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Ninety
years old and still very active. Yes, there are people that fit
this description and this is about some special people. Namely our own
Barker Fire Department. Let me add to that title Barker Volunteer Fire
Department. Where would America be without people that volunteer their
time and talents and accomplish so much?
That’s
the way it all started in 1914 when 38 men, by a standing vote,
organized the Barker Volunteer Fire Department. Fighting fires with the
old bucket brigade was to be a thing of the past. Something better was
about to happen.
Years
before the 1914 Charter, a pumper twenty feet long with a pump handle on
each side was brought to Barker from Williamsville by Lester Lum. It
took ten men on each side to operate it. It was stored in a really
small building on Church St. They conducted their business just across
the street in the Sons of Veterans Hall.
The
Barker Fire Department was incorporated in 1917. The directors were Fred
McComb, Louis Bridgeman, Harry Bennett, Lester C. Lum, and Millard S.
Allen.
Progress
was made, larger quarters were needed. In 1945 they moved their
equipment and headquarters to the Reed Building (a former business
location) on Quaker Rd. where presently Atlantic Transformers is
located. The upstairs was set aside for the Auxiliary. There was a
stove, dishes and sink where coffee and lunches were prepared and taken
to firemen on duty. (Hey guys how ‘bout that---who said the good
‘ole days were so bad!) Another room was used by the Village and
Town Boards for their meetings.
In
Jan. 1956 a $3,000 ambulance was delivered to the Barker Volunteer Fire
Co. This replaced the service previously offered by Hood Funeral Home.
That first year it was called into service sixty-three times. (I’m
sure the patients were much more relaxed in the not so luxurious
ambulance over the comforts of the well padded other vehicle.)
More
progress was made. In June 1974, an Open House was held for a fine new
fire hall and recreation center, which was built just down the street
from where they were located. The proceeds of the 1973 Somerset
Sesquicentennial went toward the building. The firemen did their share
to raise money also, by having dances, bingo, paper drives, dinners,
raffles, twenty-week clubs etc.
There
is so much to relate about our Fire Department. As I looked through the
files I wish I could tell just a few of the stories about the fires, the
traffic accidents, their acts of mercy, just a couple stories but space
just does not allow for all this.
I
am, however, going to relate a couple stories as told by Leo Dutcher, a
50-year member of the BFD. The dining hall is named in his memory. Leo
recalls that the first fire chief, called meetings whenever he wanted by
banging on a railroad tire iron with a sledge hammer. He tells in the
article “We practiced by running around the block in a given time and
pulling the fire cart. We had a fair every year to raise money. The
farmers and storekeepers donated produce for auction and there was
always enough cabbage left to have sauerkraut so that we could have that
and wieners at our meetings. Dues were a dollar a year, which was a
day’s pay in those days.”
We
salute and thank the men and women who are there when we need them, our
Barker Volunteer Fire Company and the Junior Fireman that work beside
them. |
Historian's Page - Fall 2004