THE WABANAH ENGINE COMPANY No. 1
Copperplate handwriting on the first page of a large, leather-bound ledger states: "Record of the Proceedings of the Wabanah Engine Co. No. I of the Village of Portland, and Hose Company #1 of the Village of Portland, Mich." The rest of the book is filled with minutes of meetings, financial records, lists of equipment, and accounts of fire calls for the first quarter century of organized fire-fighting in this community.
At the first meeting, June 12, 1876 in Mr. J. C. Cotharin's building (west side of Kent St.) a group of twenty-eight men signed the roll as firemen. They elected these officers: Foreman, J. C. Cotharin; Asst. Foreman, Ormand or Armand? Brown. Secretary was John H. Peet, and Treasurer, George Pilkinton. Committees were appointed to select a name for the company and to decide on dress uniforms. Both committees performed with alacrity, and the name "Wabanah" was selected, for reasons not revealed. The uniform would consist of "a red shirt cut sailor fashion, with a black velvet flowing collar and wide cuffs of black velvet". Pants and shoes would be black. Caps were more of a problem and it was some time later that the group finally decided on a "leather helmet cap (blue) with 3 seams and a badge of red and blue leather and word "Wabanah" and this device in white. The device was a numeral "I" and a hook and ladder.
Enthusiasm was high and the waiting list was so long it was voted to close it. Admission to the Company was by vote of all the members. Blackballs were not uncommon. Men frequently tried two or three times before being voted in.
Beside their firefighting activities the Company appeared at parades and public ceremonies in their resplendent uniforms, traveled to other towns to compete with other fire companies in exercises and invited them to Portland, engaged in social activities as a group, and gave entertainments such as plays, minstrel shows, concerts and dances at the pavilion on the island. Admission conferred a certain amount of status in the community. That some were over-eager in their firefighting may be assumed from the following entry in the secretary's book: "Remarks by the Foreman in regard to the heroic conduct of a certain member of this company, who on a recent alarm of fire, put on an extinguisher and started for the door without pants,hat or boots. While he (the Foreman) approves of all expedition, he thinks it advisable, owing to the mixed nature of the company liable to be present on such occasions, to put on pants and hat first." (December meeting, 1887)
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fires in factories seem to have been most frequent but house fires took their own toll. Lamps exploded, stovepipes fell down, wooden shingles caught sparks, and boys would smoke in the henhouse.
The Wabanah continued as an independent unit for twenty years, but the time came when the members realized that they could no longer operate in this manner on February 7, 1896, they met, voted to divide the money in the treasury (sixtyone cents each), called the last roll, and D. A. Smith, Secretary, wrote in large letters across half a page "COMPANY DISBANDED".
Two days later an organizational meeting created a new roll of twelve firemen and appointed a committee to make wage agreements with the Village Council. This proposal was presented: "That the Fire Company shall receive $120 per year. And for each alarm of fire they shall receive 5 00 for the first hour and 5 00 for each additional hour or fraction thereof. And to have 150 per hour for reeling hose or testing hydrants or any such extra work."
Horses for the fire engines were supplied by the first man to reach the fire barn with his team, provided the Foreman considered both team and driver in suitable condition. If he selected a second arrival, the first team's owner received a dollar and the one which actually made the run got two dollars. Usually one of the livery stables would be first on hand with a good team. The fire barn was located on the west side of Kent St. approximately opposite the present Village offices.
From 1896 on the Fire Department was an agency of the Village of Portland. The most recent addition of equipment was a $23,000 truck which can pump 750 gallons of water a minute. This brings the number of trucks to five, including one grass fire truck, 3 pumps, and a tanker.
