Half-pint parade unit. 

(Picture reproduced with permission from Salem Fire Protection District)

This piece of apparatus was purchased for the City of Salem Fire Department in the late 1800s. The Marion County Sesquicentennial book (can be viewed at the Bryan Bennett Library) stated that a Mr. Joines was appointed as the fire night watchman (other sources say Mr. Jones). It was his job to patrol the streets of the city watching for fires and alerting the fire brigade to any incidents. 

There is no known picture of the hand-drawn hand pumper that was purchased as #1. (If a picture exists let us know) Basically it was a unit that could be pulled by hand to a fire scene. Replicas similar to this apparatus show that firefighters would tap into the city water supply via holes in the street similar to hydrants and then use a motion similar to a railroad hand car. Hose and Chemical Wagon #2 would have been a transportation wagon only which would carry hose, pike poles, powdered famine, and the foam generator which can be seen in later pictures. 

To the best of my knowledge this is the first motorized vehicle purchased for the City of Salem Fire Protection District. When the district first began the City of Salem was very small, but as it grew as a resting point on the Vincennes Trail many residents began to flock to this quaint little town. Soon there were farms, taverns, and eventually the Texico Oil Company. With the growing population the fire department needed to figure out a way to offer protection to the residence in the rural areas of Salem. Motorized vehicles were quickly replacing horses as the preferred means of power. I once found an article stating that #3 was eventually retired and sold to one of the local cemeteries to use as a work truck. I cannot verify that, but it would be interesting to know if that were true. 

(Picture reproduced with permission from the Salem Fire Protection District)

I know little about these trucks except that when the oil boom hit, #5 was converted to a famine truck. One thing that the City of Salem Fire Department and later the Salem Fire Protection District is known for is their resourcefulness in building apparatus. You'll see what I mean later. The fire department needed a way to fund trips to rural areas, so a "fire insurance" system was set. One source (the Sesquicentennial Book) stated that fire insurance was $100.00/year. 

Okay folks, the jury is still out. This truck is clearly labeled #6. The problem is that Chief Sweeny's Willie's Jeep was #6. So, if any of you know more about this truck...fill us in!

This Jeep was purchased for use by Chief Paul Sweeny. Again this truck is clearly marked #6. So either we had two number 6 trucks or one was purchased from another department and not relabeled? 

Here Lyle Geary shows off the now tight quarters of the Salem Fire Protection District. #7 was the district's first pumper with a cab. Behind it one will see #10 an International pumper.

It is not customary to give trailers numbers these days, but back in it's time #8 was a useful piece of equipment. From what we can tell any firefighter could attach a personal vehicle to this wagon, hook it to a hydrant, and either using hydrant pressure or maybe a built-in pump could pump water from a hydrant. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXBQrdhnVoA

"Trouble At Tonti Station"

(You'll hear the siren in this video (around 10 minutes in)

If you would like to see a finished photo of this truck, go to the SFPD Fire Station where they will have a picture of #23 take by Bill Friedrich. Bill is a photographer/historian who has taken pictures of as many Illinois Fire Trucks as possible. Here's his website if you want to buy photos: www.illinoisfiretrucks.com. I cannot reproduce his photographs, but you may purchase them there if you wish!