Olde Town Pride: 1907-1913
On June 10, 1907, the Arvada Town Board approved the purchase of Arvada's first fire engine. The hand-drawn chemical fire engine arrived by rail from New York City four months later, and efforts to organize a volunteer fire company came shortly thereafter.
Arvada's first "fire engine house" was located on property leased from the C&S Railroad, not far from the water tower that serves as Olde Town Arvada's most distinguished landmark. The engine house was nothing more than a small shelter designed to protect the engine from frost.
A group of volunteers known as the Arvada Fire Company was established early in 1908. By the fall of 1909, these volunteers were equipped with a ladder, 100 feet of fire hose, two hand axes and six lanterns, in addition to 14 portable fire extinguishers and the Rex chemical engine purchased in 1907.
On May 10, 1910, the town board authorized the purchase of Arvada's first hand-drawn fire hose carts. The specifications called for two carts equipped with automatic gongs and wheels that stood more than five feet tall. The carts were also "handsomely 'painted in vermilion" and equipped with polished brass hub bands. Each cart weighed 500 pounds and had a hose capacity of 750 feet.
Two small groups of men known as hose companies emerged following the purchase of Arvada's hose carts. Hose Company No. 1 and Hose Company No. 2 operated under the leadership of Godfrey Reisen, a 33-year-old immigrant who was elected fire chief on June 12, 1911. Reisen's hose companies purchased uniforms and held meetings the first and third Monday of each month.
On December 11, 1911, Arvada's hose companies consolidated and recorded the formation of the Arvada Fire Department. At that time, Arvada consisted of about 840 residents and enough small businesses to provide townspeople with essential goods and services. Martin Klumker emerged as fire chief following consolidation of the hose companies. Klumker was a 33-year-old blacksmith who immigrated to America from Germany at the age of 8.
The early Arvada Fire Department was funded primarily by appropriations from the town board and profits from dances held on the second floor of the First National Bank building. A successful dance could add $20 to the department treasury.
Klumker served as AFD's chief until April 21, 1913, at which time Arthur Kaler was elected chief. During Kaler's term, the department documented rules of order and operating by-laws, many of which endured until the department dissolved in 1999. Kaler served one year as chief and eventually left the department after enlisting in the Army during World War I. |
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