WELLINGTON
FIRE DEPARTMENT
In 1916, the Wellington City Water Works was a wooden pipe and
very gypseous water leading from wells about two miles north of Wellington.
In 1919 a sub-irrigated flat was purchased from Mr. Rogers. It was
a large open well and the first dependable water source for Wellington.
This purchase was followed by the construction of a water tower, the
placement of a limited number of fireplugs and the formation of the
Wellington Volunteer Fire Department. The first fire chief for the
volunteer fire department was Harry O'Hearn and his elected assistant
was Bura Handley. Mr. O'Hearn moved from Wellington within a year
and Mr. Handley assumed position of chief.
Wellington never had the romance of the horse drawn fire wagon, but
did have a man-pulled hose cart, which was stored just south of the
square. A bell to sound the alarm of fires was placed near the building.
The first fire truck was built on a Model- T chassis and carried only
hose. This vehicle was stored at the Ford garage where Mr. Handley
worked. Later, two chemical tanks were mounted on a Hudson car chassis
to provide a quick step in putting out small fires. Bura Handley built
both of these trucks.
In 1920, Bura and Felix Handley went into business, housing it in
a building just west of the present city hall. The building included
space for the first fire department. This space consisted of room
for the fire truck and an upstairs sleeping quarters for four bachelor
firemen.
In 1923 Wellington's electrical system was purchased from Ellison
Godwin, and a fire hall was built adjoining the light plant. This
building included sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and a polished pole
with access to a lower level where trucks were stored.
Bura had been chief for five years without a salary when the city
decided to start a 24-hour service. At this point he sold his business
and went to work as the evening engineer, along with Darrell Nored
as day engineer and Price Dukeminier as graveyard engineer. About
this same time the city purchased a factory made REO fire truck and
the Hudson chemical tanks were transferred to the Model-T chassis.
This was the fire department until 1925, when the American LaFrance
was added to the equipment.
By 1983, the Wellington Fire Department had a new 115x50 foot fire
station, a tanker truck, a country booster truck, a fast response
truck, a chief's car, a 2500 gallon pumper truck, and an equipment
van. On March 24, 1996, the fire station and all of the equipment
inside was lost to a fire. The community, firefighters and auxiliary
were devastated over the loss. All they could do was stand by and
watch everything go up in flames. However, the fire department, auxiliary
and community rallied to the call and began to rebuild Wellington's
volunteer fire department.
A fireman may complete twenty years' service, and want to remain a
fireman as have Buster Hughes and Jim Sikes. Both are former fire
chiefs. Charter members of the first fire department were Chief Harry
O'Hearn, Assistant Chief Bura Handley, Milford Stockton, Lloyd Ball,
Charles Fairbanks, Darrell Nored, Carl McPherson, Ralph Royal, Roger
Collins, and a barber named Barnett.
Buster Hughs remembers the first call that he made after he joined
the department in 1938. It was a cow shed behind the old Smith Hotel
located at the comer of 7th St. and West Ave. across the street from
the old fire station. The cow shed was saved. Wayne Cudd recalls that
the first call he made after becoming chief was the Cicero Smith Lumber
Co. Wayne served with the department for twenty-five years and was
chief for several years. Hiram Cudd served as Chief and mayor at the
same time for several years.
