Port Clinton’s Early Firefighters - Linda Higgins

Most of us have probably had occasion to be grateful to those selfless individuals who have chosen to serve us when needed during a fire or car accident or any number of unfortunate, often devastating, life events. They arrive quickly and work efficiently and compassionately.

Have you ever wondered, when sirens sound or those red vehicles whiz by, horns blaring, how in the world this worked during the early days here, say mid-1800s through mid-1900s? Port Clinton, referred to in some historical sources as a hamlet, was more fortunate in its youth than many other towns because it did have the lake as a water source. That was a limited resource, however, as carrying the lake water any distance to the fire was a major issue. Often, buildings were left to burn and/or were razed because hauling water was too difficult and/or too slow—but not for lack of effort.

In the mid-nineteenth century, while Port Clinton had dirt roads, and no sewers, street lights or other power sources, or reliable communication, the group of males of all ages who volunteered, at great risk to themselves, was known as the Bucket Brigade. By 1870, Dr. Charles Bainbridge, a local physician and the mayor from 1871 through 1873, was insisting that Port Clinton needed better protection. He organized and fully supported a volunteer group  known as the Bainbridge Hook and Ladder Company. When the old city hall bell, serving as the fire alarm, rang, the volunteers went running. Their equipment consisted of a hand pump with a long handle on each side, requiring the power of 24 men to reach top capacity.  If water was available from cisterns or wells, the building might be saved, but more often than not, if it wasn’t near enough the river or lake, it was lost.

Without street lights, fighting fires at night was even more of a problem, so torches provided the light. The “torch boys” were volunteers as young as fifteen. Two of those mentioned in notes were Will Dickman, Jr., and Joe Kuhnle, whose father volunteered with the company.

Then-mayor Edward Bertsch organized the first official volunteer fire company in May of 1890. He appointed one chief, one captain, one engineer, one assistant engineer and twelve hosemen. When Mayor Bertsch, serving as first chief, was absent, the town marshall would substitute. The company added a hose cart and a steam fire engine, both garaged in the city hall, around this time. The team of horses nearest the fire site would hurry to the site when the bell rang, because the city never owned its own horses, for reasons unknown.

Bainbridge Hook and Ladder Company disbanded about 1900 and the new fire company was officially titled Port Clinton Volunteer Firemen. Eventually, the department added a Willys utility truck with chemical tank and hose to the inventory.  In 1921, they purchased a new Stutz fire truck. They slowly acquired other equipment, and in 1941 the men built their own truck on a Dodge chassis and used it for many years.

Our fire department has since evolved into a well-trained, dedicated group of firefighters and EMTs. The department deals with numerous fires and other life-altering events, as well as lesser problems, with the continued support of a thankful community. Their equipment may be much more effective than that used by the Bucket Brigade, but their willingness to save lives and property at the risk of their own safety is timeless.