Wayne

When I was a very small boy and it was getting dark outside and my mother Dorothy, and my sister
Edith would sit huddled together on the davenport starring at the lighted dial of the Zenith consol
radio listening to the Mummers, or the Shadow (Lamont Cranston) etc. the phone would ring and
my mother would wait. If it stopped after the 2nd ring, she would call Engine 7 (old E-7). After my
mother, and sister, it was my turn to talk to Dad, and all was well.

About the boots. After many years of socks wadded-up on the front of my foot ( no matter what
kind ), I finally stopped wearing them. I would however, carry a pair inside breast pocket of my
fire-coat. Did'nt bother me sans socks in winter....When I made capt. I purchased a "stovepipe" cap
from Metropolitan Uniform downtown. I still have it. FDNY wears them...it's a smart looking jaunty
cap...I thought to wear it until some chief told me otherwise. No one ever did. not even on the
3rd. floor....Do I ever remember when the LIME GREEN rigs rolled out of the apparatus dept.
I was more steamed than I care to remember. I actually felt as though I were personally wounded.
Seeyaatthebigone

A guy called " Stinky " He use to sell perfume and he would always squirt the outside phone with some
smelly perfume and when you made a phone call you had to hold it arms length away because it stunk

Remember when you played cards for dishes at some quarters. If you won the first hand (and you
always did as a detail) you started the dishes, then the losers of the last two hands would finish.
Trouble was, by the time that card game was over, you had the dishes done.

Wayne, the gun was a shotgun on E32 to shoot a rope over to gar wood's. They would then hook the rope to
the 11/2
and pull it over to the island. There was a bridge that you were not supposed to use

They tried using the gun the night Gar Wood's went to a second alarm but it didn't get the rope over to the
other side.
Back in the 80's, I found the shotgun in E32's supply room . I later turned it into the shop.

Thanks for the memories. Like a ray of sunshine in a stormy world you came into our computers every
morning. That special calling that we were all a part of was such a life adventure that only Firefighters can
appreciate those events to their fullest. For me you opened that creaky dusty door to the memory room of my
heart. Names, procedure and haunting images from the past were all skillfully popping up on my computer
every morning. Yes......you did make me smile every day. It was a good way to get these old bones ready to
face another 24hrs on earth. As those memories fade into oblivion like the smoke of the many fires we fought, I
like to think I was part of a special band of human beings. People who were brave and giving.
People who were willing to face danger and laugh when they returned to the engine house. People who
were full of fun, practical jokes and a degree of intelligence not displayed in many professions. It was like
living two lives.
One life was that 24hr shift that was spent with a family dressed in blue . The other life was with our regular
family. The second life had us working in many crafts and businesses. Roofers, carpenters, insurance
salesmen ,school teachers, the list is endless. I thank the lord that I was able to be a part of the Detroit Fire
Department.

Here is my favorite JOHN DOE story,

JOHN DOE was an operator, like most Chief Drivers are. He drove Chief Seven.

The chief was a man who looked like an old prospector. He would come on his rounds in the evening and
gather us around to tell fabulous stories. While he told tales, JOHN DOE would be checking things out
including the refrigerator for goodies. They were a unique pair.
One dark smokey Seventh Battalion night a run came in. The fog was so thick you could cut it with an axe.
JOHN and the chief were out of quarters in a flash. The box was right around the corner on Military near
West Jefferson. JOHN was good at arriving on the scene first and stopping the rigs from the dangers of a run
if it was a false alarm.
JOHN arrived at the address and burst out of the Chiefs car on the run. Central had said the fire was at the
rear of the location. He hustled between the houses as fast as he could. Because the fog was so dense he had to
be careful. It was 2 AM and the area was deserted. He could hear the sirens from Eng 27 and Ladder 8.
He knew that Eng 29 ,Eng 37 and Squad 4 were coming at break neck speed. Through the fog he groped and his
hand touched a fence at the back of the house. Then his head bumped into something. His eyes tried to focus
in the fog and darkness. He saw a giant set of lips at eye level. The lips rolled back and reveled a large set of
yellow teeth. It was a giant head and it let forth a screeching sound that almost stopped JOHN'S heart.
He was sure it could only come from a dragon. He later told me that his brain was screaming at his feet to start
running. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that those feet were well on there way
out of there. The rest of his body quickly caught up. After about six steps he crashed into arriving
Firefighters. Down they went in a pile of tools, helmets and curses. JOHN was yelling that there was a monster
back there and to not proceed farther. Of course cooler heads prevailed and the men went as a group to the
back yard. They discovered that a Junk man lived at this location and had a permit to keep a horse in his yard.
John had run into a sleeping horse who had
his head hung over the fence. The only defense the horse had was a startled whiny. It is strange how JOHN
thought that sound was a dragon. The mind can play strange tricks on you at 2 AM on a foggy night in
the Seventh Battalion.

I was in the manpower pool, we called engine 1 (boat tender) the night before we worked and got our detail for
the next day I once got seven details in a row to engine company # _ _ had cot
watch every time you were treated like shit

. Ok.   M-I-C---K-E-Y---MMMOOOUUUSSSEEE.
The man who put the mickey mouse stickers on the clocks
had a rare type of bone cancer. Towards the end his hair turned snow white. I can not remember the year.
He must have been late thirtys to early fortys. He made sure every fire barn watch-desk clock had a Mickey
Mouse sticker. He always applied his stickers stealthily during the afternoon "sleep".

   Scott steel air-tank---37lbs.       Higby-notch---
I found it easy to spin the "male" counter clockwis and stoping when I heard, and felt a slight "click"; then reversing with
a "fast-screw". No pun intended.

.   Do you remember the "Chemox Rebreather"? This one was designed for commercial buildings that had sub-basements
or multible subs. Remember how Chief of training, taught us how to don this affair, and activate it? I believe it was good
for about (2) hrs. One had to screw open a rubber tube and breath into it until the canvas covered rubber bladder filled.
Then with the rubber hose screwed shut you would don the face piece and begin breathing. The bladder was not to be
overfilled. I was looking around and already had the feeling of swimming around in a pitch black sub-basement wearing
something less than a Jacque Costeau aqua-lung. As fate would have it; I never actually used this piece of apparatus ever.
As I remember, none of us at the " fire school" relished the idea of ever having to use this piece of antiquity.

   The Manpower Pool :You were transfered to the manpower pool when you finished your probation.And you
stayed there until the next class came along and pushed you out.I was fortunate: the manpower pool was
canceled when the Class of July '66came up for it's turn. ( I was in the July "66 Class )

I found the code card that was in all of the alarm boxes,thought you would like a copy.
These were used before we came on the job and before the gamewell system.

SIGNALS
From Fire Alarm Box to Central Office

22          Get     22           Pull Box       2nd Alarm
33            ''       33                 ''             3th Alarm
44            ''       44                 ''             4th Alarm
55            ''       55                 ''             5th Alarm
66-1         ''      66-1               ''            1 Extra Engine
77-1         ''      77-1               ''            1 Aerial Ladder

Trailer number must follow 66 or 77 to indicate number
of pieces of apparatus needed.

4             ''      4                     ''             Rescue Co.
5             ''      5                     ''             W. Tower
6             ''      6                     ''             Ambulance
7             ''      7                     ''             Police Amb.
8             ''      8                     ''             Foamite
9             ''      9                     ''             Light Unit
1-2-1      ''      1-2-1               ''             All Companies
                                                             Return to Qtrs.
C.O.       ''      34                   ''             Call Central

The purfume guy was Squirt not stinky.
He was from california, and he went to all the police and fire stations in detroit to sell his stuff.
He didn't drive so he had to hire someone to drive him. He was old when I first met him and he
didn't look any older the last time I saw him.

