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MITCHELL FIRE COMPANY NO. 3
"WHEN DUTY CALLS TIS OURS TO OBEY"
MITCHELL FIRE COMPANY NO.4
The Mitchell Steam Fire Engine Company named in honor of the late John Mitchell, a well known and influential property-holder of Burlington, and a descendant of the early settlers, was organized July 17, 1874.
The men who met and formed the Mitchell Fire Company were ten in number, as follows: David Van Slyke, a well known physician of this city, president; Luther M Abdili, vice-president; Joseph P. Mount, secretary; Thomas Stokely, treasurer; William S. Nixon, foreman; and engineer; William R. Schuyler, William Rambo, C.R. Prickett, Robert Sampson, Robert McConnell.
The Mitchell Company was known as the shoemakers’ company on account of the membership being composed entirely of shoemakers with the exception of a few prominent professional men and citizens who, being interested in the
WHEN DUTY CALLS TIS OURS TO OBEY
MITCHELL FIRE COMPANY NO.4
The Mitchell Steam Fire Engine Company named in honor of the late John Mitchell, a well known and influential property-holder of Burlington, and a descendant of the early settlers, was organized July 17, 1874.
The men who met and formed the Mitchell Fire Company were ten in number, as follows: David Van Slyke, a well known physician of this city, president; Luther M Abdili, vice-president; Joseph P. Mount, secretary; Thomas Stokely, treasurer; William S. Nixon, foreman; and engineer; William R. Schuyler, William Rambo, C.R. Prickett, Robert Sampson, Robert McConnell.
The Mitchell Company was known as the shoemakers’ company on account of the membership being composed entirely of shoemakers with the exception of a few prominent professional men and citizens who, being interested in the saving of life and public property, cast lots with the shoemakers in the undertaking. The engine house at the corner of Lawrence and Federal Streets, a two-story brick structure, was built in 1875 at a cost of $5,000.
Previous to the organization of the Mitchell Company and the building of the house there are very interesting tales to tell.
Long before the organization of the Company the large number of shoemakers living on Federal Street and streets running through that thoroughfare thought that even thought that even though they lived in secluded part of the town, they nevertheless needed more or less protection. Accordingly they took advantage of the opportunity afforded them when they had a chance to place within the old blacksmith shop of Benjamin Schuyler, a hose carriage that had been given to them by the Young America Company. They were then an unorganized company. Along about 1874, a blaze that destroyed a store at the corner of Lawrence and Federal Streets awoke the shoemakers who were anxious to have a company in that section of the town. They met one afternoon on the steps of the shoe factory of Thomas Stokley that used to stand on Federal Street between Lawrence and York Streets and decided that is was best to organize in view of the fact that a recent conflagration had endangered the lives and property of the citizens of that section of the town.
The meeting was held in the shoe factory of Mr. Stokley that afternoon and the officers above noted elected.
The house that had been destroyed across the street was the home of Miles Sparks, a grocer.
The old hose carriage was brought into play, water being secured from a plug that stood in front of the grocery store of Charles Ettenger across the street. The supply of water was not of sufficient could get into action.
Sparks, who owned the house, afterward went west and was killed by the Indians while trying to seek a new home out that way.
The old Franklin engine, a hand pump affair, was secured by the new company and installed in the new house. It was used in the big conflagration that swept over the city during the winter of 1876.
Later when the Company purchased a LaFrance engine for $3,500 from the LaFrance Company, of Elmira, N.Y., the old hand-pump engines went to the scrap heap at the A.H. McNeal Iron Pipe Works. The woodwork of the old machine was turned into walking sticks by the members and in many households of members they are yet preserved.
The company later purchased a four-wheel hose carriage carrying 600 feet of hose.
The bell in the tower of the Mitchell House was purchased from the Buckeye Foundry Company of Columbus, Ohio
The ground on which the former house stood was bought at the rate of $25.00 per foot, an exceedingly high figure when ground all around it was selling at $15.00 per foot, but the location was what the Mitchell wanted.
In the early eighties the company had a Newfoundland dog that was much thought of by the members on account of the many fine traits it possessed. “Cap”, as they called it, was a great favorite with the members. When the bell rang “Cap” used to get hold of the knot on the end of the rope that was attached to the hose carriage and run out on the street with it making an effort all the time to pull the carriage out of the house. He was killed by means of a drug given to him by a man living in the neighborhood.
