Washington Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1
Fires in Newport
1854-1868
Information comes from research done by Margaret Hartman from the minutes of the Washington Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1
June 13, 1854 when fire broke at T. O. Shaygehanney's Cotton Factory, between 1 and 2 o'clock, situated on Short street between East Row and Wolf's Rolling Mill which entirely destroyed the whole of the building together with nearly all the machinery.
November 7, 1854-about 3 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a two story house situated in the rear of Davis' Foundry on Short Street which, for want of water, was entirely consumed.
March 19, 1855-the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be on Short Street in rows of buildings known as the White block, and owned by T G Gaylord Sen. two house in the center of the row were entirely consumed.
December 14, 1855-7 o'clock am, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a two story frame house situated on Madison Street betwixt Monmouth and Saratoga owned by Mr. Biggs, which was partially consumed.
February 4, 1856-at 1 o'clock am, the alarm of fire was sounded from the engine house which proved to be a frame house situated on the corner of York and Front Streets, known as the Delta Coffee House, and owned by Mrs. H. T. Harris, which was partially consumed.
February 4, 1856-at 2 o'clock am, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to bet the buildings situated on the Licking River, owned by Bohler and Pendleton of Cincinnati, which were entirely consumed with all their contents.
March 30, 1856-about a quarter past 12 o'clock, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a brick cottage situated on the corner of Front and Monmouth Streets and owned by John Simmons, which was partially consumed.
September 26, 1857-at 2 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be two small frame houses in the rear of Lloyd's Garden in Buena Vista addition, owned by James Thomas and an old man named Coggins which, with the contents, were entirely consumed. Loss about $800.
October 24, 1857-at 1/2 past twelve the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the Newport Ferry Boat Belle. The company got to work in due time and succeeded in extinguishing the fire. Loss about $2500.
January 10, 1858-Washington Fire Co. No. 1 was called together at half past six by an alarm of fire which proved to be the chimney of a house on east row, the property of Col. James Taylor and occupied by his gardener, a man named Brophy.
February 4, 1858-at 2 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the stable of James E Perry, situated on the corner of York and Eglantine Streets. Loss about $600.
April 4, 1858-the company was called together about 3 o'clock by an alarm of fire which proved to be a brick dwelling on York Street between Eglantine and Taylor, the property of the Southgate heirs. Loss about $600.
June 16, 1858-the company was called together by an alarm of fire about 5 o'clock am which proved to be an ice house on Mayo Street, the property of Mr. Taylor Thornton and Co. the apparatus were put to work in the due time and one good execution. The loss by fire was about $900.
July 21, 1858-the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a stable on Orchard Street between Mayo and Ringgold, the property of Captain Jones. Property damaged to about the amount of $300.
February 21, 1859-the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a frame building situated on Belleview street, occupied by Mr. White, a coffee house keeper. Damaged very slightly.
March 6, 1859-an alarm of fire was given about 1 o'clock. The apparatus got to work in quick time and done excellent execution. It was the property of R D Hayman, situated on Belleview street southside between Monmouth and Saratoga streets. Damages about $175 or less. The houses were two story frames.
June 2, 1859-at about 4 o'clock this afternoon, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be in Covington and consumed the Globe Bagging Mills and the foundry attached to the Covington Locomotive Works. Loss about $30,000. The company arrived at the fire in time to assist in saving the adjoining property and remained in service about an hour and a half.
June 18, 1860-at about 2 o'clock in the morning, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the old building situated on the southwest corner of Front and York streets and known as the Old Tom Coffee House which, with its contents, were entirely consumed. The house, belonging to Mrs. H T Harris, was worth about $600 and no insurance. Col. Kirtley, proprietor, was fully insured. The house, next west on Front street, belonging to Mrs. Jesse Justice was damaged by fire and water to the amount of $50.
