City of Franklin, Ohio History Page

History of the Fire Department

In 1830, a small hand fire pump called “The Ringleader” was purchased through a subscription, marking the establishment of the Franklin Fire Department. At least two, and as many as six, firefighters turned cranks which created pressure to spray water which was supplied by a bucket brigade. A Hook and Ladder wagon was then added in 1843. The next addition to the growing fleet occurred in 1850. The fire council purchased a pump operated in a row-boat manner, called “The Whale.” A Brake Engine was purchase several years later and the two served the city for several years.

Sometime after 1850, two cisterns were constructed at Center Street (today’s Main Street) and Fourth Street, the other at Center Street (Main Street) and Sixth Street for easy access in case of fire. In addition to the cisterns, approaches where constructed to the Great Miami River to allow access to unlimited water supplies at Second, Sixth, Seventh Streets with an additional access located between Third and Fourth Streets. The Miami Erie Canal (roughly where current day Riley Blvd. is located) served as a water source commonly used by fire crews to protect the East side of town from the devastating effects of fire.

In 1877, council purchased a Latta Steam Pumper from C. Ahrens & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio and two hose reels containing 1,000 feet of hose each. Sadly, on August 26, 1877 one of those hose reels was destroyed in a fire that devastated Franklin Town Hall. The second hose reel still exists and is currently housed in the Harding House Museum pictured here in December 2000 with Firefighter Jeff Lawwill (left) and Captain Stu Dixon (right).

In 1916 a “horseless” Ford Model-T Pumper, was the next apparatus to be added to the fleet. In 1924, the fire department identified the need to draft and pump water from the original suspension “lions” bridge. The criteria used to make the final selection and eventual purchase of the Beiderman Pumper was the vehicles’ ability to produce an effective stream of water when in use under this strenuous condition.

The City of Franklin has the distinction of having the first full time fire department serving Warren County. At that time, the Village of Franklin was the largest municipality in Warren County with a population of 5,000 inhabitants. Carl Morgan was hired in 1935 to the position of “Sleeper” because his responsibility was to sleep at the fire station every day. He later became the cities first Fire Chief. While we are unable to determine the amount of time off Mr. Morgan was permitted, it probably was only a day or two a month. Carl Morgan’s grandson Sam serves the department as a Lieutenant, Call and Part-Time Firefighter today.

In 1937 the council purchased a REO Speedwagon Pumper. The Speedwagon served the City of Franklin late into the 1960’s.

As a result of an Insurance Safety Office (ISO) evaluation of the Franklin Fire Department, the Village’s second full-time firefighter, Ed Farmer was hired in 1941. Mr. Farmer was promoted to the position of Chief following the retirement of Chief Morgan in 1955. Chief Farmer had the distinction of being the first career paid full-time African American Chief in the United States of America. Chief Farmer remained chief until his death in 1961 at the age of 73. His death was not line of duty related.

Franklin’s first modern ladder truck was purchased in 1948. The American LaFrance was selected to supply a Quadruple combination apparatus which carried 208 feet of ground ladders along with a 750 gallon per minute pump, including a self contained water and hose supplies. The Lafrance Quad served the City of Franklin into the early 1980’s when it was sold to a private collector for $1,100.00. We are happy to report that this vehicle was fully restored to its original condition.

Howard Harville was hired in 1951, promoted to Assistant Chief in 1955 holding that position until 1972. Mr. Harville was then promoted to Chief holding that position until 1982. Chief Harville’s career with the Franklin Fire Department spanned 32 years, and continues to frequent fire department activities.

In 1954 Franklin Twp. purchased a 500 gallon per minute Dodge Pumper to be used to protect its Citizens. Franklin Township purchased a Ford / Sutphen 4 wheel drive Brush apparatus in 1965 to handle off road field and brush fires. This Pumper was staffed by the Franklin Firefighters and was replaced in 1966 by a Peter Pirsch 1000 gallon per minute Custom Fire Pumper.

In 1956, the Village of Franklin became the City of Franklin. Charles Hineline was hired in 1956 as a driver serving until 1961. In addition, in that year Franklin purchased a 1956 GMC Pumper with a 750 gallon per minute pump. This apparatus was in service until 1985 when it was placed into reserve status. The GMC was sold to a Fire Department located in Pike County, Ohio in 1986.

Forrest Johnson was hired in 1961 to replace Charles Hineline as driver. Chief Harville retired in 1982 creating the opportunity for Forrest “Frosty” Johnson to begin serving as Fire Chief, a position he held until 1988.

Richard Berger who served Franklin as a volunteer Captain was hired as the full-time Chief in 1963 following a brief vacancy following the death of Chief Farmer due to changing classifications of the city’s new civil service regulations. Chief Burger served the as Chief until 1972 when he transferred to the cities Police Department.

Wilburn DePew was hired in 1966 bringing full-time staffing levels to four. Wilburn DePew was promoted to Fire Chief following Frosty Johnson’s retirement in 1988 faithfully serving as Fire Chief until 1992. Chief Wilburn DePew continued to perform public service to the City of Franklin as Vice-Mayor through 2003.

In 1972, the City of Franklin began operating the Police, Fire and Public Works Department from the new Service Building located on the corners of Fourth Street and Riley Blvd. Members of the fire department performed several renovations over the years to suite the rapidly changing nature of today’s modern fire department. The original building remained largely untouched over the years except for a small addition to the north end of the facility to provide additional space for the Public Works Department.

