Jas. H.B. McNees town clerk signed the registry and the department was official .In 1900 the Farmland Volunteer Fire Department consisted of 24 Fireman, one Howe handpumper, a two wheel hose cart and a 4 wheel ladder wagon all which were horse drawn except there were no horses, the men pulled them by hand.     In the early 1900's there were lots of reasons to build the fire department up and there should be a few stories as we go to show you why the men were so easily frustrated by not having the proper equipment.  Only having buckets to carry water in made things a little difficult because it was so far from water to the fire's most of the time  was spent running water from the nearest pump to the  fire.  Sometime in the 1900 to 1910 the fire's that the town faced where city blocks burning to the ground due to lack of water and no fire stops. Most of the outside walls to one building was the inside wall of the connecting building so once the fire started there was no way to stop it from burning until the last building was on fire.                                                                                                                                  One Fire that started the men thinking of a way to get more water to the  scene of a fire was the South West block of Main and Henry St ,.burned to the ground. Muncie Fire Department sent  their steam pumper out to Farmland on a flat car to help but there was no water to pump it with so they sent it back.  The Town Board and the Volunteer Firemen got to gather with the Chief from Muncie and the Chief from Union City and came up with the plan to dig systrins around the streets of Farmland so they would have water stored incase of a large Fire. There were six large whole's placed in different parts of town spread out as evenly as possible so the water wouldn't have to be carried so far to the fire's.  These systrins where brick lined and cement and block lined as well as some where just clay lined as long as it would hold water it worked.

The systrins filled with surface water and the Fire Department was set, with at that time seemed like more water than they would ever need.  Then if a fire broke out the pumper was pulled to the closest systrin and water was pumped to the fire. This was God sent because if the men had to carry 10,000 gallons of water just think how many buckets that would have been.  The Town then  purchased a two wheel hand pulled hose cart to haul hose to the fire scene to send water from the pumper to the fire .  The next piece of equipment was a ladder wagon. There was four ladders hauled on this wagon to the fire incase the fireman needed to get on top of building, or to a window to fight fire.  I would guess the fireman of the early 1900 with a hand pumper, hose cart, ladder wagon and 50 to 60 thousand gallons of water in the ground thought they were in as good of shape as our fireman today feel they are.  It must have really been tuff. The Farmland Volunteer Fire Department move on through the years and on April 27, 1920 the town board decided to sell the lot the Fire Department set on along the railroad to Goodrich Bros, under certain financial agreements.  The town had to check on the trading properties since the town owned the ground next to the railroad and Goodrich wanted to build its new elevator next to the tracks the town could take the property where the City Building sets today for the town building and the Fire Department .  The necessary paper work was completed the town sold the railroad property to Goodrich Bros. who immediately started construction of the elevator, and the town started to work on the new Farmland Municipal building.

In or around the 1920's depending on which record you read the Farmland City building was under construction.   This would not only be the city building, it would also house the Farmland Volunteer Fire Department.   A special meeting was held Jan. 7, 1922 to go over a contract with the American LaFrance Fire engine Company representative, to order Farmland's first motorized piece of fire equipment.  The decision was made to order one 1922 American LaFrance Type E Chemical and hose car from Elmira New York .   July 25,l922 at a regular board meeting claim # 56 was submitted to pay for one American LaFrance Chemical pumper for the amount of $2,039.78.

At the July 10, 1923 meeting of the town board a claim was turned in from the C.C.C.  and St. Louis railroad for the delivery of the new Fire Truck. It was delivered to Farmland on a Flat car on the railroad and dropped off on a side rail for us to unload. The claim  was paid in the amount of $78.52.  At a very covenant spot right next to the railroad was Hubbard MFC. which also housed a very large winch for lifting trucks and building wreckers.  The winch was dragged from in the building up to the railroad tracks where they lifted the new Model T fire truck off the flat car and onto the street.  Now Farmland has its first new motorized piece of fire equipment.

The Hubbard MFC business in Farmland has been very helpful over the years to the Farmland Fire Department and this was probably one of the beginning ventures they had together which you will be reading about as we continue .  September 9, 1924 W.E. Taylor was appointed Fire Chief by the town board.

In 1928 Hubbard MFC built the second pumper truck for Farmland on a 1928 Hudson Chassis.  This truck was primarily used to haul hose and equipment it also was equipped with a 200 gal. tank for chemical's to fight fire with

In 1935 the Fire Department was looking for more ways to increase the fire fighting power as in fire trucks.  The next truck would need to pump water and have enough pump and power to shoot water up on the highest building in Farmland.  The Department found a 1919 Stutz which was stationed in Haver D Grace, Maryland. The Fire department bought the truck and oh what a pleasure to pump water clear to the top of the elevator and to the top of any building that was in Farmland. It was like a dream come true pumping water at 500 gallons per minute that's like nothing we have ever seen before. 