MANPOWER POOL

     I was confirmed as a firefighter on 9-20-66. As was city policy at that time, I was transferred to Boat Tender 1 . Boat Tender 1, the manpower pool as it was
commonly known, was a company that was used to supply manpower to fire companies all over the city. I don't know when it started, but I was there when it was
disbanded. The 40 newest, confirmed firefighters were assigned to Boat tender 1, 20 on each unit. The boat tender had a Sergeant in charge each day. His job
was to get the list of details from the chief's office downtown. He would match the details to the firefighters he had working that day. He would make the details as
close to your place of residence as possible. On the night before your tour of duty, around 7:00, the Sergeant would call you at home and tell you what your detail
was. The next morning you would report to that engine house just like a regular detail.
     My class was in the manpower pool for three and a half months at which time the manpower pool was disbanded. This was around 1-20-67 and all 40
firefighters were transferred to regular companies. Rumor had it that the board of chiefs didn't think the new firefighters were getting proper supervision.
     I liked the manpower pool because it gave me an opportunity to meet a lot more people in a lot more companies than I ever would have had I been running in a
regular company. It was good to see how different bosses wanted things done and how various F.E.O.s took care of and set up their rigs. I think I was a better
firefighter, more experienced, with a much broader out-look on the fire department, for having been there.

Your mention of the rough toilet paper reminds me that our union referred to that as the TISSUE ISSUE. It was also said that one of our men while on furlough came
accross the factory that made the paper for the fire houses, and when he asked why didnt they send a little better product they said if it was any cheaper they would
have to send us the bark off of the trees.
One other note of interest was a fire in the Engine # _ _district. It was a careless cook and we all knew what that was like, anyway one F.F. who shall remain nameless
came walking out of the building with a pot of steaming stew dumped it on the ground and said I found it Chief only one thing was wrong it was from the wrong apartment
and the lady was not very happy to see her supper thrown in the snow bank.

Wayne do you remember when you had to hand pump the gas pump??? I had to do this at E-38 when I came on the job in 1964..............

That was FEO JOHN DOE in 1964 the infraction was not paying just and lawful debts.
He had his car fixed at a dealer which was a bad job and refuse to pay for the it, the dealer's owner was a personal friend of the Fire
Commissioner and that is how he got taken down on charges,The Union got involved and took it to court and won, that is how we got rid of that
type of penalty, he served short days at E# - - where he was F.F.D. at L# - = at the time. I was a TFF at the time he served his days, I think he was the last man to serve days as a punishment.

Hi Wayne, Do I ever remember...I heard that the city bought a very large consignment of this "paper" back in 1900, and when we came into the dept. they were still
working on that hoard...Hell, you could actually see wood splinters imbedded in the coarse sheets, and it was waiting for us when we had to "sheet"!

Navy 1 & 1/2 " Rockwood with long, and short adapters....Uniroyal,standpipe bundle, & newsbag filled with the "jewels"...We could only take the "mags" if we tore-off the covers.

Hi Wayne, We all remember being "sub/human...a substitute firefighter as it were...Oldtimers would remind us on occassion that our "sheet" had not reached the
river as of yet; and that we had better get upstairs to clean the "sheeters". Usually the Capt. of the house would remind us that we would'nt be "covered" until our
confirmation, and that we should'nt "GET HURT"!? huh??!"?

How about Rockwood nozzle It was brass and you could use a straight stream or fog also you could put and attachment on the end to fight oil fires.

I was watching a WW1 Movie the other day and there smoke masks looked just the one's we used when we came on the job.

NOTE FROM WAYNE
I SENT OUT E-MAIL AROUND THE COUNTRY ASKING WHAT THEY CALLED
THEIR NEW MEN

THIS IS WHAT THEY SENT BACK

____________________________________________________
New York TFF's are Newbee's or Newbee ( not sure on the spelling) 1-6

In Windsor they call a new firefighter a "Red Ass". They even address the trial person like
that at public outings.
Don't have a clue where they get that name.I know one thing,"trial man " sounds a lot better.
Thanks for the memories,

________________________________________________________

We call our new firefighters "cadets" or "boots" (not often). Mostly cadets.
_____________________________________________________
The BFD calls him/her an FFOP, Firefighter on Probation.
______________________________________________________
In Indianapolis new firefighters are not assigned to a station for several years. During this time
they may be sent to various fire stations to fill in for firefighters who are sick, on
vacation, etc. Because of this they are know as "subs"- short for substitute firefighters. They
are also sometimes called "probies"- short for probationary firefighters.
______________________________________________________
Candidate
______________________________________________________
The Cincinnati Fire Department calls its newly graduated fire fighters "Probationary
Fire Fighter". They are also called "6th Man"
_______________________________________________________

Thank you for your recent email to the London Fire Brigade regarding the
correct title for new firefighters.

. You will find that new qualified fighters
are called Firefighters (FF) and trainees are called 'New Recruits'.
_____________________________________________________

We call our new firefighters "recruits".

Fire Chief
Spokane Fire Department

______________________________________________________

To answer your question about new fire fighters we
call them probationary firefighters for a year then
after that they are rooks until a new batch of
firefighters come thru the academy again. Hope this
helps ya out stay safe brother.

Gary Fire Dept.
_______________________________________________________
PROBATIONARY
PROBIE
____________________________________________________
DC Fire Dept. Our new firefighters are called
either "rookies" or "probationers" (probies). Hope that helps...
___________________________________________________
Wayne,
Here in NY we call our new Firefighters Probies...hope that helps you out.

______________________________________________________
Wayne,
Thank you for including us in your research.
We call our new member a "Probationary Firefighter"
We DO NOT call them "Proby" for short.
We fell this is demeaning and counter productive.
If they are transfers from other departments, their probationary time is less than if they are
fresh off the streets.
.

North Boston Volunteer Fire Company
____________________________________________________
FFOP's ...firefighters on probation
_____________________________________________________
Hi Subbie
We call all our new firefighters "probies" for probationery
_____________________________________________________
We call our new firefighters "Recruits", Recruit Firefighters, they wear a
distinctive green diamond sticker on their helmets so they are recognised.
They wear these up until they are fully trained, which may take up to two
years.

FEMALE SCREAMER DOWNTOWN............STELLA
GUY IN ORANGE RAINCOAT THAT DIRECTED TRAFFIC FOR US DOWNTOWN............
........TONY

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FIRST WORK CLOTHES BEFORE PERMANENT
PRESS.................THE CLOTHES HAD A HERRINGBONE PATTERN

ABOUT THOSE GUYS THAT CAME ON THE DEPARTMENT UNDER A FALSE AGE
WHEN THEY ENTERED THE SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR 2 . THEY CAME ON
THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THAT FALSE AGE AND WHEN THEY APPROACHED
AGE 60 THEY TRIED TO REVERT TO THEIR CORRECT AGE...............THEY DIDN'T
GET THE AGE CHANGE AND HAD TO RETIRE

Wayne, Engine 32 carried a "navy" shot-line gun. It was, or about to
be used at the Gar Woods fire. And I believe it was at the foot of
lakepointe. There was a canal

behind residential garages, and at one place, a small bridge for
crossing over to the estate. Fire Dept. policy would not allow engines
to cross over this bridge. In the
meantime some Capt. or Chief 6 actually commandeered a civilian
boat, and we transported rolled line straight across to the place. I was
with E26 at that one. It was a
"manpower" multiple.

Hi Wayne, How about "military time" in 1967? Also, the next year we
would have east-side/west-side command posts...forever.

