Culver - Union Township Fire Department 1944-1953
 

1944 - c. Harry Edgington joins fire department

Left to Right - Henry Hinkle, Art Fishburn, Bob Hatten, Peg Blanchard, Sam Woods, Mont Foss, Dave Burns (chief), Bill Wagoner, Don Mikesell, Oscar Booker, Harry Edgington, & Roy Brubaker

1944 - Officers - Elected (Dec 13, 1943)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Howard Maxey - Assistant Chief
A. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1944 - There was a picture taken of the some of the fire department members just after the fire. On the back of the framed photo was written some infromation about the people and the truck it can be found with the photos of the Culver H-Speed Re-cap tire Co. fire just after the fire. It was located at 115 E. Jefferson.

1945 - Officers - Elected (Dec 12, 1944)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Howard Maxey - Assistant Chief
A. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1945 - May 23 - Old fire truck needs replacing, Firemen Warn the Community

Like the old grey mare, the large fire truck ain't what she used to be, according to the members of the Culver Fire Department.

This warning is being issued by the firemen to let the public know the actual condition of its fire fighting equipment so that in case of a complete break-down of the pumper the firemen will not be responsible.

This fire truck is 16 years old, but its condition is not due, in the main, to age but is the result of the bad accident it figured in back in August of 1934.

While considerable money was spent for repairs at that time, the equipment has never operated satifactorily since, as so often happens when machinery has been twisted and torn up.

The pump on the truck is not operating properly now, the firemen report, and is liable to give out completely at any time.

It will cost $200 for an expert from the factory to make an examination of the pump and from $300 to $600 for each rotary gear that must be replaced. There are two or three teeth off the gears now and the pumper is throwing off brass shavings, indicating severe wear each time it is used. It is possible that there is more wrong with the pump than can be ascertained at this time.

For fear that the large truck will go out of commission while fighting a fire, with a probable loss of the property threatened by flame, the firemen have been using the light truck most of the tim recently

This truck is of lighter construction and was purchased as a standby for emergencies and to answer long runs in the country. It wasn't built for the hard usage it is getting now and the firemen are fearful that it will have to be replaced soon if a larger truck isn't bought at once to do the main fire-fighting.

The members of the department are deeply concerned over the condition of the trucks and have decided to let the public know the situation as they see it from the actual use of the equipment, so that they will not be at fault for not having reported the need of a new truck

The decesion to buy a new fire truck rests jointly with the town board and the township trustee.

1945 - May 30 - Township and Town Would Share in Cost of New Fire Truck

To give Culver and Union township adequate fire protection the local fire department figures that a new truck with pumper is needed that will cost $8,250.

Under a previous agrrement covering fire protection, the town and township would each pay one-half of this cost.

This looks like a lot of money. commented the fireman, until you realize that saving one house alone would pay for the truck.

If the present truck broke down and the fire spread to several houses, then the new truck would be a cheap investment.

But if only one house is destroyed because we can't combat the flames where is that family going to move with the present housing shortage? And a person can't re-build right away today, so the loss would be still greater. When a person looks at it that way, then a new fire truck isn't so expensive after all.

The proposed new truck that the firemen believe the community should buy at once would carry 400 gallon booster tank and a 750 gallon per minute pump. It would carry 1,400 feet of hose, 70 feet of suction hose, ladders, and all the other accessories that go with a fire truck.

A powerful pump and suffiecent suction hose proved their worth in the recent fire in Plymouth when the value of being able to pump direct from a body of water was demonstrated in a way that impressed even the firemen from South Bend.

Adequate fire fighting equipment also reduces the cost of fire insurance, it is pointed out, so a new truck saves the people of the community plenty of money in the form of lower premuims. This should be taken into consideration when figuring the cost of a new fire truck, firemen declare.

1945 - Roster

1945 - June 6 - New Fire Truck Would Carry Bigger Tank For Fighting Fires

The new fire truck recommended by the fire department to insure Culver and vicinity adeguate fire protection would carry a much larger booster tank than the present outfit, thereby enabling the firemen to combat fires where a sufficient water supple is not available.

The present tank carries 200 gallons of water with a small hose connected to the tank. This is not enough water to fight a fire of any size ad the small hose doesn't allow sufficient force to knock out the flames.