Over a period of years as well as not much information the department grew to having trucks hose and fire fighting equipment that most of the departments in the county were only dreaming of. After the early 1950's a group of new firefighters kind of took over the operation and things started changing.  All new Rubber coats boots gloves and helmets were purchased for each man to have his own gear.  Now when the siren rang to alert the fireman they had a fire anyone who was in town came to the Fire Station and put on gear as soon as three men were present the first truck would go, followed by more as the men could get to the station.

In 1951 the City purchased a 1951 Ford Big 6 chassis and brought it to Hubbard MFC and had them start building Farmland's first new midshift pump .  Hubbard's built the truck and by 1953 the truck was complete and put into service. Farmland now has two pumpers and two chemical trucks and a hose wagon.  The Hudson was retired to the back building and the Model T became a hose wagon. The Department grew in size and strength of equipment manpower, the moral was up to a high and the membership decided they could get along with a roster of 17  member.    The department was approached by the Civil Defense at that time and they had some old used radio stations and mobile units.

The Fire Department purchased a base station and one mobile unit to go in the pumper. Now we can communicate with the base incase of needing more equipment men or utility companies notified of emergency's.  In the late fifties the department felt the need to have more water available for town and if the Townships were willing to contract with the city we had to be able to haul water to the country in large amounts. So the Fire Department went to Hubbard's and together they built a 1953 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton Chassis and put a 1000 gallon tank and compartments on the back with a place for three or four men to ride.  Now with men on the pumper and the tanker several people could go and arrive at the fire scene at the same time.

With the building of the new tanker the department retired the 22 model T and in 1954 put all the pieces again and restored the truck for a keep sake.  The Department has came along way in a few years and went through a spell for about 20 years using the same trucks and purchasing new hose as they went and new personal equipment as needing.  Time's were pretty tough through the fifties and early sixties.  Around the year of 1968 the City and the Fire Department were working on plans to build a new station because of the growth of the department they were running out of room .

The old station has one door so in order to get the trucks out you had to back up both trucks and take them out one at a time.  Now things were really happening fast and the city decided to finish the station and about the time the department was to move in they would be receiving a new pumper 1970 Howe 1000 gallon a minute pumper with all the bells and whistles.  The new Station opened in 1970 and in the fall of that same year took delivery of the new pumper.  New  station, new truck, new tower, new contracts with the townships and everything was just perfect.

In 1974 the Volunteers decided to buy a new truck and build a grass rig to replace the jeep they now use.  Truck was bought at Geyers Chevrolet in Winchester and a utility body was ordered, the truck was taken to Mt.Comfort for installation of the new bed.  the truck was put into service and handled all grass and field fires.

In 1975 the Farmland Town Board was encouraged to purchase a new pumper for country fires leaving the other truck to stay in the city in the event there were two fire's at the same time.  1975 Ford Chassis with a Pierce MFG body and 1000 gallon a minute pump and again all the bells and whistles.

Now when the department goes to the country fire they have two trucks with 2500 gallons of water, and a pumper in town to protect the city.  In 1975 the last of the rubber turn out gear was replaced with new material called Nomex a flame retardant material to better protect the firemen. 

Also in August of 1975 the Fireman decided to purchase a new Truck Chassis at The Ford dealership and build a new tanker to replace the 1953 Chevrolet that the Fireman and Hubbard's MFC had built several years ago. They ordered a 1976 F-600 Chassis and built the tank and the compartments and installed pumps and equipment.

Not to leave anything out just going and buying this equipment was not just that easy so to help pay for the things the fireman purchased with there money they held chili suppers, Pancake breakfast, ice cream socials, car washes, wrestling matches and lots of hours putting all this together to be able to have this up to date equipment to serve the community in the best possible way and with the best equipment they could get. Many many pieces of equipment that was use prior to this time was worked for and bought by the Firemen through fund raisers and the women's auxiliary who also worked and helped with these fund raisers. The Town of Farmland and the Fire Department have worked hard and very well together the make the department what it has been and still is today.  Not to leave anyone out the Township Trustee's play a large roll in helping with getting equipment for the fire departments in the townships we cover as well as the County Commissioners who helped buy Rescue Equipment

In October 1978 the department ordered a 1979 1-ton Chevrolet Chassis 4-wheel drive truck to build a new Rescue truck. A new utility bed was installed and the new truck was put into  service. This truck is still as the rescue truck and a first out truck to all fires and accidents.

September 1980 the fireman decided to buy  new grass rig so they purchased a 1975 Jeep CJ-5 4 wheel drive and started to work,  The tanks pump hose reels were installed and the grass rig was put into service.