A monument suitably inscribed was erected on the lawn of the company’s property in 1886. It fell down and was relegated to the stable of the Company. An urn with flowers marked the resting place of the Company’s favorite.
The stable of the Company was built a number of years ago. The Company has had three pairs of horses, two pair being supplied by the Company and one pair by the city council.
The Company has been well represented with Chiefs: William Rambo, Harry Carter, Robert Barckley, Joseph Brotz, Samuel Maskill, Richard Whittick, George Shumard, Albertus Hoffman, Chester VanSciver, Ernest Schroeder, James D. Hoffman, Morris “Peck” Adams, Anthony Carnivale Sr., John A. Marshall, James W. Hoffman, (current list of station chiefs needed)
The upper floor of the Mitchell house included a recreation hall and a beautiful parlor.
In 1931, a Reo Hose Wagon was purchased to replace the Buick wagon.
In 1937 a dinner was held in honor of Charles Schooley who was secretary of the Company for 35 years; at the same time George Adams was honored for serving for 12 years as collector.
In December 1945, a new 750 gallon Ward-LaFrance Pumper was bought.
The present tower and air horn system was erected about 1946.
In 1959 the old Reo Hose Wagon was replaced with a G.M.C. 500 gpm.
In 1961 the 750 gpm Ward-LaFrance Pumper was replaced with a Hahn 1000 gpm pumper.
On May 3rd, 1975 Mitchell celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a fine dinner and program.saving of life and public property, cast lots with the shoemakers in the undertaking. The engine house at the corner of Lawrence and Federal Streets, a two-story brick structure, was built in 1875 at a cost of $5,000.
Previous to the organization of the Mitchell Company and the building of the house there are very interesting tales to tell.
Long before the organization of the Company the large number of shoemakers living on Federal Street and streets running through that thoroughfare thought that even thought that even though they lived in secluded part of the town, they nevertheless needed more or less protection. Accordingly they took advantage of the opportunity afforded them when they had a chance to place within the old blacksmith shop of Benjamin Schuyler, a hose carriage that had been given to them by the Young America Company. They were then an unorganized company. Along about 1874, a blaze that destroyed a store at the corner of Lawrence and Federal Streets awoke the shoemakers who were anxious to have a company in that section of the town. They met one afternoon on the steps of the shoe factory of Thomas Stokley that used to stand on Federal Street between Lawrence and York Streets and decided that is was best to organize in view of the fact that a recent conflagration had endangered the lives and property of the citizens of that section of the town.
The meeting was held in the shoe factory of Mr. Stokley that afternoon and the officers above noted elected.
The house that had been destroyed across the street was the home of Miles Sparks, a grocer.
The old hose carriage was brought into play, water being secured from a plug that stood in front of the grocery store of Charles Ettenger across the street. The supply of water was not of sufficient could get into action.
Sparks, who owned the house, afterward went west and was killed by the Indians while trying to seek a new home out that way.
The old Franklin engine, a hand pump affair, was secured by the new company and installed in the new house. It was used in the big conflagration that swept over the city during the winter of 1876.
Later when the Company purchased a LaFrance engine for $3,500 from the LaFrance Company, of Elmira, N.Y., the old hand-pump engines went to the scrap heap at the A.H. McNeal Iron Pipe Works. The woodwork of the old machine was turned into walking sticks by the members and in many households of members they are yet preserved.
The company later purchased a four-wheel hose carriage carrying 600 feet of hose.
The bell in the tower of the Mitchell House was purchased from the Buckeye Foundry Company of Columbus, Ohio
The ground on which the former house stood was bought at the rate of $25.00 per foot, an exceedingly high figure when ground all around it was selling at $15.00 per foot, but the location was what the Mitchell wanted.
In the early eighties the company had a Newfoundland dog that was much thought of by the members on account of the many fine traits it possessed. “Cap”, as they called it, was a great favorite with the members. When the bell rang “Cap” used to get hold of the knot on the end of the rope that was attached to the hose carriage and run out on the street with it making an effort all the time to pull the carriage out of the house. He was killed by means of a drug given to him by a man living in the neighborhood.