July 31, 1860-between 9 and 10 o'clock in the morning, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be in a two story brick dwelling owned and occupied by Mrs. Davis, located on Front between York and Monmouth street, which was damaged by fire and water about $300. The company, in quick time, played two good streams of water on the fire. After working for some time, the Nos. 1 and 4 of Covington and Nov. 10 Steam Engine Co. of Cincinnati made their appearance on the ground and rendered some assistance in extinguishing the remainder of the fire.
September 14, 1860-at 10 o'clock in the morning, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the roof of a two story residence owned and occupied by Mr. James Madison, situated on York between Harris and Tibbatts streets. Damaged by fire and water sixty dollars, which was insured by the Clay Fire and Marine of this city.
January 16, 1862-at about 2 o'clock in the evening, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be an old two story brick house situated on the west side of Columbia between Bellevue and Madison streets, occupied by a Mrs. Lally, and owned by Southgate heirs in Covington. The house was entirely consumed by the flames. Loss none. The house was old and worth nothing, only the brick in the walls.
March 1, 1862-at about 11 o'clock am, the company was called together by an alarm of fire, which proved to be a barn and some hay and fodder stacks belonging to Col. James Taylor, situated in the rear of his residence east of the east end of Taylor street. The barn with its contents and the hay and fodder stacks were entirely consumed by the flames. The company succeeded in saving an adjoining stable and several hundred bushels of corn. Loss about $400.
June 20, 1862-at 8 o'clock in the morning, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the refining department of the Newport Coal Oil Works, owned by Gresselli and Co. situated on Front or Main street east of Wolff's Rolling Mill. The building in which the fire originated was entirely consumed. The company arrived on the ground in good time and succeeded in saving the adjoining buildings. Loss about $5000. Insured in Cincinnati office to the amount of $2900. The loss was all on machinery; the buildings and stock destroyed being fully insured. The company remained in service until 4 o'clock pm when the fire being out, the apparatus was returned to the engine house. July 7th, Mr. Gresselli sent $25 for the company as a donation for services rendered.
December 21, 1862-about 8 o'clock in the evening, the company was called together by an alarm of fire. In due time, the company with their apparatus arrived at the scene of the conflagration which proved to be an old dilapidated two story frame house occupied by a Mrs. Sanderson and owned by a Mr. James of Cincinnati. For the want of water in the vicinity of the fire, the apparatus was not put in service. Consequently, the house was entirely consumed by the flames. Loss about $300.
January 1, 1863-at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the company was called together by an alarm of fire. The fire proved to be on John between Tibbatts and Williamson streets. When the company arrived on the ground, two one story frame houses and a two story brick were on fire. The apparatus was quickly put in service and the fire extinguished. It originated in a one story frame house owned and occupied by Mrs. Hook and was entirely consumed. loss $400. Insured for $275 in the Clay of the city. From hence, the flames communicated to a one story frame owned by H Gloetsback which was also totally destroyed. Loss $500. Insured as above for $350. From thence to an adjoining two story brick owned by the same, damaged about $100. Insured as above.
Sunday, February 24, 1864-at about 4 o'clock pm, a fire was discovered in a frame stable occupied by D Clephane situated on James Alley near Monmouth street and soon communicated to a similar building owned by Mr. Brown and a dwelling house occupied by G W Caldwell and Mrs. Kearney-the property belonging to C G Pearce of Cincinnati. The engines were promptly on the ground and succeeded in saving the surrounding property. Loss $1000. The Covington boys were on the ground and at the request of Hayman Brothers and Capt. Ed Air, the entire force adjourned to Geo Stricker's refreshment saloon and smiled!
February 24, 1864-about midnight, the stable of Jacob Hawthorn was discovered to be on fire; the building was situated on Southgate Alley between York and Monmouth streets. Owing to the late hour, the flames had made such progress, before the engines arrived on the ground, that it was found impossible to save the premises. Loss $2.00 (sic)
Friday, February 26, 1864-a frame stable belonging to Mrs. Winston on Southgate Alley between Monmouth and Saratoga was set on fire about 10 o'clock pm but was extinguished without difficulty before engines arrived. Loss inconsiderable.