Wayne the Engine that carried a shot gun ( Not a rifle ) on the rig was
Eng 32 I ran there from 64/67 We had a house that was on an Island
in our district. There was a bridge to the Island but wasn't strong
enough to hold the Engine. So we would fire the shot gun that had a
line on the projectile across the stream and then tie a rope on the line
then we would tie the line (fire) to the rope and the Chief would
stretch the line to the fire. This is the same system that the US Navy
uses when refueling at sea If we have any OLD NAVY MEN, THEY
WILL KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.. Wayne In the
3 1/2 years that I ran there we never used the shot gun.
Also Eng.32 was the only Eng that carried 3 Hard suctions because
our district was by the Detroit river and there was a chance that we
would have to draft at a fire. My entire time as a FEO 19 years out
of 25 1/2 years on the job I never drafted at a Fire, I guess I was
lucky...............1-6

When I started at E-32 in 1964 the kitchen was upstairs, this was
changed in 66 or 67 not sure what year.??

GOOD JOB ON THESE E MAILS, THEY BRING BACK OLD MEMORIES. THAT ONE
ABOUT THE OLD GAS PUMP REMINDED ME OF THE HAND OPERATED GAS
PUMPS I THINK ENG 38 HAD THE LAST ONE. I REMEMBER WE ALWAYS WENT
THERE WHEN I WAS ON DUTY AS A TRIAL MAN. WHEN I GOT CONFIRMED WE
WENT THERE AND I REFUSED TO FILL THE RIG AS THAT WAS THE FEO'S JOB.
AFTER THAT WE ALWAYS WENT TO ENG 41 OR ENG 26 AS THEY BOTH HAD AN
ELECTRIC PUMP. I RAN AT ENG 45 AT THE TIME.

About the real name of red death. I can t remember my own name half the

time so this might not be even close ,I think it was tri sodiom
phosphate made by salvo co. and I think they were located on russel 
just down the street from the repair shop ???

: houses that had walls between companies - I believe E -13
and L -11 had one.

They were located on Milwaukee.

Wayne, Ladder 29 and Engine 32 were the companies that carried a
shot gun. They used it to shoot aline across the Gray Haven canal and
then they could stretch a line across it.

The crazy 8's was the way they recorded the afternoon and midnight
shift differential. Everyone that worked the 24hour shift got 8 hours
for the afternoon and 8 hours for the midnight shift.

I asked the fire fighter who put the Mickey Mouse decal on all
the engine house clocks why he was doing that, and he told
me that when he walked into an engine house he would know if
he had been there before. You got me smiling.
_

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN
       There was no relief at multiple alarms. The first alarm
companies stayed to the end, or were relived by the other unit.

DO YOU REMEMBER SOME OF THE STORIES OF FIREMEN'S FIELD TICKET
SELLERS
      One that I remember was in the 7th. Battalion. JOHN DOE was the regular ticket
salesman at E-# _ _ Every night the Captain would ask JOHN how many tickets he
sold that day? JOHN would reply I, sold 3 or I, sold 2. At the end of the ticket
season JOHN would turn in his ticket money $42. The Captain thought he was
selling two or three books a day not 2 or 3 tickets a day.

When you got a new dress coat or summer or winter pants; you had to report to
the Chief of Dept.Office in full dress uniform to have it inspected. Half the time
they did not have a contract with that uniform company; so they would give you
used and turned in uniforms from people that had retired. Old uniforms had to
be turned in upon retirement.When I first came on the job;they did not have a
uniform contract and so my pants came up to the calf of my legs; my coat would
wrap around me twice. I went to have it inspected and the Chief said,"Where in the
hell did you get that uniform."" I explained there was no contract and it was a used
uniform. He had me turn around twice as he eyed me up and down and said,
"It doesn't look that BAD!!!!!" I was embarrassed to be seen in public. I always
showed up for work before daybreak. It was six months before they issued me a
proper uniform.

Anything out of the ordinary was written in the ledger with red ink. All companies
had to make out a monthly request for supplies. Everyone put down two shammies,
ink pens, pencils, and water pressure reports. Buddy relief forms and rags. (rags
were always like denim or hard surfaced material; would not soak up any oil spills,
just smeared it around.) Always squeezes, mops, mop heads, brooms, pike pole
and axe. Don't forget emery paper.

Do you remember when we had to send in buddy relief forms stating his name
and the day he worked for you and the day you were going to pay him back? It had
to be sent to the Chief of Depts. Office and approved.

Most infractions of the rules were handled by the Battalion Chief. Serious
infractions were sent to the 7th Battalion, on permanent detail. Most details were
to Engine# - - where sulfur dioxide fumes caused them to be sick most of the day.

________________________________
ABOUT "THE JUNK HOUSE"
Wayne, the street name is Heidelberg off Mt. Elliott and the artist's
name is Tyree Guyton and he was a Detroit Firefighter for a very
short time in the 70's

Do you remember 4-10-22 ?  That  
was the last day that the fire horses 
when on a run ,down woodward ave. , the horses names were Peter, 
Jim, Tom, Babe, and Rusty.

Over the years  Detroit had some 500 horses with the average work 
life of only 4 to 5 years.

Do you remember when the guy from engine 31 had an accident with the Wood
Van, he had to have a Cabinet Marker do an appraisal on the Van. I believe that is
correct?

HELLO WAYNE; ENGINE 45 WAS THE LAST HOUSE IN DETROIT TO GET ELECTRIC DOORS, YOU HAD TO
OPEN & CLOSE THEM BY HAND, I CHASED THE RIG DOWN ST. JEAN MANY TIMES SO WE COULD BEAT
THE OTHER COMPANIES TO THE BOX. THE GOOD OLD CHEMOX SUICIDE MASK, THERE WAS A LITTLE
BUTTON ON THE FACE PIECE THAT RELIVED THE PRESSURE IN THE FACE PIECE IF YOU HELD IT TO LONG
YOU HAD NO AIR AND WOULD HAVE TO TRY AND GET IT RESTARTED BY SQUEEZING THE HOSE AND
BLOWING INTO IT WHILE YOU RELEASED THE HOSES IT WORKED SOME TIMES??? OR THE BUTTON
WOULD GET STUCK AND THEY WOULD CARRY YOU OUT,

I SURE MISS THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Remember the Chlorine Kits at Squad 4 & E31's quarters? Anyone who ran at those quarters will. They were
3 wooden boxes small to large.A two man carry. Each was color coded. Yellow, green and red. They were
equipped with tools, clamps, gaskets, etc. to stop leaks in everything from a Hundred pound cylinder to a
railroad tank car. They were kept under the stairway in quarters. I spent 16 years at Squad 4 and I only
remember putting them on the rig maybe four times. Central would request us to bring them on certain runs.
One time we were sent on a run to the railroad tunnel to Canada. There was a derailment with a possible
tank car leak. Because the kit for railroad cars was so heavy, we decided to walk in and if we smelled
chlorine we would go back and get the kit. The cars were not leaking so we got lucky that night.

Also, about the walls dividing fire companies Ladder 21 & Engine 42. Ladder 21
was built in 1921. Engine 42 was located on Grand river between Beverly &
Martindale. In 1927 Engine 42's existing quarters were built next to Ladder 21.
They also have two separate basements.

wayne in regard to your telegraph signals, here are a few you can add.
1-8 asst. chief in serv. 1-9 asst. chief out of serv. 10-10 all cos. in
10-4 silent watch, 11 school,12 no school, 13 flag half mast, 14 flag
full mast, 8 test, 4-4-4-4-dept.radio out of service , 5-5-5-5- dept .
radio in service . then on the gong and register, 15 straight stand by
for radio message in one min., 20 straight blows turn off radio, 1-6
restrict use of dept phone, 1-7 normal use of dept. phone
________________________________

Remember connecting a peice of black hose with a hole on one side in the exact center.This was to blend
both water faucets so that you could get the right temperature.

