First fire truck bought by citizens’ fundraisers

First fire truck bought by citizens’ fundraisers

Written by compiled by Jim Dawson Thursday, 07 September 2006

After a disastrous fire destroyed most of a block of Main Street in 1844, Round Rock citizens formed its first volunteer fire department.

However, it wasn’t until 1891 that a fire station was built at Main and Mays streets where the water tower is located today. Portions of the money to purchase a used pumper truck were raised by selling boxed lunches for a quarter. The truck was bought from the Page-Chemical Fire Engine Co. of Des Moines, Iowa.

When a fire alarm sounded, volunteer firemen would stop their regular jobs and rush to haul the pumper truck to the fire. The wagon could be hand-pulled by a handle on the end of the tongue or be hitched to a horse.

The wagon had large rear wheels and smaller front wheels for steering. A brass lantern was mounted in front of the wagon for night use. To sound a warning, wheel cams would strike a brass gong with each wheel revolution.

To work the two-cylinder brass pump, 8-12 people raised and lowered oak handles on the sides of the wagon. To prime the pump, a brass primer cylinder sitting on top would be filled from a canvas bucket dipped into the copper primer tank at the back of the wagon. Priming sealed out the air and allowed the cylinders to suction water from pipe inlets below the wagon body. A rubber hose on the wagon could be run to a water supply by dropping the strainer into a nearby horse trough or cistern.

The pumper truck was used until 1929 when it was replaced by a Model T fire truck. In 1999, the volunteer fire department, with the assistance of the city of Round Rock, commissioned Smitty’s Fredericksburg Forge to do a complete restoration of the hand pumper to restore it to functionality and to preserve it for future generations.

The pumper wagon and original fire bell are on display at the Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St.

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