Due to unrestricted building, no fire protection, and bad roads, some insurance companies refused to write insurance in the Lemay area; others cancelled their policies on Lemay property. So, after several disasterous fires, Luxemburg Improvement Association organized a volunteer fire department about 1902. Members bought small chemical tanks. Their headquarters was in a store across from the old Tretter's Butcher Shop on Lemay Ferry Road. Later an engine house was built in the wedge of Lemav Ferrv and Little Broadwav. About 1905 a horse-drawn chemical engine was bought from St. Louis. This did some good but the horses were not always available to "volunteer" to pull the fire apparatus.

Due to the same reason of houses burning down and insurance cancellations, a meeting was held September 9, 1904 in Dohack's Saloon, when the Longwood Volunteer Fire Department Fire Association was organized to provide fire protection on the south side of "town." The saloon remained head-quarters until 1906 when an engine house was built next door at Broadway and Etta Avenue. A beer wagon was bought and rebuilt to use the streetcar tracks, and a hand Page pumper was installed, both pulled by hand power. The water supply was from cisterns and ponds. This equipment did good work but proved too heavy to pull through muddy streets.

There still remained the area between with no provision for fire protection, so a few forward-looking men succeeded in getting enough help to serve and organized the Bismark Heights Volunteer Fire Department. Some who had experience with other organizations installed small chemical tanks and carried them on their backs to the fires. These were hardy men since a 5-gallon tank weighed about 15 pounds; the water and acid another 50 pounds; and with axes, lanterns and extra charges they carried a load of over 100 pounds running through mud, cold and rain.

Due to the unorganized condition of the departments the three got together in the summer of 1919 and bought a lot at the corner of Orient and Erskine Avenue and erected a small engine house. The organization had been growing and adding equipment all the time but had been experienc- ing difficuty in keeping track and caring for the equip- ment. Thus, in July 1911 an organization was incorporated so it could have recourse to law to protect the equipment.

During this period the greatest need was an adequate water supply. Chief Chas. W. Swingley of St. Louis assisted in sending the 34 Engine Company to assist if water could be had. The Chief's offer was received with great enthusiasm which, however, did not last long as citizens got the idea that if St. Louis would do the job they did not have to contribute to their local department. This lasted until a large fire at Broadway and Arlee burned for nine hours, when the St. Louis company was called back because the St. Louis taxpayers were raising particular h-1 that they were paying to maintain the company for their own protection and not St. Louis County's.

In 1913 the State put restrictions on the insurance companies and they in turn withdrew from the State and refused to write any insurance and cancelled policies in force. This hit the small homeowner as he was paying off his home and the mortgage holder could not protect his in- vestment. After some months companies began writing again but the better companies stayed out of the community. At the time of withdrawal the rates had been about $1.00 per hundred, but after starting to write again the rate was a minimum of $1.80 and up.

In 1917 the department decided to change its name from Bismark Heights to Dewey Heights in honor of Admiral Dewey, the change being recorded in 1922.

On December 6, 1920 the Longwood and Luxemburg departments were invited to consolidate with the Dewey Heights department as one organization, and to survey the territory to put in fire hydrants. On May 12, 1921 the Luxemburg department turned its equipment over to the Dewey Heights department. On July 9 of the same year the Longwood department turned its equipment and assets over to Dewey Heights.

Fire hydrants were installed at an approximate cost of $190 each and a rental fee of $50 per year. On January 26, 1922 a firehouse at 9703 South Broadway was completed and known as Longwood Engine House No. 2.

A number of second-hand Model T Fords had been secured as fire trucks and on April 26 a new Model T was bought and a coal truck body from St. Louis Department was mounted on it.

April 9, 1925 the lot next to the engine house on Erskine was bought and an addition added to the engine house. This was used for dances and picnics. Having grown, the department decided to buy the Chief a personal car to ride to fires ... for which $5.00 was paid.

During the next few years interest again dragged and the department had trouble supporting itself. A number of hydrants were turned off in localities that failed to pay for them

On October 2, 1932, a modern 300-gallon pumper was delivered to replace the old Model T trucks which carriedNew Station on Telegraph Road the hose and had to depend on the pressure of the mains, which in the summer was near zero. As more hydrants had been added and with a pumper, the fireman had a greater selection of streams and pressures. The fire loss dropped about to about one-fourth of what it had been

On February 9, 1933, a general meeting was called to discuss planned changes in the department. . . after which a tag system was installed. Contracts were made with St.Louis and neighboring departments to assist Dewey Heights upon a code-call from the department. With the yearly tag upon the homes, the number of supporters jumped from 300 to 1500 in the community.

In May 1933 regular firemen were installed at the engine house, giving 24-hour service to the community, and with the telephone alarm system at the engine house, no time was lost in getting under way

During this time the department assisted in organizing the Associated Fire Fighters of St. Louis County, which at that time had members from every department in St. Louis County. A year later Dewey firemen assisted in organizing the Associated Fire Fighters of Missouri, with members covering the State.

(This resume of the fire departments which served in the area of Lemay in its early days was taken from a booklet commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Dewey Heights Department - 1911-1936.)

Items in Neighborhood Link News

Fact or Fiction?

The story is told that in 1905 when a Bobringville Association was formed and cooperated with the Bismark Heights organization, Andrew Pfaff was fire chief. A tough taskmaster, Pfaff required his volunteers to run to work each day to keep in shape. Those caught walking or even half-heartedly trotting, were reportedly dismissed from the crew.

This strict descipline proved to be effective. The Bismark Heights Fire Fighters Association, as the crew was called, was credited for putting out one of the largest fires in the area, at Kurth Grove ... a dance hall that stood at Telegraph and Lemay Ferry Roads.

Bond Issue Passage Was Too Late

In May of 1942 Lemay approved a tax-supported Lemay Fire Department. In December of that year it was discovered that the vote came too late in the year to send out 1942 tax notices.

The Department tried to make the best of the situation by asking "donations" from the residents.

An Axe to Grind!

While firemen of the Dewey Heights Fire Department were combatting a serious fire at the Lemay Theater in November 1932, an axe was lost. The firemen advertised: "Will party who has same return it?"

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