The other squirt was Engine 36, it didn't work very well.

Wayne, Do you remember all the engine houses where the guys connected the hot and cold faucets with a
piece of garden hose to mix the water ?

Some poles were filled with sand, while others had a square
block of red cedar inside that ran the length of the pole.

Wayne, I hated re-kindles (nests) cause...the thrill was gone.

Eng 47 and Lad 30 at Mt Elliott and Davison had to have the extra Supports in the
basement. They were make out of cement block

Hello Wayne; L19 had a bunch of supports in its basement,so did chief 7's quarters. The
ceilings were falling in both of these buildings the basement ceilings are the first levels floors

E-36 Helen & Miller was a squirt ,I drove it for a couple years.

I found the rig to be top heavy and you had to be careful on the turns.............

If you ever came down to the 7th Batt,you may have run into our two most famous engine
house characters. There was
"The Fonz" from engine 37. This kid thought he was the "Fonz". He mimicked all the sayings
and mannerisms of that TV
personality. .
The most famous kid was "Howard from engine 33 and sometimes engine 29. He always wore
a suit. Probably from the
Salvation Army. He had a high pitched voice and was susceptible to practical jokes. When his
family moved to Kentucky the
guys threw him a retirement party . . A good time was had by all. A few weeks later Howard
came into the Engine house and said they moved
back. He wondered if he could get a welcome home party.

Do you remember Betty, the old gal who lived down the street from Eng. 5.
She hung around E-5 all day looking for a free meal. Called everyone
"hun". She had one joke she told over and over. "What costs more - beer
nuts or deer nuts? Beer nuts, cause they're $1.29 and deer nuts are under a
buck."

At the YMCA there was a Captain from Eng 41. He was the strongest man in America in
the senior division (over
50years old) at least that is what he told me. He would go around and put on strong man shows
for the kids. He would lift weights,kid,small cars and also lay on
a bed of nails in his act. I was detailed to Eng 41 one day the Captain would take 2 fire axes
holding them in one hand with his arm extended and slowly lower the both down slowly by just
turning his wrist until the blade of the axe would touch his forehead between his eyes. A lot of
guys could do 1 Axe but not 2. Also he could
stand by the side of a Seagrave Ladder (truck) and without using his hands and only bending
his knees jump up and sit on the fender of the truck some of the guys
could do this.

Around the turn on the last century, firefighting in Detroit was a dangerous and dirty job, with long hours and very little pay. Firemen frequently had to work ten days (24
hr.) straight before getting one day off. Three times a day, for an hour, they were allowed to go home for meals. Time being
precious, most men took care of everyday
tasks, laundry, dry cleaning and such by dealing with local, neighborhood mechants who would accommodate them with
pickups and deliveries to the firehouse. Shoes,
being an expensive commodity, were frequently given new life with new soles and heals installed by the neighborhood
cobbler.
The cobbler in this particular neighborhood, regularly worked on the firemen's shoes, making repairs as needed. He would
then give the
repaired shoes to his young daughter to deliver to the firehouse and collect his fee. He would always admonish the little girl
not to go into the firehouse but merely rap
on the window, pass the shoes to the man on watch through the window and collect the bill.

Many times the recipient of this transaction, a young FEO, would give the little girl a few extra pennies for her trouble.
The little girl was fascinated with the firehouse, but
mindful of her fathers warnings, would say nothing but "thank you" and be on her way.
Years later this young woman would meet the son of that FEO, a young trialman himself, and eventually fall in love, marry,
and have children of their own. The second
offspring born of that union was my father a retired Senior Chief.

WAYNE:
My uncle was a rookie cop during the depression. On his beat was a fire station; where he
hung out.
He called it "OLD ENGINE 30". He spun many a tale about the going on's there.
Does any one know where "OLD ENGINE 30" was located??
all I know is that it was somewhere on the lower east side
_________
FROM WAYNE
OLD ENGINE 30.. OUT OF SERVICE MAY 1940...NORTH EAST CORNER OF RIVARD
& LIVINGSTON. ORIGINALLY ORGANIZED IN
OCTOBER, 1908 AT THAT LOCATION
ENGINE 30 WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE IN MAY, 1951 AT A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED
FIRE STATION AT MEYERS & FLORENCE ON
DETROITS WEST SIDE.

Hi Wayne,   I always stuck my finger thru the DFD/lightning bolt matrix to stop the
"siren"but always do it on the left-side pushing in and pulling down. The Exec.
Chief and Dep. Exec. Chief drivers actually had "Chiefs # and Aid" on their shields.
Do you remember when we had "Chief of Dept., and Deputy Chief "? Do you
remember when Chiefs actually "went-in". Now they are not allowed to enter while
the fire is in progress. Do you remember that one could go down on charges for
breaking windows to ventilate?

When my grandfather came on in 1921, nearly every room contained at least one spitoon. Not the shiny brass
jobs depicted in so many movies and photos. Oh no, these cussies were cast iron, covered in porcelein, and
they were HEAVY. It was usually the youngest man's job to clean these disgusting things once a day. This
feat was accomplished by holding the cussy over the toilet and scooping out the contents with a bowl brush.
Fun eh!!!

In the early part of the 20th century, many firefighters were gleaned from the ranks of merchant seamen who
plied the Great Lakes in summer and came on the D.F.D. in winter. Their language was, shall we say, colorful.
On one occasion while this old deck hand was cleaning the cussy, he dropped the thing demolishing the
toilet. He gave this explanation to the officer of the house: "Beg to pardon ya Cap't, but while I was cleaning
out the spitter, the damn ting slipped from me mitts and broke the crapper all to hell". (NOTE: If you think
cleaning the cussy was fun, cleaning the wall behind the cussy was just as bad.)

WAYNE,WHEN I STARTED the spittoons were on the floor by
the watch desk.And the wall next to the spittoon was
dirty too,subs had to wash the spittoons & the walls
around it.At old ladder 5 on erskine we had to keep
our feet up while on watch so the rats wouldnt
bite  .






Wayne I remember when this firefighter would say you can't sit in 
that chair its mine , and the young firefighter  would say , why has 
it got 
your name on it?  And the senior FF would say yes and turn the chair 
over 
and show him his name.  Little did the young FF know that every 
chair had 
his name on them

Back in the late 1950's at Engine 22 Captain JOHN DOE went on vacation,and while he was gone

FF JOHN SMITH took all the spittoons and got rid them.

When the Captain got back he was hoppin mad.what FF SMITH didnt know there were 6 more in the attic.

When Captain JOHN DOE went on kelly change FF SMITH AND FF JOHES got rid of the cuzzys again.

When the Captain got back this time he was furious and threatened transfers, but at the time nobody saw who

did it.

Captain DOE then went all over thr fifth battalion and skronged up 6 more cuzzys, FF SMITH

had to wait a long time for the Captain to go on vacation again, but he finally won out and

got rid all cuzzys at Engine 22.

I think he started the trend to remove those filthy cuzzys.

