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Lowell Fire Department

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Lowell Fire Department

    Group Photo 1906
    1906    		 Outside Picture
    ca. 1948-1952    		 Group Photo 1952
    1952
    Fire Station Construction
    Fremont Fire Station construction    		 Group Photo
    firemen
This August 28, 1952, Lowell Tribune article appeared on page 16:

    LOWELL'S FIRE DEPARTMENT -- 1952

    Lowell's efficient department of volunteer firemen is a long step in progress (and protection) looking back to the bucket brigade years.

    Prior to 1916, fireos extinguished flames with the aid of a hose cart and 500 feet of hose.

    Fire Department Organized in 1896

    Prominent Lowell men met in November of 1896 and organized into a cooperative group to protect their homes and business houses in the event of fire.

    The only equipment available was a hook ladder wagon and barrels PLUS plenty of buckets. Charter members of this bucket brigade were Eugene Nafus, Eugene Duckworth, B.A. Warner, Charles Sherard, George W. Lawrence, G.L. Trump, E.H. Post, C.E. Atwood, H.M. Nichols, Fred Gordon, Milo Brannon, Len W. Ragon, W.L. Rolston. G.H. Henry, George Kobelin, Lewis Wood, F.C. Wood. W. Driscoll, L. Vosburg and William Morgan.

    State Affiliated in 1904

    In 1904 the group received their state charter as a Volunteer Fire Department of Indiana and published the same, including by-laws, in the Tribune. The force at that time included these additional names; Emil Ruge, Thomas Grant, B.T. Beckmann, James Brannock, Albert Moxell, Merritt Kelsey, Leroy Kelsey, P.M. McNay, H.L. Baughman, John Jones, John Berg, G.J. Henry, Charles Pulver, Edwin Sanders, H. Gershman, Ed Walker, J.C. Palmer, J. Henry Peterson, Bert Koplin, L.P. Lavinder, E.F. Chapman, Charles Bisig, George Rathfon, George Wilson, Fred Avis, Albert Webb. Len Ragon was secretary.

    Purchase First Truck in 1916

    The town and township purchased its first truck in 1916. In 1928 Cedar Creek bought a truck and remodeled the fire station, maintained in the town hall, corner of Commercial and South Fremont Street.

    This truck served until 1940 when Lowell got the modern Peter Pirch truck still in use. In 1949 the township bought another Dodge fire truck built by the American Fire Apparatus Co., also an auxiliary pump and light plant. The department has a water wagon, purchased in 1947.

    In 1950 a Chevrolet panel first aid truck equipped with oxygen tent and inhalator was obtained. The fireos have all studied first aid courses taught by American Red Cross.

    In the past 56 year Len Ragon, Byrl Grant and John Eskridge have served as secretaries. During World War II, Milton Spry filled the post. Chief Harold Brownell has been on the force 30 years and has been chief for the past 13 years.

    Others who have served during the course of years include: O.H. Eskridge, John McMann, Kenneth Sheets, Walter Smith, Clark and Ralph Brownell, George Hayden, J. Hoffman, Charles Lloyd, Roy Graves, E.M. Berg, J.A. Taylor, Tom Yeater, Edison Worley, L.B. Falk, Carl Gregg, Howard Slocomb, Harry Gordon, John Miller, M.H. Hoevet, Bill Davis, L. Schurte, Byrl Fish, Verne Falk, Ed Johnson, Cass Scritchfield, Cal Nichols and probably several others of whom we have no record. In recent years a firemen's auxiliary has been organized.

    All who are serving, and all who have served, are public spirited citizens, deserving of highest praise.

The following Nov. 28, 1984, Lowell Tribune article can be found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 1, page 45):

    Former Fire Chief "Bus" Brownell Dies

    Brownell, who had resided recently in Hernando, Florida, died Nov. 23 in Crystal River, Florida.
    One of the founders of the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Assn. (IVFA), Brownell was a life member of the organization and carried membership card No. 1 since its incorporation in 1946. The number was retired in his name when he retired from the Lowell Volunteer Fire Dept. Dec. 31, 1968.
    "We thank and praise Bus and the other men he worked with for starting one of the finest organizations in the state today," said former Lowell Fire Chief Jack Eskridge, who conducted a IVFA service at Sheets-Love Funeral Home in Lowell Tuesday evening, Nov. 27. Eskridge said Brownell and others, including Alvin Guske of Crown Point, Roy Kittredge of Hobart, Cornelius Vandervart of Munster and Sam Ordean of Black Oak "had a dream to start an association," and did so in 1945.
    Brownell was elected the first IVFA president Aug. 23, 1945, and was instrumental in its incorporation Dec. 6, 1946.
    Born July 12, 1900, Brownell joined the fire department at age 20, in 1921 . . .
    He was elected Lowell's assistant fire chief in 1938 and a year later, on Dec. 11, 1939, he was elected fire chief, a position he held until his retirement from the department. He was succeeded by Burl "Pete" Carlson.
Last updated on February 8, 20128.

Go to Lowell Fire Department, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

Go to Fires, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.

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