The new truck would carry 500 gallons, sufficient to last almost an hour. But the important feature would be a large hose that would deliver water at high pressure throught a fog nozzle literally smothering the flames

There have been two fires lately in which the houses were completely destroyed because we didn't have sufficient water and the proper equipment - declared a fireman in commenting on the need of a new truck.

Think of how much it would have meant to these people to have had their house saved from total loss. The amount of damage suffered in these two fires would have paid a large portion of the cost of a new truck!

The new truck would have an important feature in case a serious fire broke out in town - with a 750-gallon per minute pump the truck could pump directly from the lake, allowing out of town apparatus to use the fire hydrant. The danger of too many truck pumping from the hydrants was demonstrated at the Plymout fire a few weeks ago.

1945 - Jun 13 - Need of New Fire Truck Isn't Sudden Idea With Fireman

If there is such an imperativve need for a new fire truck why hasn't something been said or done about it before now? This query was put to a member of the Culver Fire Department last week as a result of statements the firemen have been publishing for the past couple of weeks, calling the public's attention tot he need of a new pumper.

The fireman answered this question by explaining that in June 1944, the firemen presented to the town board the same report they have been making to the public recently. The board stated it was too late to include the cost of a new fire truck in the August budget estimate for 1945, the fireman stated, but that action would be taken after the firemeb toln the board the exact kind of a truck they felt would handle the job

The firement then visited equipment in other towns and had a representative of a fire truck manufacturing company make a personal appearance here so that first hand information could be obtained.

Since that time, the firemen told his questioner, the town board has taken no action, in spite of repeated warning by the firemen that the present truck was not dependable and that when it stops functioning it will be while fighting a fire.

And promises and evasions won't put out that fire - observed the fireman.

The time for making the budget for next year will be here in August, the fireman point out as they urge the public to back them in their plea for adequate fire protection for the town and township.

If the new truck's cost isn't included in this year's budget the the community will have to risk another year with uncertain fire protection.

Under existing agreement between the town and township in meeting the cost of fire protection, each unit of government would pay one-half the cost of the truck, which is placed at $8,250.

It is understood that Trustee D. W. Weaver is willing to enter into an agrreement to buy a new truck, leaving the matter squarely in the hands of the town baord.

1945 - Jun. 20 - Town to Include New Fire Truck in Budget; Issue up to Taxpayers.

The Town Board in its regular meeting Monday evening began consideration of the annual budget which must be completed within the next month.

Becaus of the agitation by members of the Fire Department and the publicity given recently to the need for a new fire truck, the board realized that this would be a major problem in the preparation of the new budget.

Because the board has at no time been approached on behalf of a new fire truck by any group of taxpayers except by the members of the Fire Department, there seemed to be no way to get an exact opinion of public settlement on the matter except by including the cost on the proposed budget; thus the acceptance or rejection of the budget by the taxpayer and the tax board would determine whether a new truck is to be bought.

The purchase of a new fire truck will require an addition to next year's levy of between 42 and 45 cents on the hundred dollars in the town of Culver.

In order to include such an item, the local board will find it necessary to eliminate a number of other projects from next year's program. Among these will be previously planned improvements of certain streets.

Critized recently for evasion of the fire truck issue, the board explains that any hesitancy on its part has been occasioned by the feeling that the equipment built in war years in not likely to be of the highest quality or of a reasonable price.

However, persistent warnings of the Fire Department that present equipment must be replaced and charges that the board was creating a grave danger by refusing to purchase the desired truck have led the board to place the matter squarely before the general public for settlement,

The board feels that it is the responsibility of the Fire Department to know the community's needs for fire protection and that the acceptance or rejection of the proposed levy is the privilege and duty of the taxpayers.

Thus by placing the matter in the budget, tbe board will not be denying the Fire Department of its chance for the demanded equipment, nor will it be depriving the general public of its opportunity to use the reguarly provided means of opposing such an item in the annual budget.

1946 - Officers - Elected (Dec 1, 1945)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Howard Maxey - Assistant Chief
A. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1946 - May 22 & 29 - Notice of Additional Appropriation

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Town of Culver City, Marshall county, Indiana, will on June 3, 1946, at 8:00 p.m. Daylight Savings time hold meeting in the Town Hall of said town to consider the matter of adopting a preliminary resolution heretofore adopted by the Trustees of the undersigned town under date of May 26, 1946, providing for an additional appropriation of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to be used by said town in purchasing one-half the cost of a modern fire truck with all accessories.