HELLO WAYNE; WHEN I CAME ON THE JOB EVERYTHING WAS PUMPED OUT BY HAND, EXCEPT

DURING THE BEGINNING OF HYDRANT SEASON. THEN EACH BATTALION WAS ALLOWED THE

HYDRANT CAR. THERE WERE TWO OF THEM, DURING THE YEAR THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO FIRE

PREVENTION AS INSPECTOR CARS THEY BOTH HAD AN ELECTRIC AIR COMPRESSOR IN THE

TRUNK, YOU WOULD TRY AND HOOK UP WITH ANOTHER ENGINE HOUSE SO YOU WOULD HAVE

TWO GUYS WORKING TOGETHER, AND YOU WOULD PUMP HYDRANTS FROM SUNUP TO

SUNDOWN UNTIL THEY WERE DONE YOU ONLY GOT THE CAR FOR ONE DAY FOR YOUR ENGINE

HOUSE SO YOU HAD TO HUSTLE, IF YOU GOT ANOTHER HOUSE TO GO ALONG WITH YOU, YOU

HAD TWO DAYS. WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY BAD HYDRANTS IN THOSE DAYS AS ENGINEERS

WOULD PUMP THEM OUT IN THE SUMMER AS WELL AS THE WINTER LET ME REPHRASE THAT

THE ENGINEERS WOULD HAVE THE YOUNGEST MAN PUMP OUT THE HYDRANT SUMMER &

WINTER. I REMEMBER THOSE FUN DAYS AS I WAS ALWAYS THE YOUNGEST MAN.

Wayne,

c.h.u.d. was a class 'B' movie that lasted about two months at the local theaters

and the guys in the 7th (mostly L-13 / E-33 ) created the term from the movie that

was 'dumb & dumb-er' . They even got the poster from one of the theaters and had

it in the engine house for a while.

   In regards to the old stretchers  we had 3 kinds of soft stretchers
,the solid one where you pulled out the poles & rolled the person . the
one with the slat in the middle , and then you just pulled the slat out of
the middle  and each side  was pulled out with  the poles on either
side, and the real soft one with the 8 canvas handles  no poles ,which
was used for the tight bending stair ways.

The first jaws of life were actually a set of hydraulic tools used 
by bump shops for auto repair that the city got a deal 
on.


Four Sevens was on Dix in the 7th

I was reminded of the pole at Engine 27 that went from the third floor to the apparatus floor. It went straight
down through the dormitory. You had to be careful as you went through the dormitory because if the pole
swayed you could hit the sides of the hole. The pole had a lot of whip in it because of the length. We used to
play a lot of raquet ball up on the third floor and used that pole a lot. I don't think any other house had a pole
similar to E-27.

The "Fonz" went through a faze where he was the "Bionic Man". I was detailed to E-37 and got stuck on
afternoon watch. While sitting in the watch room reading I caught something moving outside the window.
I went to look and witnessed the "Fonz" in his "Bionic Man" mode, moving in slow motion to emulate Lee
Majors. The first time I ever met him he came up to me and told me he was going to kick my ass if I crossed
him. He stood before me, all 5'5" of him, seemingly fearless till I took a fast step towards him and he bolted.
Someone told me that the Fonz was the type of guy that would sit in a sniper position and have the crosshairs
of a rifle trained on you. He really did have a creepy look in his eyes.

Remember when the city decided they wanted to form a volunteer division . They ordered us to go out and
recruit these volunteers. The 7th Battalion went out and did a great job of recruiting . Fonz and Howard
went downtown telling them that they should be Chiefs because they had experience in the engine house
that other volunteers didn"t have. The volunteer meeting featured a full brawl as the Fonz and Howard
argued over who should be Chief of the volunteers. The Training Academy officer who was in charge of
organizing these volunteers was pulling his hair out in frustration.

ABOUT "STELLA" THAT HUNG AROUND DOWNTOWN AND SCREAMED.
. Actually she was an immigrant from Greece her fiancee sent her here so that they both could have a new
start. (she spoke no English when she arrived here) days turned into weeks weeks into months, no fiancee.
As a result she had a nervous breakdown. The nurse's at Detroit General would give her old nurses uniforms
and the first prct some of the pd would give her some money. She hung around Greek town with the hope
that her fiancee would show up.

HELLO WAYNE; I WAS READING THRU ONE OF MY TRADE MAGAZINES, & FOUND
SOMETHING INTERESTING. THE MAGAZINE IS FASTEST STREET CAR FEB.2004
ISSUE. ON THE LAST PAGE UNDER QUACKFACK. " THE REASON FIREHOUSES
HAVE CIRCULAR STAIRWAYS IS FROM THE DAYS OF YORE WHEN THE ENGINES
WERE PULLED BY HORSES. THE HORSES WERE STABLED ON THE GROUND
FLOOR AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO WALK UP STRAIGHT STAIRCASES." THAT
EXPLAINS WHY ALMOST EVERY OLD DETROIT FIRE HOUSE HAD A DOOR ON
THE STAIRWAY AT THE GROUND FLOOR. THE HORSES COULD NOT FIGURE
HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR TO TAKE A 1 TO 4.

Wayne,

used the O'Dell ladder once, in training at E-3;early one Sunday morning so we
didn't get run over! It was a little difficult to set up; but once you knew how; it
was not difficult at all.

HELLO WAYNE; YES IF YOU WERE FIRST ON THE BOX IT WAS YOUR FIRE AND
YOU STAYED TO THE END. I THINK THEY STOPPED THAT AFTER TWO BIG FIRES
ONE WAS MIDWEST PAPER WITCH BURNED FOR A WEEK, THE OTHER ONE WAS
ON THE WEST SIDE AROUND ZUG ISLAND AND IT ALSO BURNED FOR A WEEK
OR SO. THE FIRST TRUCK ON ALL MULTIPLES WAS THE REPORTING TRUCK SO
THEY HAD TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION AFTER THE FIRE.

C'mon Wayne, we could stay there 'till we dropped...IRON
MAN...remember? I always considered it an insult to be
relieved. Period. I know that sounds crazy, but fighting fires
is crazy.

ON EXPRESSIONS
FROM A CHIEF
I WROTE EXPRESSIONS WHEN I WAS A CHIEF, YOU WROTE EXPRESSIONS ON
CAPTAINS COMING UP FOR CHIEF.

Hi Wayne: Meant to answer your earlier letter relative to the extra alarms.
Where we were still fighting a fire after our tour of duty was supposed to end
at 9:00 A.M. We were relieved by the on coming unit who arrived by taxi, no
fooling. Sometimes they didn't arrive until ten o'clock and we did not get paid
any over time nor compensatory time off.
A couple of other things that I remember from my very early days on the job were lighting
the red kerosene lanterns on the rear of Ladder 10 which were that rigs tail lights.
Also as trailmen we had to wash out the spittoons or cuspidors that
the old timers spit their tobacco juice in the day before.
Of course house cleaning where we had to wash all the walls in quarters. Captain
"John Doe" of Ladder 2 made us wash the bathroom walls 2 times because he said we left
streaks on them.
We got even with him when we punched holes in the coffee can
he used to urinate in instead of going into the lavatory during the night.
"FF JOHN DOE" the cook at engine nine prepared a lettuce and pineapple salad for us
and accidentally garnished it with red pepper instead of paprika.
We used to have a lot of fun.

._______________________________________________________________________

Regarding the mattress flare ups, I've investigated numerous civilian fire fatalities where
the guy carrying the rear end of the mattress gets burned to death due to the mattress getting
jammed in the small hallway between the bathroom and other bedroom leading out into the
dinningroom, of many of the older Detroit homes.

