A HISTORY OF THE HASTINGS ON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

After the Sugar Refinery Fire on the waterfront on Christmas Eve, 1875, and “other fires of suspicious origin” concerned members of the community  proposed that a “protective association” be assembled to address this problem along with combating the “roving thieves menacing the welfare of our citizenry.”

“A meeting of the young men of Hastings being called for the purpose of ascertaining their different views in regards to organizing a fire company in the aforesaid place was held in A. Berberts Hall on Maple Avenue, Monday evening, January 31^st, 1876.  The meeting was well attended as much enthusiasm showed…”  - thus wrote meeting secretary, C.A., Nelson.

At the second meeting, held six days later on Saturday evening, February 6^th, Mr. Nelson continues, “The purpose was to elect the necessary officers but as the meeting was not fairly well attended… those present signed a document and roll which has been written, stating that all signing said roll would use their utmost influence and aid in assisting to organize and stand by a Fire Co…and take the roll to have all those not present sign it…”  The meeting adjourned until Tuesday evening, February 8^th.

The “first regular meeting” was held on that date, February 8^th, in the Silver Star Club on Spring Street.  The membership chairman, W.W. Breese, reported the “names of persons who consented to become members."

Foreman – J.N. Havens

Assistant Foreman – W.W. Tompkins

Members: W.H. Hoppock, T.M. Mills, Joseph G. Mattison. J.L. Tice, Charles R. Phillips, Henry Doscher, G.S. Nelson A.G. Havens, William Chrystie, J.V. Dorland, Harry J. Meyer, Abraham Carpenter, Charles Boye,  L.W. Robinson , Charles H. Bevers, William Stechert , Joseph N. Breese, Adam Nix, William Naubert, Caleb Capron , Henry Witchuf, J. McLave,  Adolph W. Bevers, B.F. Tompkins,  Augustus Hopke, James Tompkins, Allen Hoppock, H.M. Ives , John Bonnett, Frank Will, Martin Kittinger

The vote was 12 to 11 to name the organization ‘Hastings Protective Association’ instead of ‘Empire Protective association of Hastings.”

These “good and true men” at that meeting, pledged their time and self-sacrifice, and then backed their pledges with $1000 for an “Apparatus, Water & Building Fund.”  One of the members, William Chrystie, gave perpetual lease to Protection’s home site on Warburton Avenue (the property title was transferred to Protection Engine Company almost 100 years later.)  They hauled burned bricks, salvaged from the sugar factory, and constructed the firehouse still in use today.   The building was completed on July 16^th, 1877.  The Protection Engine Company went on to become the first of the four Fire Companies that over 125 years later comprise the Hastings Fire Department.