Notice is further given that if said preliminary reslolution is full and finally adopted, that it is the desire of said town to boorrow all of said Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.000) of the Water Works Fund of said town and to re-pay the same over a period of not to exceed three (3) years with interest at three per cent (3%) per annum, with the privilege given to pay any amount of said indebtedness at any time.

Ten or more taxpayers, in any such municipal corporation in said township other than those who pay poll tax who are affected by any such levy by such additional appropriation, may file a petition with the County Auditor of Marshall county Indiana in the form of an objection at any time within the time subscribed by law, all as provided by Section 64-1331 of Burns Revised Statutes 1933.

Town of Culver City by W. R. Easterday, Secretary-Treas.

Attest: C. L. Shively, Condrad Mattox, Frank McLane, Members of the Town Board.

1946 - Dec 25 - New Fire Truck Wth 600 Gallon Pumping Capacity is Ordered

A New fire truck with a 600 gallon capacity pummer has been ordered by the town board and township trustee after considering the three bids that were submitted, although nine manufactrers had been invitied to bid on the proposed equipment.
,br> The pumper was purchased from the Howe Fire Apparatud Co. of Anderson, Ind., for $4,590. and the truck chassis was purchase from A. S. McKesson of Culver for $1,764.13. No delivery date has been promised.

The high pressure outfit that was demonstrated here last summer and was favored by many members of the Culver Fire Department was not purchased as the town board and township trustees had been informed by the Indiana Inspection Bureau that "No characteristic of spray or fog nozzels jusify consideration of such streams replacing the volume available from standard fire department open nozzles where fires have reached a state producing a large amount of flame from well involved combustible material."

The bureau also recommended that the present fire trucks with 350 and 500 gallon pumping capacity be retaine in addition to purchasing a truck with 600 gallon capacity so that there wouldnn't be a deficiency in fire protection here.

The recomendation was made after surveying the local situation and the possible demand for adequate fire-fighting equipment. The bringing of the pumping capacity up to the bureau's standard's will have an important bearing on local insurance rates.

1947 - Officers - Elected (Dec 10, 1946)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Howard Maxey - Assistant Chief
A. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1947 - Feb 5 - Farm Bureau Wants Fourth Fire Truck Town Board Demurs

Culver and Union Township are suddenly getting terribly fire fighting equipment conscious

When the present town board took office January, 1944, the fire department informed the board and township trustee that one of the Culver-Union Townoship owned fire trucks was in very bad condition and just about to fall to pieces.

Plans were made to have it repaired. Funds were asked for in the budget and secured for the repair job, but the fire department still claimed that it should be replaced and not reapaired. Funds were placed in the town and township budgets in 1946 for the purchase of a new fire truck in 1947

The Bean High-Pressure machine carries 400 gallons of water and has two hose lines with fog nozzels that are able to lay down a fog which allows the operator to walk right into the ordinary fire.

The Bean High-Pressure fog machine was specified because the fire department, the town board and township trustee thought it the best equipment to buy, but to keep bids competitive, the specifications ended with an invitation to bid on any kind of equipment.

Specifications were mailed to nine companies making such machines. Three bids were received and are on file at the town clerk's office where any one is welcome to see them.

The board and trustee were informed by the Indiana Inscpection Bureau that -
We believe that no charaterictics of spray or fog nozzels justify consideration of such streams replacing the volume available from standard fire department open nozzels, where fires have reached a state producing a large amount of flame from well involved combustible material.

Our records indicate that two pumpers are in your town fire station a 500 g.p.m. pumper primarily used for both town and township response and a 350 g.p.m. pumper used primarily in town.

Credit is allowed in the grading schedule for both pumpers and even with maximum credit given for these two pumpers, the town is still 50% deficient for pumping capacity.

In other words, in order not to have a deficiency under this particular subject, a new 600 g.p.m. pumper is required.

After considering the purchase for two weeks, visiting Howe plant at Anderson, and talking it over again after arriving home, the order was given to the Howe Company for a 500-600 gallons per minute pumper.

The pumper and equipment purchased is priced at $4,590.00 and the truck purchased from A. R. McKesson is priced at $1,764.13.

Representatives of the Farm Bureau were disappointed when they learned that the high pressure fog system was not purhased and after the matter was taken up and discussed at the regular Farm Bureau meeting, a special meeting was call to discuss the fire truck purchase.

