User talk:Gimac1974

Mansfield, Ohio Fire Department History Section Project Feedback
I am doing a project for my college history class to update an article with pre-1900 history. I would like to complete my project by 10-07-2013 so I am requesting constructive feedback from any interested members of the Wikipedia community and suggestions for any revisions.

The beginnings of the Mansfield, Ohio Fire Department began to surface in 1829 when the people of the village of Mansfield recognized the need for fire protection and raised $150.00 to purchase a small hand engine that pumped water through a hose powered by men. The water was supplied through a bucket brigade. This first firemen were a group of volunteers. Jacob Lindley was the foreman of these volunteer firemen. On April 10th of 1846, a new engine was needed and council authorized $600.00 to purchase it and it was delivered in June of 1847. Since the water was supplied by bucket brigades that made a line from the closest cistern to the fire, serious consideration was given to the local water supply and it was decided the village needed cisterns in different locations around town. Jacob Scholl was the lowest bidder and constructed three cisterns walled with stone, each holding 500 barrels, at a cost of $92.00 each. In 1853 council advertised for eight more fire cisterns, which were built by H. D. Sheffler for $52.00 each. As the city grew, additional cisterns were added, and at one time totaled seventeen. In 1848, Mansfield purchased a new engine at a cost of $1000.00 along with 600 feet of hose for $441.00 from the D.L. Farmen Co. in Cincinnati. On March 11, 1848 council authorized the first fire company and the constitution for the Mansfield Fire Department was adopted. P.P. Hull was the first Chief Engineer for the department. The Engine House was located on the west side of Walnut between second and Market Streets. A second fire company was organized in July of 1852, known as the "Torrent Fire Co. 2". In 1854 a third fire company was established called the "Young American Fire Co. No. 3". During 1857 a steam engine was purchased at s cost of $5,500. It was one of the most powerful and efficient engines at that time and greatly reduced the work of firemen. In June of 1984, William Harman became the first paid Fire Chief for Mansfield at $60.00 per month. Today the Mansfield Fire Department has five stations spread out across the city. It employs 103 sworn firefighters, responding to fire and EMS calls.

References: Mansfield Fire Museum, located at 1265 W. 4th St., Mansfield, OH 44906 The Early History of the Mansfield Fire Department, Leonard Boebel

Gimac1974 (talk) 01:50, 24 September 2013 (UTC)