Regarding the Sulphur Candles. I remember more than once as the trialman being the one
that had to enter the dwelling and crawl around without a mask in the heavy toxic smoke
looking for them and finding them still burning under beds. I'd almost puke and end up
coughing the rest of the day to try and clear my lungs. The old timers would laugh because
they had previously had to do it and knew how bad the experience was.
__________________________________________________________
QUESTION, ASKING ABOUT BOX 2-9124, UNIROYAL
___________________________________________

I think you are right Wayne. I should remember because I went there many many times. I
remember the soot was hard to get out of your pores when there was a fire there. We went
there so many times they were going to make us honorary employees.

Wayne on that Box 2-9124. "Uniroyal"....old US Rubber. A regular 6th, 1st, and 3rd battalion response, pulling
companies from those battalions on first alarm. E18, E26, Squad 3 and 1, Engine 7, Ladder 14, ladder 10 were
in the early sixties, (if I remember correctly), the regular response.

Yeh,.... any fires in the ducts ete.., and worse were so bad that the residue (lamp black) like chemical
compound could only be washed-off the skin with a special soap we found that Uniroyal carried in one of
their storage buildings. Otherwise it was best attempted by (PINK DEATH).

What did we use to respond there, 4 - 5 times a week??? Just like the ol' delray refinery????

Originally known as White rubber co. then U.S.Rubber co., and finally Uniroyal.
We rolled there alot. When a certain FEO was behind the wheel we would slam
down Jefferson full tilt and nose out a certain company every time. At the last
seconds they would peel off to the left as we slid-up to the plug.

Wayne: You are correct I  responded to that box so many time I 
couldn't hazard a guess. Allen Industeries was another box that 
came in nearly every day while I ran at Ladder 2. Allen was 644 I 
think but am not sure it was over near the Eastern Market and made 
automotive fiber. The ovens were always heating up 
and were slippery as eel shit to walk on top of.

wayne,yes us rubber was 2-9124,I ran at
engine 7 for about a year and responded

there about 50 times. engine 7,9.18 and ladders 6.10 and squad 1,3 and
chief 1,A, AND BOAT TENDER AND FIREBOAT ALSO RESPONDED.

The fire trumpet was presented to the Detroit Fire Brigade on July 2, l849 by the
residents of Windsor and Sandwich, Ontario, Canada. It serves as a testimonial of
their gratitude for the efforts of the Detroit firefighters on the night of April l6 of
that year when they crossed the bridge to prevent the total destruction of the
Village of Windsor..........

Hi Wayne,   Do you remember being in a nasty attic...when you would
un-hook the waist strap of the MSA harness and on your knees, advancing
with straight stream as the bottom of the MSA would slide across the
deck...where there was more AIR.   One fire= one canister.   Too hot to
handle.   Blue/white litmus...Pink/pink litmus.    Conjealed filter layers...
SUCK-IT-UP.   Man down... pass him back... next man up. Every man
there...on the same page. Backing in...hoisting line...packing rig...washing
rig...squeegy deck...COFFEE!

Wayne ......I never had to use the black grit when I was on the job.

......

Do you remember when the Chief would call the details into the companys about
1500 or 1600 hrs. and you were a TFF or sub. After the deckie would answer the
dept. phone he would call out and say "TFF - - - - - Department Phone and you
would come all the way down stairs to answer the phone and put the details in the
book??

.The first day that I worked after I got my badge and they gave me the lst watch it
was great I thought "my first afternoon nap" Then the senior man who had the
afternoon watch said- - - - - sit by the watch desk for a minute I am going up stairs
and play a trick on someone". The trick was on me he never came down............

Wayne; the chamber was used as a pressure chamber to stop the surge of water
when the pipe was closed, which is why we went to centrifugal pumps rather than
positive displacement pumps which were better as they could pump to any height
whereas a centrifugal pump is limited because of clearance between the rotor and
pump case. But mainly because centrifugal pumps are cheaper. keep up the
goodwork & keep smiling.

Hi Wayne,

I was a member of the Jet Boat gang. They were stationed at the police harbor masters compound.

A trailer was donated by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).We worked a 24 hour day.
We only had a department phone at the trailer or portable when on the air.

We would see smoke coming from the city and miss the department radio. We were like the last
battalion.

We started out with a three man ride and could send out the cook. When we were reduced to two
men we would take the boat up a canal to Alter Road and walk across the highway to an A&P
Store.

The people along the canals were very happy to see us. We were the only line of defense on
the rear of their houses. Most were set right on the canal and any land unit couldn't walk around
their homes without a life preserver.

We dove in the Detroit River with the Police Dive Team. The water was so murky that we used an
iron pipe at the end of a steel cable to form a "T" so we wouldn't get separated of entangled with
all the wire, cars and other junk on the river bottom. Even on the bar and only two feet apart we
could not see each other or the hand in front of your face - only feel.

We filled our air tanks at the compressor pump at the Police Harbor Master Station.

We were utilized on a yacht that blew up after being gassed up. Also at the Fisher mansion on
an island. (I can't recall the name of the island.)

When the bridge was unfit to cross (unsafe for motor vehicles) we were the only fire protection
they had. We ferried the land units across the canal a were used to pump into the hand lines.

The trailer and jet boat were deeded over to the Detroit Police Harbor Master when the jet boat
was disbanded.

Chief of Department Emery was the driving force behind the origin of the Jet Boat.

A letter was sent thru-out the department for qualified volunteers.

As I recall we had to have some diving experience and knowledge of the water (compass-waterway
mans-rules of navigation-etc.)

We honed our skills at the Detroit Yacht Club on Belle Isle. (I have a picture of the crew in the pool
and will send you a copy if I can find it).

The Jet Boat was only in service during the boating season.

The boat was poorly designed and the pump shaft would become bent or warped due to the angle
from the engine.

It would shake the boat violently.

After Chief Emery retired, it was out of service for the greater part of several summers due to
maintenance.

The crew returned to their regular companies in the winter and worked very little on a rotation
basis after Chief Emery retired.

NOTE BELOW IS IN REFERENCE TO A PICTURE I SENT OUT OF TWO FIRE BOX KEYS

HELLO WAYNE; THE FIRST ONE IS EASY IT'S A ALARM BOX KEY SO YOU CAN GET INSIDE
AND WIND IT BACK UP AFTER 6 FALSE ALARMS. THE SECOND ONE IS A CIRCUIT KEY OR
JOINER ITS INSIDE THE BOX AND ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE CIRCUITS AT A CORNER ALARM
BOX, IT DOES THE SAME JOB AS THE PINS WE WOULD CHANGE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS AT
THE ENGINE HOUSE WHEN CENTRAL WAS CHASING A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM

Hi Wayne,   that other Squirt was E-36 and we were always relieving each
other at multiples.  We would just get back to quarters and it was time
to go back if it was on the West side or downtown.  Also, E-36 was
E-23's old rig which was really fast but when they added the Squirt it
made it a lead sled and it was very hard to stopped becuse the brakes
would heat up and fade. Keep up the good work,

IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEND ME ANY MORE COMMENTS AND / OR STORYS 
SEND TO:

wisken@mich.com

I MAY HAVE TO EDIT THEM IF THEY CONTAIN ANY NAMES OR BAD 
STORIES THAT DEGRADE OR EMBARRASS OUR "FIRE FAMILY OR THE 
FIRE DEPARTMENT"


THE PURPOSE OF "WAYNE'S STUFF" IS TO:

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

"ONE MORE RUN"