This meeting unanimously insisted that along with the purchase of the 500-600 g.p.m. pumper for general use, a Bean High-Pressure truck should be purchased to provided added protection to both country and town in handling small fires than can be reached by a light truck and fog extinguisher.

At the town board meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, which was attended by the township trustee and advisory board, a group or representative from the Farm Bureau was present and requested that the Bean High-Pressure fog machine also be purchased to provide adequate protection for the township where large quanitites of water could not be obtained to keep the pumper in operation.

The town board and township trustee beleived that they should not buy two fire trucks in one year, or in two years, but at the request of the Farm Bureau representatives; W. O. Osborn of the local bank was consulted and agreed to make the purchase and rent the machine to the town and township until such time the trustee and town board can raise the funds in the regular way.

Committees from the Chamber of Commerce, Loins Club, and Farm Bureau will meet at the Town Hall, Thursday evening Feb. 6, at 7:30 o'clock and all others in the town and townsohip who are interested are invited to be present and express their opinions.

Unless there is considerable objection, the town board and township trustee will buy the second fire truck and enter the cost in next years budget.

1947 - Feb 19 - Town Board Vetoes Fourth Fire Truck

Believes High Pressure Outfit No Neccessary For Rural Protection

After several weeks of agitation and consideration, the town board voted unanimously Monday night not to purchase a high pressure fog outfit for fighting fires.

The equipment had been requested by the local Farm Bureau, with the town and township sharing in the purchase cost, on the belief that it would furnish better fire protection in the rural areas.

The town dads heard arguements pro and con on the local situation and studied recommedations of experts. Their conculsion was that the present equipment and the new standard fire truck that has been ordered will give the best possible protection and that the purchase of the high pressure fog outfit would be a needless waste on the taxpayer's money.

Letter from fire chiefs in two of the largest cities in the state confirm the decision of the board.

These men are professionals in their field and have no special interest in any make or type of equipment, except as to its efficiency in fighting fires.

The letter of one of these fire chiefs follows:
In reply to your inquiry regarding the Bean High-Pressure fog fire fighting equipment. I wish to advise that we have none in our department and it is very little known among professional fireman.

We have fog nozzles on our equipment and if we need fog we use it and it not needed then we can use a straight steam. This gives the same effect as the eqipment you mention, with more flexibility and saving in expense. The fog equipment we use has been approved by the Underwriters and there is no doubt in my mind that it is very efficient on certain types of fires.

In regard to rural fires, it would appear to me that they would have too much of a start by the time the fire department would get there and fog would be just about useless.

As I see it, any time the fire is confined within a building or in one or two rooms, a fog nozzle does a very efficient job, but once the fire breaks out of the building we have to use water on it.


The comments of another city fire chief are worth of considerable study
This city does not have the high pressure fog fire fighting equipment, but we do have at least one fog nozzel on each piece of equipment - sizes are: 1 1/2 inch and 2 1/2 inch. When we use these pipes the engine pressure is between 120 an 250 pounds, varying with the length of hose in use.

There can be no question of the effectivness of spray or fog nozzels for certain classes of fires such as inflammable liquids and for fires in places where smoke is a serious hindrance to fire fighting. No spray of fog nozzles justify consideration of such streams replacinv the volume avaiable from standard fire department open nozzles where fire has reached a stage of producing a large amount of flame from well invovled combustible material.

The results of tests together with the experience obtained in fire service justify the following conculsions
1 Spray streams are excellent worth in killing best of a large body of flame. But that such sprays must have sufficient volume or discharge.

2. That the reach of the stream is important.

3 That where a structure is well involved, consideration of water damage is not a mjor factor

4 That for fires where a large amount of material is burning, full nozzle streams with reasonable penentration and volume are needed

5 That many of the claims for the effectiveness of the 600 pound fog streams are misleading. it has been found that for effective use of these high pressure streams where there is considerable fire, the application must be made with full open position of the nozzle, which gives a stream with some feathering of the edge. This protion of the stream which might be classed as fog, has no penetration and consequently little extinguishing value

6 I would not advise the high pressure system for fighting rural fires. Time element should be considered.


In our city we have a squad company which responds to all fires in the seven adjoining townships. On this equioment we carry 400 gallons of water and a booster pump, with 400 feet of 3/4 inch hose. In the event a fire should require more water for complete extinguishment, the tanks can be refilled either by the old bucket brigade method or the more modern system of drafting from a well or small body of water.

I have touched only the relatively important phases of a highly techical and somewhat complicated subject.