A monument suitably inscribed was erected on the lawn of the company’s property in 1886. It fell down and was relegated to the stable of the Company. An urn with flowers marked the resting place of the Company’s favorite.
The stable of the Company was built a number of years ago. The Company has had three pairs of horses, two pair being supplied by the Company and one pair by the city council.
The Company has been well represented with Chiefs: William Rambo, Harry Carter, Robert Barckley, Joseph Brotz, Samuel Maskill, Richard Whittick, George Shumard, Albertus Hoffman, Chester VanSciver, Ernest Schroeder, James D. Hoffman, Morris “Peck” Adams, Anthony Carnivale Sr., John A. Marshall, James W. Hoffman, (current list of station chiefs needed)
The upper floor of the Mitchell house included a recreation hall and a beautiful parlor.
In 1931, a Reo Hose Wagon was purchased to replace the Buick wagon.
In 1937 a dinner was held in honor of Charles Schooley who was secretary of the Company for 35 years; at the same time George Adams was honored for serving for 12 years as collector.
In December 1945, a new 750 gallon Ward-LaFrance Pumper was bought.
The present tower and air horn system was erected about 1946.
In 1959 the old Reo Hose Wagon was replaced with a G.M.C. 500 gpm.
In 1961 the 750 gpm Ward-LaFrance Pumper was replaced with a Hahn 1000 gpm pumper.
On May 3rd, 1975 Mitchell celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a fine dinner and program.
YOUNG AMERICA HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY # 3
The Young America Hook and Ladder Company was organized in 1857, and bought its first truck for $75.00. Originally housed on East Pearl Street, the company merged in 1869 with the Franklin Fire Engine Company #3, which had been organized in 1852. The new company took the name Young America Fire Company #3, and in 1870 built and occupied its present firehouse at 21 East Broad Street. The firehouse has been renovated and modernized since, to house more advanced equipment.
In 1879, Young America purchased the bell, formerly hung in the belfry of St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn, which had warned of the British fleet in New York harbor during the Revolutionary War. Removed from the bell tower of the firehouse in 1956 for safety reasons, the bell now stands on the grounds of the Fire Engineers' office at High and Belmont Streets.
In 1870's Burlington, Federal Street was home to many shoemakers and shoe factories. Feeling the need for fire protection, they accepted a hose carriage as a gift from the Young America Fire Company, and housed it in a blacksmith's shop, but did not organize an official fire company. In 1874, though, a fire struck the home and shop of a grocer, and though the shoemakers brought their hose carriage into action, the pressure of the city's water system was not sufficient to extinguish the flames.
The shoemakers decided that an organized fire company would be in their best interest, and formed the Mitchell Fire Company. Initially, the "Shoemakers' Company," as it was called, had only hand-pumped Franklin engines, but steam-powered LaFrance pumping engines were later brought into service. Mitchell's original firehouse, built in 1875 and used for more than 100 years, still stands at the corner of Lawrence and Federal Streets, but the company is now located in more modern quarters at Mitchell and Federal Streets.
In mid February 2002, the Young America Fire Company No. 3 and the Mitchell Fire Company IV merged organizations and formed the Mitchell Fire Company No. 3. This company has since grown into one of the more advanced and dedicated volunteer firefighting entities in the region. This company currently operates out of the Mitchell building, located on the corner of East Federal Street and Mitchell Avenue, in the New Yorkshire section of the city.
Mitchell Fire Company # 4 Ladies Auxiliary
History of the Mitchell Auxiliary
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Mitchell Fire Company was organized in December 1923 with a membership of 15. Mrs. Kimble was the First president. It is the oldest Auxiliary in the City of Burlington and is always ready and willing to serve the volunteer firemen.
From the beginning the auxiliary has served many dinners and given aid to firemen in need of its services. The auxiliary has been known to take coffee a little red wagon. During the floods of 1955 the auxiliary served all the fire companies food and beverages for the four days and nights. The Red Cross commended the auxiliary for their work during this time.
To the members of the Fire Company overseas they have always sent care packages, and given shows and minstrels for them when they returned. The Auxiliary has served dinners for county firemen, state and exempt members, and has served outgoing dinners for some of the ex-chiefs that have not been from the Mitchell.
The Auxiliary currently operates as the Mitchell Fire Company # 3 Ladies Auiliary
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