Friday, February 26, 1864-at 4 pm the stable of Major J M Caldwell was fired and owning to the scarcity of water in the vicinity, was consumed; the engines only being able to save the surround property. Loss $300-no insurance.
Friday, February 26, 1864-at 6 pm the stable of Col. Kennet on Eglantine, between York and Monmouth streets, was discovered to be on fire but was extinguished before the apparatus arrived on the ground. Loss inconsiderable.
April 8, 1864-the stable of Ed Hawkins was fired. The engines were promptly on hand but succeeded only in saving the surrounding property. Loss-say $250.
April 16, 1864-a fire occurred on the premises of Judge G W Berry on York near Ringgold and resulted in the destruction of his stable.
June 28, 1864-at about 1 o'clock in the day, the alarm of fire was sounded occasioned by the discovery of smoke issuing from the residence of one Bates on Madison street near Monmouth. The engines were promptly gotten out, but before they reached the locality aforesaid the flames were extinguished. Damage slight.
March 15, 1865-about 9 o'clock in the morning, the alarm of fire was sounded, which proved to be a small affair in Gaylord's Foundry on Front street. The engines were promptly on the ground but after a brief playing the flames were subdued. Loss inconsiderable.
July 8, 1865-about 3 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a portion of the roof of Davis' Foundry on Front, east of Kilgour street. Damage supposed to be about $7500.
October 9, 1865-about midnight, a fire in a stable owned by on Mr. Knight, agent for the patent office at Washington D.C. The building was situated on Eglantine street near Columbia street. Owing to the lat hour, the flames had made such progress before the engines arrived that it was impossible to do anything with the stable, so the attention of the company was turned to the adjoining buildings. Loss about $300.
March 4, 1866-at about 11 o'clock in the morning, the alarm of fire was sounded occasioned by the discovery of smoke and fire issuing from the chimney of the residence of our worthy president, Mr. Jno. G Collins on Saratoga street above Jefferson. The apparatus was promptly gotten out, but before they reached the scene of action, the flames were extinguished. No one was hurt.
March 7, 1866-about 9 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be the Baptist Church on Bellevue near Saratoga street. The engines were promptly gotten out, but before they reached the scene of action, the flames were subdued. Damages of no consequence.
June 10, 1866-at about 3 o'clock an alarm of fire was sounded occasioned by a report that Gorman's Candy Shop, corner of York street and James Alley, was on fire. The engines were promptly got out before reaching said shop, the flames were subdued. No damage.
July 4, 1866-fire at J Youngblut's corner about 11-1/2 o'clock am. engines promptly on hand. Roof of entire building destroyed and second story more or less damaged by water. Damage $25,000. mostly covered by insurance.
October 19, 1866-about 7 o'clock am, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a double frame cottage on ??? between McArthur and Ringgold streets. The company was promptly on hand, but the fire having got under headway, it was impossible to save the building. Damage said to be about $1600. Insurance for $600. Owned by one Mrs. Schullenhelm.
December 19, 1866-about 4 o'clock pm, the company was called together by an alarm of fire which proved to be a stable on the lower side of Eglantine street east of Monmouth street owned by Mr. Weber. The engines were promptly on hand but being unable to save the stable, which was very old and dry, the company turned their attention to surrounding property. Damage supposed to be about $200.
February 1, 1868-the Cotton Factory of Chas Koch (building owned by Robert Wearing) burned down. Loss estimated at about $12,000.
Friday, May 15, 1868-the roof of a
brick house on Saratoga street between Eglantine and Front, owned and occupied
by Jno. W Lam, was destroyed by fire about 9 o'clock. The engines were
promptly on hand. The origin of the fire was unknown. Damage about
$300. Mr. Lamb and family were absent from the city at the time.