Digby CourierTom Farnham's ColumnEidtor of Courier:Tells of Organization First Fire DepartmentThinking it would be of interest to members of the present Digby Fire Department, as well as the citizens of Digby, I will give below a synopsis of the business transacted at the first meeting of the original fire department held in 1887 - sixty one years ago-for the purpose of organizing a company and appointing officers. The following officers were elected:"G. A. Viets, captain; John Daley, foreman; Henry Dakin, assistant foreman; James M. Keen, 1st engineer; E.C. Dodge, 2nd engineer; Thos. S. Farnham, firemen; A.J.S. Copp, secretary and E. Biden, treasurer. Thirty firemen volunteered their services. A committee was appointed consisting of Captain Viets, Foreman Daley, A. J. S. Copp and John Bingay to prepare by-laws and to report at the next meeting.""The engine is expected to arrive soon, when electric bells will be put up throughout the town. In the course of two days Digby may be expected to have fire protection equal to that of any other town in the province."Arrange Fire ProtectionPrevious to the above organization, definite arrangements were made with the Burrill-Johnson Iron Co., Yarmouth, by the Digby Firewards, for a steam fire engine, ten tanks, and an electric fire alarm to connect with the house of every fireman. The tanks, containing about 1,200 gallons each, were contracted for by John Lockwood, and were located as follows: At the head of long wharf; at old Beaman tannery; at the spring above the Methodist Church; behind Oakes building on Water Street; in John G. Rice's yard; opposite Episcopal schoolhouse; near Temperance Hall; at M. L. Oliver's corner; Quirk's tannery; and near McRay's house at the extreme south end of the town. The engine house was put in proper condition to receive the new engine. The whole was completed by October, 1887.Describes Organizations Fire ApparatusIn referring back to the formation of the first Fire Department in Digby, I found a very interesting description of the Digby Fire Apparatus, published in the Yarmouth Herald of October 10, 1887, and trust it will be of interest to your readers, especially the firemen.Remember boys this was sixty-one years ago, when you were still with the stork in that little basket somewhere up in the clouds. The following is the write-up that appeared in the "Herald":"The engine is named "Digby" and makes a very handsome appearance. The boiler is steel, fitted with copper tubes. The frame is 'crane-necked' to allow the forward wheels to turn short around, and while light and graceful in appearance, is very strong and stiff. The water tank is mounted over the forward axle, forming a seat for the driver, carrying a pair of handsome side lights-one on each side of the seat.""The engine, a single one, is placed with the pump vertically, just forward of the boiler. The large burnished copper air chamber stands just in front of the steam cylinders. All the ornamentation is of brass, finely polished.""A reel, carrying the drag rope, is fitted to the forward axle, and the tongue is arranged for running the machine either by hand or horses. Two polished brass hose pipes are mounted just in the rear of the driver's seat, and the suction hose is carried in three lengths, on polished brass brackets along either side of the engine. Friction brakes are applied to the hind wheels with a convenient lever for working them.""The 'Digby' is supplied with one two-wheeled horse reel, carrying 800 feet of hose, and a light four-wheeled horse cart (which can also be used as a tender for the engine) carrying a like amount of hose when required.""We are informed that a contingent of our Yarmouth firemen will accompany the engine to Digby and give it a good send-off. There is no doubt they will meet with a right hearty reception from their brother firemen of Digby. We congratulate our Digby friends on their purchase of so fine a fire apparatus, and we have every reason to believe they will find their new and beautiful acquisition, a most serviceable investment."May the above be of interest and a help to the Digby firemen of today, as I understand that Reginald Turnbull was endeavoring to secure certain facts and data through the years in order to have a complete record of the doings and changes in the fire department. Well these are the facts concerning the start of the organization. No doubt someone will carry on from here.You will notice your humble servants name among the list of officers, both in name and in fact and believe I am the only one now walking God's earth who helped extinguish the fires in Digby sixty-odd years ago, by stoking the old fire engine, "Digby."We had many difficulties to overcome when the alarm was given. Everyone had to report at the fire house to find out where the fire was, send out the hose reel with enough men to operate it, stop at the water tank nearest the fire, uncover the tank and insert the hose in readiness for the engine on arrival. In the meantime, George Wilson had hitched the horses to the engine, and the steam up, whistle blowing and bell ringing, galloped to where the water tank was located nearest the fire. We have been known to extinguish fires; then again, fires have been known to die out waiting for us.Today Digby is to be congratulated on having a very efficient fire department, quick in action, every fireman knowing his duty and performing it.