They took their last call

They took their last call

Written by Karen R. Thompson Tuesday, 07 August 2007

Fire was a serious threat to early Round Rock residents. The Feb. 8, 1879, edition of the Round Rock Headlight reported, “$20,000.00 worth of property consumed, supposed incendiary bound over to the district court.”

The fire destroyed several houses and almost an entire city block. The man who set it was arrested.

After the Greenwood Masonic college burned down, a hose and hand pump company was organized in 1884. The initial step was to buy firefighting equipment. Clarence Woodward served as the first fire chief of the Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department, and under his direction the department grew. By 1907, a new two-story building was built on Main Street where the volunteer firemen held meetings upstairs, although the structure had no electricity. The men would respond to a bell that was rung whenever they were needed.

As the town grew and volunteers were found throughout the community, the department sought a more effective method to signal the volunteers. A siren replaced the fire bell, and the firemen knew the nature of the call by the signal sounded. Three cycles of the up and down tone were for emergencies other than fire, like a rescue. When 10 cycles were sounded as a unit, the firemen reported to the station to battle a fire. The third signal was two series of 10 cycles, which alerted all firemen to respond.

Over the years, firemen learned new skills and helped raise funds for equipment. The citizens supported the fire department, including the popular “pumper races.” During a pumper race, teams would use the old manual pumps and see which group could make water flow faster, according to Capt. Kirk Glass of the Round Rock Fire Department.

In 1941, with so many of the younger boys away at war, Chief H. L. Stockbridge organized a girls pumper team.

The fire department was manned by volunteers until Oct. 1, 1978, when the city hired Bruce Watson as the first paid firefighter. The volunteer department raised funds to buy equipment and continued to support the paid staff until Jan. 28, when, after 123 years of service, they took their last call.

The Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department donated almost $1 million in equipment to other area volunteer departments, including Coupland, Thrall, Hutto, Granger, Weir and Jollyville. Now, as a fraternal organization, they retain the 1938 Old Engine No.1 Ford fire truck to use in parades and events.

In 2001, the 1884 hand pumper was sent to Fredericksburg for a two-year restoration period at a cost of $25,000. It will be on display at the Williamson County Museum in Georgetown in the near future.

Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department members who took the last call Jan. 28:

• Jeff Ahmann
• Chad Allen
• Patrick Bergman
• Jim Bossard
• Paul Contreras
• Pad Dinkjian
• Brett Fitzgerald
• Mike Garcia
• Jeremy Garza
• Ed Girvan
• Ted Girvan – Asst. Chief
• Paul Manibusen
• Jerry McBride
• Rolla McCrary
• Ted Perry
• Simon Salt
• Robert Schultz
• Craig Stein - Chief
• Kevin Stolle
• Gabriel Wiley

Chiefs Emeritus are: Ben Bustin, Ed Girvan, Roy Krienke and Mickey Pophin. Chaplain Emeritus: Robert Griffith. Captain Emeritus: Ted Girvan. Secretary Emeritus: Stuart Rhohre.