HOW MANY OF YOU OLD RETIREES WOULD LIKE "ONE MORE RUN"
NOT SITTING DOWN
NOT BUCKLED UP
BUT STANDING UP ON THE BACK END
HANGING ON THAT BAR
WIND BLOWING IN YOUR FACE
FIRE COAT FLAPPING IN THAT WIND
JUMPING AT THE "BAD BUMPS
BEING FIRST
AT NIGHT
ALL RESPONDING COMPANIES BEHIND YOU.
ALL..............
SIRENS BLARING
BELLS CLANGING
LIGHTS FLASHING
AN EXPLOSION OF SIGHTS AND SOUNDS BEHIND YOU
IT'S YOUR FIRE
CENTRAL CALLING
EVERYONE'S OUT
SMOKE SHOWING
ADRENALINE RUSHING
CALLING CENTRAL
WORKING FIRE
YOU'RE STRETCHING
YOUR PIPE
FIRST WATER
STAYING LOW
HITTING HIGH
GOING IN
PITCH BLACK SMOKE
BLISTERING HEAT
WHERE'S THE FIRE
MASK FLAPPER NOISE
FIRE CRACKLING SOUND
WINDOWS BREAKING
FIRE SHOWING
NOZZLE OPENING
STRAIGHT STREAM
FOG
FIRE DYING
FOGGING OUT
CLEARING UP
WASHING DOWN
OVERHAULING
PICKING UP
GOING BACK
STANDING ON ROLLED UP LINE
WIND IN YOUR FACE
SWEATY AND DIRTY
BACKING IN
HANGING LINE
LOADING LINE
CHANGING CLOTHES
DRINKING COFFEE
" TALKIN SHIT"
LAYING DOWN

"ONE MORE RUN"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE SOUND THE ENGINE PRIMER MADE WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED.......COME ON YOU CAN'T FORGET THAT
SOUND

DO YOU REMEMBER
JAMMING 4 GUYS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A RIG , IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN IT WAS FREEZING OUT, AND
YOU WERE OUT ON WIRES FOR HOURS
REMEMBER THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS YOU ALL TOOK TO TRY TO GRAB 40 WINKS. THESE POSITIONS KEPT
CHANGING AS THERE WAS NO WAY THE FOUR OF YOU COULD GET COMFORTABLE

DO YOU REMEMBER
YOU SLID THE POLE TWO WAYS
WITH LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS YOU WRAPPED YOUR ARMS AROUND THE POLE
WITH SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS YOU GRABBED THE POLE WITH YOUR HANDS OR HIT THE STAIRS INSTEAD.

SOME "WISE GUYS" WOULD SLIDE THE POLE SLOWLY, BY SQUEEZING IT WITH THEIR LEGS, WHILE WAXING
IT WITH A PIECE OF WAX PAPER THE NEXT GUYS WOULD REALLY ZIP DOWN THE POLE. ACTUALLY IT WAS A
STUPID THING TO DO AS ONE COULD REALLY GET HURT.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE REASONS WHY THE GUYS STOPPED SLIDING THE POLE

INJURIES FROM TWISTED ANKLES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SPLIT OF THOSE RUBBER MATS

AT NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE STILL HALF ASLEEP YOU SOMETIMES RELEASED THE POLE TOO SOON AND
CRASHED INTO THE FLOOR

ALSO AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED THE POLE SLIDING IF YOU SLID THE POLE THAT LEFT THE POLE HOLE
DOORS OPEN AND THE COLD AIR FLOWED DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR. WHEN THE GUYS CAME BACK FROM
A FIRE ALL TIRED AND HOT THEY FOUND THE DORMITORY WAS NOW ALSO HOT..

ACTUALLY IT WAS JUST AS FAST USING THE STAIRS....WHEN YOU USED THE POLE YOU LINED UP AND COULD
ONLY DESCEND ONE MAN AT A TIME. YOU HAD TO WAIT TILL THAT MAN" CLEARED " AT THE BOTTOM TO
HAVE ANOTHER MAN SLIDE.
WITH GOING DOWN THE STAIRS EVERYONE FROM THE DORMITORY COULD BE ON THEM AT THE SAME TIME

DO YOU REMEMBER
AS A YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPER SOME OF THE OLD GUYS WOULDN'T WAIT TILL YOU CLEARED THE BOTTOM.
THEY HIT THE POLE JUST AFTER YOU HIT THE POLE. YOU PUSHED AWAY FROM THE POLE AS SOON AS YOU HIT
THE GROUND OR RELEASED BEFORE HITTING THE BOTTOM AND IMMEDIATELY CLEARED AS YOU KNEW
SOMEONE WAS ABOUT TO LAND ON YOU.
REMEMBER THOSE DAYS GUYS

DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING CHALLENGED AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" TO TRY TO CLIMB UP THE POLE. YOU WERE HALF
WAY UP, SHOWING THE GUYS JUST HOW STRONG THIS YOUNG" WHIPPER SNAPPER" WAS AND YOU
GOT HIT FROM ABOVE WITH A BUCKET OF WATER..............YOU WERE HAD AGAIN YOUNG
"WHIPPER SNAPPER"....WHEN WILL YOU LEARN

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
UNLIKE MANY, MANY OTHER JOBS ( AND OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS) YOU DID NOT HAVE TO BUY ANY
POLITICAL TICKETS, PUT UP ANY POLITICAL POSTERS, CAMPAIGN FOR ANY POLITICIAN ,ATTEND ANY
FUNCTION OR EVEN GET ALONG WITH ANY BOSS TO GET YOUR PROMOTION,
THANKS TO OUR UNION
SOME OF YOU DID DO THESE THINGS FOR YOUR OWN REASONS BUT
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TO GET YOUR PROMOTION .SOME DEPARTMENTS ,
AS RUMOR HAS IT, YOU BOUGHT YOUR PROMOTION, IN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER

DO YOU REMEMBER
CHECKING THE TIRES BY HITTING THEM WITH THE HYDRANT WRENCH

DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING TOLD NOT TO PAINT THE TIRE LUGS FOR INSPECTION AS IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE OFF THE
NUTS

DO YOU REMEMBER
GOING TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO CHECK ON YOUR RIG THAT WENT IN FOR 2 OR 3 REPAIRS AND SAW THAT
IT WAS
CANNIBALIZED TO FIX OTHER RIGS.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE BOX OF SPRINKLERS AND THAT TOOL TO TEMPORALLY STOP THE FLOW OF WATER UNTIL THE WATER
VALVE WAS FOUND TO SHUT IT OFF. REMEMBER HOW FANCY THE WATER DIVERTER WAS ON SOME
SPRINKLERS

DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT ENGINE 48 HAD BOTH ENGINE AND LADDER TRUCK FEATURES. THEY HAD TO BE FILLED IN IF THEY
CAME OVER THE BRIDGE

DO YOU REMEMBER
WE HAD TWO "SQUIRTS"......I THINK ENGINE 37 WAS ONE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER ONE WAS
NEED HELP ON THIS ONE?????????????????????????????????