1947, Feb 26 - Town Board Issues Statement on Fire Truck

Through some misunderstanding in the article in last week's Culver Ciitizen, concerning the purchase of a fog type fire-fighting outfit, the statement was made that the Board of Trustees refused to help in the purchase because they believed it to be un-necessary.

The purchase of the standard type fire truck was agreed upom by the township trestee and the town board instead of the fog type because the Insurance underwriters would not recognise the high pressure fog type efficient all around fire fighting equipment.

When the question arose of buying the fog type as a fourth fire truck, the town board could not do so whether they wished to or not as there was no allowance in the 1947 budget for such expenditure, and they could not and would not obligate the incoming 1948 board to such a purchase.

No arguement of the merits or faults of the high pressure fog equipment was advanced by the board as a reason for not making the purchase of a fourth fire-truck. - Members of the Town Board - C. L. Shivley - Frank McLane - Conrad Mattox.

1947 - Apr. 9 - To Solicit Donations For Fog Fire Truck

At the regular meeting of the town board Monday night a group of men from the rural area, accompanied by Fire Chief David Burns, explained their desire to carry on a campaign for solicitation of funds with which to purchase a John Bean fog-type fire truck.

This group indicated that they feel this equipment necessary for adequate protection of property in the rural areas.

The members of the town board and Trustee Maurice Curtis assured the group that they had no objection to such a public solicitation and expressed their willingness to cooperate in every way possible to guarantee adequate protection for the community.

The method of organizing such a drive for funds was discussed and the group decided to form a committee that will plan and supervise the campaign.

The personnel of this committee will be announced in the next issue of The Citizen.

1947 - Apr. 16 - Urge Citizens to Support Fog Type Fire Equipment

At a meeting of the Culver Union Township Fire Protection Committee Monday night it was suggested that Maurice Curtis, township trustee, and the town board be requested to make a proclamation in the Culver Citizen to the effect,
"That in as much as the farmers, cottagers and the community as a whole stand to benefit from the purchase of the high pressure truck and since an organization staffed by representatives of each of the above groups are giving their time gratis, it behooves every individual to do his part in supporting this worth-while project through public subscription."
Both Trustee Curtis and C. L. Shively, board president, have agreed to the statement.

The members of the committee for raising donations for the purchase of this equipment are: John Newman, chairman; Charles Muehlhausen, Henry Henning, Lester Brown, Dave Burns, Sam Medbourn and Ralph Thornburg.

1947 - Apr 23 - List Advantages Claimed For Fog Fire Truck

The Culver-Union Township Fire Protection Committee, which is planning to raise money through public donations for the purchase of a high pressure fog fire truck lists the advantages claimed for this type of equipment:
(1) Less water damage since one-tenth of standard stream is used.
(2) less maintenance
(3) faster extinguishing due to immediate use and the fog
(4) more protection for the firemen
(5) firemen able to move directly to source of fire
(6) 50 per cent more effective on hay barn fires
(7) the two present fire trucke are antiguated

and due to the wae a new truck could not be purchased sooner, so the purchase of two trucks at this time seems perhaps extravagant, but it is really just bringing the fire department up to date.

1947 - Jun 11 - New Fire Truck to Undergo Test Thursday

Bulletin

Word had just been received at press time that the demonstration has been changed from Thursday to Tuesday June 17.

The new fire truck, which had been purchased by the town and township, will be tested by the Indiana Inspection Board, Thursday, June 12, starting at 9:30 a.m. near the end of Washington street along the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee.

The pumper will be operated for three hours at a pressure of 120 pounds with a delivery of 500 gallons per minute.

These are the specifications of the Board of Underwriters, and must be met before insurance companies will give the area served by the truck credit on insurance rate

The fire truck is a product of Howe Fire Apparatus Co. of Anderson, Ind. If accepted, the town and township will then have three pieces of fire fighting equipment.

THe truck is not to be confused with the high pressure fog type that is being sponsored by certain indiviuals thorugh public subscription and is not appproved by the Board of Underwriters.

The truck to be tested Thursday is approved by the board.

1947 - Jun 18 - Public Opinion

Recommends Fire Truck

The committee in charge of public donations for the purchase of another fire truck has been submited for publicstion the following letter from Edw. J. Haert, chief at Endicott, N. Y. dated March 3, 1947, to sales manager of John Bean Mfg Co, Lansing Mich.
I feel you should reveive a note in regards to our new F. M. C. High-Pressure Fog Fire Fighters.

