of the department fought fires with manually operated equipment. NOt only did the firefighters have to operate the pumps by hand when fighting a fire, they also had to run through the streets of Troy to the fire, pulling hose carts, chemical carts and other needed equipment with them.
The biggest piece of equipment consisted of 50-gallon tanks mounted on two wheels, each weighing around 400 pounds.
In 1900, the firehouse stood on the corner of Center and Main streets. Firefighters obtained the water to fill equipment from a cistern on the Town Square. The cistern still exists, at the center of Main and Market streets, however it has since been paved over.
1915-1930
Jule Smith in the department’s first motorized fire truck, a Ford bought from American LaFrance Mfg. Co.
Over time, Troy’s population grew, the village’s shape and size changed and the department changed with it. In the 1920s, as the Troy Fire Department, the city purchased the first motorized fire apparatus. The Ford vehicle, purchased from the American LaFrance manufacturing company, had two 25-gallon chemical tanks attached and cost $6,766. The department had 40 men led by Thomas Scott until 1920 then Joe Scott until 1927.
The department’s 1929 REO Speedwagon fire engine, with people standing in front of the former firehouse on Kimberlin Street on Dec. 22, 1935.
In 1927, the department was informally reorganized with the election of Fire Chief Hazel Riggin and the formation of a 14-man department. The department found itself with a few different homes over a short period. In 1930, it was headquartered in a garage area behind what was then the new city hall and police department. The department recently bought a 1929 REO Speedwagon fire truck, using funds raised from sponsoring the homecoming, it was bought at no cost to the city. The REO remains in our firehouse today and though it no longer makes service calls, it is operational and can be seen in the annual Troy Homecoming Parade. Firefighters were paid $2 for each call they participated in.