DO YOU REMEMBER
BRINGING THE WATER EXTINGUISHER INTO THE CAB IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN YOU WERE AT A FIRE FOR
A LONG TIME SO IT WOULDN'T FREEZE
FORGETTING TO BRING IN THE WATER EXTINGUISHER AND IT DID FREEZE DID YOU KNOW THAT THE POLES WERE FILLED
WITH SAND.
AT ONE OF THE ENGINE HOUSE I RAN IN WE NOTICED A SMALL HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POLE.
WHEN YOU SHOOK IT A SMALL AMOUNT OF SAND WOULD FLOW OUT

DID YOU KNOW THAT AX HANDLES ARE MADE OF HICKORY AND THE OLD PIKE POLES WERE MADE OF ASH

DO YOU REMEMBER
HATING A REKINDLE AS YOU WOULD FEEL THAT YOU DIDN'T PUT THE FIRE COMPLETELY THE FIRST TIME

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

FROM BILL LORANGER
wayne in regard to your telegraph signals, here are a few you can add.
1-8 asst. chief in serv. 1-9 asst. chief out of serv. 10-10 all cos. in
10-4 silent watch, 11 school,12 no school, 13 flag half mast, 14 flag
full mast, 8 test, 4-4-4-4-dept.radio out of service , 5-5-5-5- dept .
radio in service . then on the gong and register, 15 straight stand by
for radio message in one min., 20 straight blows turn off radio, 1-6
restrict use of dept phone, 1-7 normal use of dept. phone

______________________________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE OLD FIRE ENGINES HAD DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT PRINTED ON THE
BODY OF THE APPARATUS

THAT THE NEWER FIRE ENGINES HAD DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT PRINTED ON THE
DOORS OF THE APPARATUS

THAT BOTH OLD AND NEW LADDER TRUCKS HAD DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT
PRINTED ON THEDOORS OF THE APPARATUS

THAT ON THE SNORKEL WRITTEN ON THE DOORS WAS................................... LADDER
1
SNORKEL

DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE SNORKEL HAD A LONG FRONT OVERHANGING BOOM AND YOU HAD TO
EDGE OUT VERY CAREFULLY AT AN INTERSECTION THAT HAD BUILDINGS RIGHT UP
TO THE CORNERS. THERE WAS THE DANGER OF SOME CIVILIAN TRUCK SMASHING
INTO YOUR OVERHANGING BOOM.

DID YOU KNOW
THAT IN SOME DEPARTMENTS THE MONKEY TAIL IS KNOWN AS A SQUIRREL TAIL

DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE LAST FIRE ALARM BOX WAS REMOVED IN 1989

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW MANY FIRE APPARATUS DOORS WERE AT HEADQUARTERS????????????????
THE BASEMENT DOOR DOESN'T COUNT
ANSWER BELOW..................TRY TO REMEMBER OLD TIMER BEFORE YOU LOOK

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THE BUILDING THAT THEY SPLICED A GROUND LADDER ON THE END
OF A 100" AIRIAL
LADDER TO RESCUE PEOPLE AND THE YEAR?
ANSWER BELOW

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW MANY TURRET GUNS THE OLD BOAT TENDER HAD
ANSWER BELOW

DO YOU REMEMBER
IF YOUR CAR WAS SLUGGESH IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE UP THE BASEMENT RAMP OF
HEADQUARTERS.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE NOBODY WAS COMING DOWN AND THEN GET
A RUNNING START.

HEADQUARTERS HAD 7 APPARATUS DOORS

THE BUILDING WAS ..THE BUHL BUILDING AND THE YEAR WAS 1984

THE BOAT TENDER HAD 2 TURRET GUNS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN SOME GUYS HAD TO SIT IN THE SAME CHAIR FOR CHOW OR IT WOULD THROW THEM OFF STRIDE.
I GUESS THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE CHAIRS BELONGED TO THE CITY OF DETROIT AND NOT TO THEM

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE EXPRESSION " BOSS BAITER"

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW THE NEW ENGINE HOUSES WERE NICER, AND EASIER TO KEEP CLEAN BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE HISTORY OR CHARACTER OF THE OLD FIRE BARNS

DO YOU REMEMBER
LIFTING THE MANHOLE COVER WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS. YOU PUT ONE HANDLE IN A HOLE IN THE COVER AND LIFTED WITH THE OTHER HANDLE

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW THE PLIERS YOU KEPT IN YOUR FIRE COAT WOULD ALWAYS RUST UP

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW WE AS YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPERS WOULD RUN AHEAD OF THE ENGINE FROM HYDRANT TO HYDRANT WHILE OUT PUMPING THEM, AS WE GOT OLDER WE ROAD ON THE RIG BETWEEN HYDRANTS.

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW IT FELT HANGING ON THE BACK END OF YOUR ENGINE WIND IN YOUR FACE, SIREN BLARING, BELL CLANGING AND KNOWING IT WAS YOUR FIRE

DO YOU REMEMBER
STANDING ON THE TRUCK ON A RUN JUST HANGING ON THAT SMALL DRIP EDGE AND LEANING WHEN YOU TURNED CORNERS.
NO SITTING DOWN, NO SEAT BELTS AND NO OSHA

DO YOU REMEMBER
SOME APPARATUS DOORS WERE SO TIGHT THAT WITH A TRUCK YOU HAD TO JOCKEY A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET IT BACK IN QUARTERS. YOU VERY SELDOM MADE IT ON THE FIRST TRY

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE CHUNKS OF WOOD MISSING FROM THOSE OLD APPARATUS DOORS DUE TO BEING HIT. REMEMBER HOW THE "OFU" WOULD TOUCH UP THOSE DOORS WITH PAINT WHEN THEY HIT THE DOORS, WHILE WE STAYED UP TYPING 8 COPIES OF HITTING THOSE DOORS................................YEAH RIGHT

DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW SOME GUYS SAT IN CHAIRS BY BALANCING THEM ON THEIR BACK TWO LEGS AND LEANING AGAINST A WALL
REMEMBER THEM FALLING EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, REMEMBER LAUGHING

DO YOU REMEMBER
CLEANING THE KITCHEN GREASE TRAPS, A YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPERS JOB
SENDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THAT LONG HANDLED SCOOPER TO SCOOP OUT THE MANHOLE WHEN IT WAS TOO FILLED WITH GRIME TO TRIP. THEN YOU USED THAT SCOOP TO GET ALL THE GRIME OUT
DOES ANYONE DO THIS NOW THAT YOU RETIRED

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

THERE ARE GENERALLY THREE CATEGORIES OF THESE EARLY FIREFIGHTING TOOLS: 1ST ARE WORKING TRUMPETS. JUST AS THE NAME IMPLIES, THEY WERE USED BY EARLY FOREMEN OR CHIEFS TO HOLLER ORDERS TO THE FIREMEN. WHETHER THEY BE ON THE ROOF OR MANNING A HAND TUB, ORDERS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE BOSS WHO WAS USING THIS DEVICE LIKE A MEGAPHONE. CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS QUITE NORMAL TO FIND THEM WITH NICKS, DENTS, DINGS AND SCRATCHES. THIS ADDS TO THE EFFECT. FIREMEN OF THE DAY WERE NOT SHY IN USING THEIR TRUMPET IN A FIGHT WITH A RIVAL FIRE COMPANY. THEY WOULD ALSO PLUG -UP THE END AND USE IT AS A BEER MUG.

SECONDLY TRUMPETS WERE AWARDED TO RETIRING AND PROMOTED MEMBERS OR FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THIS TYPE IS REFERRED TO AS A PRESENTATION TRUMPET. GENERALLY THEY WERE MADE OUT OF SILVER, OR NICKEL PLATED BRASS. EXAMPLES IN GLASS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO EXIST. SOMETIMES THESE WERE VERY FINELY DETAILED WITH ENGRAVINGS, ETC. OF THE PERSON'S NAME AND FIRE COMPANY AND WERE OFTEN DATED.

FINALLY, THERE WERE PARADE VERSIONS. THESE WERE USED FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF LOOKING GOOD AT A PARADE OR MUSTER AND IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR FIREMEN TO PUT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS IN THE BELL WHILE THEY WERE PROUDLY CARRIED DOWN THE PARADE ROUTE - A PRACTICE WHICH STILL EXISTS TODAY.

TRUMPETS WERE MADE OF TIN, BRASS, NICKEL PLATED BRASS, COPPER, SILVER PLATE, SILVER, AND A FEW RARE EXAMPLES IN GLASS OR EVEN COAL.