The City’s first Aerial Truck, a Quintuple combination apparatus with a 65 feet Pitman Snorkel articulated boom, featuring a 1000 gallon per minute pump, 170 feet of ground ladders, hose, and a 250 gallon water tank was housed in the new fire station. The Firefighters then purchased and donated a Bread truck in 1970, and converted it to a Utility vehicle. In 1972 the bread truck was replaced with a GMC Utility body vehicle purchased by out of pocket donations and fund raising efforts of the firefighters.

Franklin Township replaced the 1965 Brush apparatus in 1975 with a Dodge Pierce Mini-Pumper. This unit was equipped with 4 wheel drive and a 300 gallon per minute pump. The Mini-Pumper not only allowed for off road use but for the response to structure fires in inclement weather conditions.

The city purchased its first diesel-powered apparatus in 1976 with a GMC Universal two-seater apparatus with a 1,000 gallon per minute pump. This apparatus served the City of Franklin Division of Fire as a front line apparatus until June 2004. Its replacement, a state of the art engine features a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) with on-board generator and light tower.

In 1982, Wilburn’s brother, Hugh was promoted from Call Firefighter to Full-Time Firefighter climbing the departments ranks serving as Assistant Chief until 1992. Hugh was promoted to Chief following the retirement of Wilburn, serving until January of 2000.

In 1984, the City of Franklin purchased two Mack CF style Pumpers with 1,000 gallon per minute pumps from the Fire Department of New York, New York. The two Pumpers were retrofitted with new bodies and water tanks then placed in-service.

James Marcum began serving the City of Franklin Fire Department in June 1988. Jim served as Captain for much of his career, filling in as “Acting Chief” following Chief Hugh DePew’s retirement in January, 2000. Captain Marcum retired in 2001 following a career in which he was seriously burned on Sunday, August 20, 1978 at the A&B Foundry from a gasoline tank explosion with Steve Robison and Charlie Lamb. These men suffered serious injuries experienced while performing their sworn duty.

Stuart Dixon was hired as a full-time firefighter in June 1988 also. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 1992, Capt. Dixon serves as the departments Operations and Training Officer.

In 1990 Franklin Township replaced its 1966 Peter Pirsh with a Pierce Dash Pumper featuring a 1,000 gallon per minute pump and 1,000 gallon water tank.

With the development and construction of Interstate 75 and the increasing volume of over the road commercial vehicle traffic, combined with continued development of commercial and manufacturing facilities, the determination was made that the 1972 utility vehicle could no longer effectively serve the city’s needs. A 1991 Ford / Salisbury Heavy Rescue truck was designed to improve the divisions ability to handle several specialized areas of the fire service. The Heavy Rescue, which serves the city today, is equipped with a high pressure mobile air compressor used for refilling self contained breathing apparatus, carries a variety of special rescue tools and equipment and a 20 Kw generator to provide emergency power and lighting.

Mike Perry was hired in 1995 as a shift commander, still loyally serving the city in that role today. Also in 1995, the city replaced the two FDNY era Mack Pumpers in with a single 1,500 gallon per minute Pierce Saber Custom Pumper featuring a 1,000 gallon water tank. “Engine 16” continues to serve the City of Franklin as a front line fire engine today.

Tony Abston was promoted to full-time firefighter in 1996, and again to Captain September 2001 filling the vacancy created by Captain Marcum’s retirement. Captain Abston currently heads the Loss Prevention Bureau responsible for public education, fire safety inspections and pre-incident planning and customer service activities.

The 1970 Pierce / Snorkel was replaced in 1998 with a 105-foot Pierce Ladder quintuple combination fire apparatus. “Ladder 16” (named The Extinguisher by Travis Owens during a Fire Prevention Week promotion) is the departments newest piece of apparatus and is equipped with a 2,000 gallon per minute pump, 137-feet of ground ladders, a 500-gallon water tank, and assorted hose.

Jonathan Westendorf joined the City of Franklin, Division of Fire in September 2000, working quickly to reorganize and expand the services provided to the residents of Franklin.

William Morgan and Joshua Reed joined full-time ranks after being promoted from call firefighters in November 2000 increasing full time staff levels to seven.

Kyle Lovelace, also a call firefighter was then promoted to full-time firefighter in November 2001 filling the vacancy created by the promotion of Captain Abston.

In March of 2002, the north end of the Service Building was demolished following the move of the Public Works Department to its new facilities on Baxter Drive. This made way for the construction of the Fire Departments new stand alone headquarters location at 45 East 4th Street.

During the research and development phase of designing the building, several operational goals were identified and successfully address through the construction of the new facility. The new facility was designed in three zones: emergency services, administrative and living.
• Emergency services include the apparatus floor, gear room, maintenance shop and the multi-purpose room. The multi-purpose room was designed to function as a training room, a community room, and an emergency operations center for large-scale events or disaster management.
• The administrative portions of the building allowed for the addition of office space for specific job functions. A file storage and server room were created and provided the means necessary for the installation of the departments first computer network system.
• Finally the living space permits career and part-time call firefighters the ability to function in an appropriate environment that includes space for physical fitness training, gathering as a shift to eat meals in the firehouse, semi-private sleeping quarters allowing for a diverse workforce, and expanded laundry and restroom facilities.
Special thank you to our sources: Chief (Ret.) Howard Harville, Chief (Ret.) Wilburn DePew, Capt. Stu Dixon. Also used: ISO Town Report 1941

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