1903
A special town meeting was held on December 8th to authorize $1,200 to establish a fire department for the Town of Monmouth after the town had experienced multiple large fires including the fire of 1888 which devastated a large portion of the downtown area.
Image from: https://www.mainememory.net/record/15769
1904
Chief Engineer Harry E. Merrill reports that the property on Main Street was purchased from Dr. Edwards for $150.00 and the firehouse was built by a carpenter by the name of Simon Clough. In the annual fire department report Chief Merrill states that the firehouse could use a second coat of paint as it was only given one when constructed.
The department also purchased a used 1852 hand tub that had been in service as “George Bomford” at the Watertown Arsenal. The Hunneman Engine (Serial No. 465) was purchased for $250 including 600 feet of unlined hose and a hose reel (which was replaced by the seller when the original broke during loading). It was renamed “Payson Tucker” and put into service until it was later sold to Gardiner, ME where it was once again renamed to “Benjamin E. Smith”
Hand Tub Database: https://handtubs.com/database/B.html
1942
The department received its 1941 GMC Pumper with a “200-gallon pump, booster tank, hose, ladders, pump guns, and extinguishers”. The 1941 Buffalo Pumper is still maintained by the Monmouth Fire Department and will be on display in the museum.