May of 1986 the Howe pumper the department purchase in 1970 was beginning to need several things done so the department decided rather than spending the money that it would cost to buy a new truck bids could be taken on restoring the 1970 Howe. Bids were let and the City paid the $24,000 and the truck was striped off to the chassis and new tanks compartments , new paint and lots of new equipment was installed and the truck was put back into service.

In Aug of 1986 the firemen finally had enough fund raisers and turned in  fire pay donated time and money to restore the 1922 Model T that belongs to the City and the Volunteer's.  The truck was taken down to the frame and a complete restoration was done and returned and is still used today for parade's and show's . The men paid $8700.00 to complete this job.

Around the same time the firemen wanted to upgrade the trailer that they take the Model T truck around on which was an open trailer and with the new restoration it has to be enclosed.  The city give the fire department the old dump truck that was out of service and it was traded for a Ryder truck bed 21 feet long and enclosed with a full rear door.  This bed was rebuilt by the firemen and new wiring new carpet paint lettering new wheels and axles were installed and the Model T had a new home. 

In 1989 the family of Jack Foutz who was Farmlands first 50 year member wanted to leave a memorial for Jack so the Department contacting some of the retired firemen who had served with Jack came down and built a gazebo. Our original Bell the Fire Department has stored that was use to alert the firemen back in the day was hung in the gazebo and a hand wheeled extinguisher was mounted in the middle. A plaque stated all this was mounted on the outside of the gazebo and a flagpole with flowers and all the decor set off the memorial honoring Jack Foutz 50 years service to the Farmland Fire Department.

In July of 1990 the Fire Dept geared up to celebrate its first 100 years of Service to the community of Farmland and the Townships of Monroe, Stoney Creek and Green.  The people in the community and surrounding area got behind the Department and a celebration was under way.  Anchor Hocking Glass Company of Winchester donated 500 glass mugs with the Fire Departments logo and dates and information for 100 years. The Department painted the inside of the station finished the gazebo and flag pole. Several hundred photographs were on display throughout the station, and Fire Prevention, investigation and equipment displays were set up as well as all the Fire trucks

The opening ceremonies started with the raising of the flag by the Farmland Boys Scout troop, and the flag was brought from the top of the capitol building in Indianapolis  Duane Lantz Chaplin of the Indiana Volunteer Fireman's Association give the invocation.  A brief history of the fire department was giving and introduction of quest, were Indiana State Fire Marshal Bill Goodwin and State Representative David Hoover.  Both spoke on the success of the department and its membership.  The Town Board was introduced and the Township Trustee's  Refreshments were served and the all day program ended starting another 100 years of service.  Thanks to all the people who helped make this a very successful event.

In July 1991 the departments next project was to replace a CJ5 Jeep that has been used for the grass rig, lets face it the thing was worn out.  The department found a real nice 1978 Jeep pick up truck changed over everything from the old truck and now have a real good looking and good working grass rig.

Also in 1991 the department ordered a new tanker and with the Town of Farmlands help purchased a 1991 GMC Chassis and the rest is history. The truck can be seen on our Apparatus page of this site.

In 1993 the department felt the need to replace their number two pumper a 1970 F-900 Ford that had already  been rebuilt once. They ordered the first Custom Cab truck and turned out to be a great truck for the needs of the department. This truck can also be seen on the apparatus page of this site.

In 2002 retired member of the Farmland Department Bill Sunday thought the department needed to have more publicity and the public need to be made aware of all the things the department has stood for and is trying to do for the community so now we have www.farmlandfire.com  Website for the Farmland Department.

2003 time to grow, and three bays were added to the rear of the existing station. The department needed more room for office space , storage and truck bays. Now for a few more years things will be a little easier for moving around.

In 2003 Farmlands oldest pumper was a 1975 and needed work so the choice was to replace it rather than putting a lot of money in it .  The department chose to order another KME pumper and this time to save money but to have basically the same thing as the last one a crew cab International truck was ordered and the pumper was delivered in December of 2003 put in service January 2004. Truck can be seen on Apparatus page of this site.

An for now the Fire Department has 114 yrs. of History for you to read and maybe in the future they will add more good things and more history of the department to this page.  Thanks for taking the tour of the Farmland Fire Department. We are very proud of the accomplishments we have made over the past 114 years, thanks to all the people who have been involved rather you were firefighters or just supporting the department to make this story a great successful community event. 10-20-04 
 

In November of 2004 the Farmland Fire Department purchased a 1999 Ford Chassis with a brand new diesel engine and begin
the process of building a new Rescue truck.   The body was completely taken apart and painted white to match the rest of the trucks
in the department.  After paint and a few repairs such as brakes, tires, wheels, steering box, shocks, wiring the truck was taken to
Goshen for a new bed which was made from fiberglass and aluminum .  The truck was returned to the department in March and the
rest is in the books.  They spent several nights working to complete the truck and put it into service May 2005.

back to top