As you know, this village of about 23,000 people and their Fire Department has the following equipment 1 760 gal. pump; 2 500 gal pummps,, 1 65' serial ladder; 1 chief's car; 1 750 pumper on order to replace the present 750 gsl pump and 1 100' aerial ladder on order.

During the past past 6 months we have placed in service 2 F. M. Fog Fighters. One is mounted on an International chasis and stationed at the Tri-cities airport, the other is mounted on an Autocar chassis with an all aluminum enclosed body carrying sixty some epieces of emergency equipment and is stationed at Fire headquarters.

The first call this Hi-Pressure Fog truck responded to fullfilled all our expectations and amazed the onlookers. Witnesses believed we needed a dry chemical instead of water to put the fire out.

From my experience I would say for the Fire departments now using Hi-Pressure Fog, they are just almost five years ahead of the field and only time will back up my statment.

Here are some of the advantages we have found in Hi-Pressure fog.
• First high pressure fog extinguishes all types of fires with amazing speed
• second fog requires very little water to do its work
• third water loss is greatly reduced. In fact it very nearly approaches the long sought ideal of making the fire and water come out even
• Another big advantabe it its universal effectiveness no matter what kind of a fire, high pressure fog will speedily knock it out.
We have definitely learned that high pressure fog has great ventilation possibilities if properly employed. Also that high pressure fog will not conduct high voltage current back to the nozzlw, even at close range.

85 per cent of our fire loss has been from water and I am proud to say that our F. M. C. Fog fighter has reduced this water loss to a minimum.

The F. M. C. Fog fire Fighter also eliminated our manpower shortage.

1947 - Jun 18 - Firemen and V.F.W. To Sponsor Carnival

An all-week celebration will be staged here by the firemen and V. F. W. post Monday through Saturday, June 23-28, with the attractions located in the parking area at the top of Bunker Hill. There will be midway attractions, rides, shows, and concessions with a total of 22 concessions and six rides, the latter being of all new equipment as a safety factor.

The carnival will be open every night and Saturday afternoon, featuring good clean shows and attractions.

The sponsors have checked on places where the car-| nival company has appeared before and has received high recommendations in every case.

It is pointed out that the local sponsors reserve the right to close any concessions or show that isn't satisfactory, so the public is assured of good clean amusements.

1947 - Jun 30 - New Truck Increases Fire Dept. to Three

The Culver-Union Township Fire Department took on big city proportions last week with the arrival of the new fire truck that was ordered about a year ago.

The new piece of fire fighting apparatus gives the community three pumpers, which should be able to cope with anything short of another Chicago Fire.

The new truck, which has a two ton Ford chassis with Howe pumper, was accepted byt the Indiana Inspection Bureau after a three hour Underwriter's Acceptance Test, a standard set up by the insurance companies and the state.

The pumper has a pumping capacity of 500 gallons, which along with the other truck meets the top specifications of the state for adequate fire protection.

The truck, like the other two pumpers, can pump water from the lake, ponds or wells and also has a booster tank with small hose for small fires not needing a larges stream of water, thereby holding down damage from water. The truck also has fog nozzles, ladders, standard size hose and all the other accessories that are usually found on a fire truck.

The total cost of the new truck was $4,654, half of which was paid by Union township and the other half by the Town of Culver. This purchase was one of the reasons for the local high taxes this year, reported to be second highest in the state.

With the three fire trucks stored in the towh hall now it has been necessary to move the town's street truck to a garage.

This truck is not to be confused with the high pressure fog truck that a group of citizens is proposing to purchase through public donations.

If this truck is added to the present equipment, making four in all, it will be necessary to either enlarge the present fire station or rent storage space elsewhere for one of the vechiles

about 1948 The first two men are not recognized; the first reminds me of Donald Hand tho; [-?-], and David Burns (Fire chief)

1947- Dec 3 - Old Pressure Tank Out for New Fire Truck

The 20,000 gallon water pressure tank has been removed from the north side of the town hall and sold to Standard Oil company for a storage tank. It will be buried at the corner of State Roads 10 and 17 north of Cuvler.

The tank was installed in 1906, providing pressure for the town's new water system. When the present tower was built the tank was kept as an emergency stanby, but the present system does not need the tank.

The room will be used to house the new hig pressure tank that arrived Sunday, giving the community a fourth truck.

The truck was bought by public subscription.

Culver now has twice as much fire equipment as the city of Goshen, it is stated.

1948 - Officers - Elected (Dec 9, 1947)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Howard Maxey - Assistant Chief
A. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure
A. Fishburn - Assistant Chief - elected May 10 1947
Henry Hinkle Captain - elected May 10 1947

1948 - Members and picture of the fire depatment.

1948 - C. William "Bill" Wagner & Oscar Booker joins fire department
1949 - Officers - Elected (Dec 8, 1948)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Henry Hinkle - Assistant Chief
A. M. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1949 - 2 March - 46^th Anniversary

The CUTFD firemen 1949 - Bill Wagner, W. Rolin, Donovan Overmyer, Oscar Booker, Don Miksell, David Burns (Fire Chief), Verl McFeeley, Perch Blanchard, Art Fishburn Irwin Hatten, and Harry Edgington.

1950 - Officers - Elected (Dec 13, 1949)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
{Oscar} Booker - Assistant Chief
A. M. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1950 - C. Herlin Stafford joins fire department

1950 - Aug 20 - Mishawaka Dentist Hurt In Plane Crash

1950 - Sept 20 - A Fire Extinguisher In Every Dwelling Is Aim of Fire Dept

A fire extinguisher in every home and dwelling in the township, is the aim of the Culver Fire Department, who this week began selling and distributing the fire prevention equipment to the entire fire area here.

The fire extinguishers are of the carbon dioxide type which were used so successfully during the past war. Dave Burns chief of the Culver Volunteer Fire Department, explained that various sizes suitable for home, garage, car and truck with all types being refillable at a minimum cost are available. The local Fire Chief pointed out that the prompt use of these fire extinguishers in most cases will prevent .serious damage or loss of life, save calls to the Fire Department, and at. least serve as a check on a fire until the Fire Department arrives.

The fire extinguishers will be on display at the following business houses: Tibbetts Store and Osborn Seed and Equipment Co., Burr Oak; Homer Alberts Store, Hibbard: and in Culver at the Sports Center, the Culver Cafe and the Culver Hardware.

Prices or the extinguishers range from $5.95 to $21.95. Any proceeds derived from the sale of the extinguishers wrill go to the local Fire Department.

1951 - Officers - Elected (Dec 11, 1950)

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
{Oscar} Booker - Assistant Chief
A. M. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1951 - Mar 9 - c. Don Milner & Donovan Overmyer joins Fire department

1952 - Officers - Elected

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Oscar Booker - Assistant Chief
A. M. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1952 - May-Jun - C. Irwin Hatten joins fire department

1952 - July 9 - Volunteer Firemen Have Excellent Recored

1953 - Officers - Elected

Dave Burns - Fire Chief
Oscar Booker - Assistant Chief
A. M. Fishburn - Captain
M. H. Foss - Secretary & Treasure

1953 - Culver Fire Department is 50 years old.

A partial listing of Members were:
David Burns, Fire Chief
Oscar Booker, Assistant Fire Chief
Arthur Fishburn, captain
Monton "Mont" H. Foss, Secretary-Treasurer

1953 Fire department Officers:

David Burns, Fire Chief
Oscar Booker, Asssitant FIre Chief
Don Mikesell, Secretary-Treasure

1953 - May 13 - At the regular meeting of the Culver Fire Department Monday evening (May 11) at the Town Hall, a gold 50-year firemen's badge was presented to Monton H. Foss.

1953 - Jun 23 - Mont Foss was given a six month leave oa absence effective June 22

1953 - Jul 13 Verl McFeely joined the department.

1953 - Jul 16 - Circus appeared in Culver sponsored by Chief Burns and the fire department and made $65.10 from it.

1953 - Sep 23 - Fire Department Will Get New Equipment

Lake Maxinkuckee Association To Pay The Bill

The Culver - Union Township Fire Department will receive a sizeable contribution for new equipment as the result of the action of the Lake Maxinkuekee Association's directors at their meeting held Friday evening at the beautiful new home of President Allan P. Ramsay, 1970 East Shore Drive.

The much needed equipment will consist of new hose, two new high-pressure nozzles, and several powerful hand lights.

The directors approved the allocation of funds for this purpose by unanimous vote and at the same time expressed their appreciation for the excellent service being rendered by the Fire Department...

NOTE: Could this be a picture sfter the purchase

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