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Show Ex-Firem- R. an, Dean Strong, Brings Back Days By IRENE JONES "Out of these men here In this picture, I'm the only one left. There we-- e over 30 rreT- bers of the Provo Volunteer Fire Department at that time, and out of all of them, I'm the only one still alive." R. Dean Strong, 543 E. 6th S., Provo, is one of the last remaining testimonies of the Provo Volunteer Fire Depart-- j ment, of which he was a member for at least 20 years. The man, who can still recall many exciting and, factual experiences connected with the department, identified without hesitation each member of the volunteers apDtarinu In the accompanying historic picture. He even remembered the horses' names. Early Days Back in the early days of the Provo Fire Department, about e 1904, there were tw0 firemen. Loveless, father of J. Max Loveless of Provo, served as fire chief from 1903 to 1920, except for a brief interval of less than a year In 1908. Rasmus Dean Strong, generally known as "Uncle Dean," was teamster for the department for about six years. He was employed by full-lim- Joseph 91, Recalls Provo Department Near Turn of Century Teamster For 20 Years, v.n of If FT Horse-Draw- n Engines x vwna i. the old Provo Fire Station, 'returned after a short time and which has long since been torn again began working in that and the many fires which sition. he helped to extinguish. He! According to Max Loveless, stated, "The old station was Mr. Strong was an excellent about five rods east of the old teamster and "just had a way post office (now the City Hull) with horses. Those horses had and was near where the City confidence in him and he now Messed an art of driving that Building County stands. It faced north, and the proably no one will ever mast-cit- y J?r again." jail was behind it." The building was located on Mr. Strong recalls how he Center Street on the City and wjuld drive the team as fast County Block, across the street as the horses could run with the from where the Paramount, men hanging on, sometimes in Theatre stands today. It housed the black of night when he could stalls for horses, quarters fori barely see the road. tne regular employees, and a Volunters Listed huge tower with a large bell Men were serving as volu-- l used to summon the volunteers leers during the time that Mr.! to fires. Strong worked for the depart Mr, Strong remembers many ment as a teamster included following with the approxi- bring mate time of service: Joseph1 firemen. Loveless, who served as fire 1892 to 1923 chief for 18 years; Robert Tlte station was built in 1892 Boardman, assistant fire chief ana was useu unui ivu, wnen and volunteer for about 21 !t was abar.d.ne:i and torn down e years; Warren S. Ferre, of the lack of space Jteer for seven H. John years; .'or the new motor driven fire Durrant, 19 years; Arthur which replaced th e rant, brother of John, 11 ""ww- biii ii 3 n, Art pos-an- d ' k A . . i j.: I i "I z- - .1. !j- -r A &ftSftkT,t volun-)ecaus- years; urawn wagons, ine Boren, four years: W. E. oiaoy bell which had been used to (Will) Harding, three years; ring the fire alarm can now Carl Christensen, eight years; be seen in the Pioneer Village David Loveless, a former fire Museum in North Park. chief, 21 years; Ernest (Em) The fire he remembers most Martin, 11 e the department as a years; Parley Peay, employee and volunteer from happened in 1918, and involved nine years; Miles Davis, eight about 1900 to 1920. After this the Knight Woolen Mills on July years; Will F. Olson, 16 years; time Provo City organized a 130 of that year. He said that, Edwin Johnson, 15 years; Frank e paid fire department because of insufficient water, Roper, 17 years; Percy Jones, with a chief and four regular the firemen had to use water six years; Joe Stubbs, 11 years; members. The volunteer ser- from the Second West Mill Race. Leo H. (Nide) Bean, a former vice was maintained until Jan. "But before we could get any fire chief, 20 years; James 1, 1922, when it was disbanded. water out of the Mill Race we Markman, 21 years, Don Parks, Mr. Loveless received $50 a had to fetch the watermaster 12 years; Will Strong, a cousin month and Mr. Strong $40, from to cut off all irrigation for the to Dean Strong, 20 years; J. E. Provo City. Each of the volun- day so we could fight that fire." Armistead, a former fire chief, teers was paid $1.50 an hour 17 years; Returns To Work Eph Homer, eight for time spent fighting fires, In 1905, after Mr. Strong mar years; Arthur Harris, three Including the time spent going ried Roxie Cluff of Provo, he re years; Hyrum Jensen, four to and from the fires. signed as teamster for the Ac years; John Loveless, 10 years; Recalls Old Station partment. But after much plead Niels Markman, 15 years: Wil-- j . Mr. Strong vividly recalls ing from Joseph Loveless, he lard Ward, 17 years, and Joseph nor!e- - .... ... ............. POSING IN FRONT of the old Provo Fire Station in 1908-0are 21 members of the Provo Volunteer Department. The station was located on Center Street on the City and County Block facing north. The volunteers were from left, standing, Warren S. Ferre, John H. Durrant, Roy Boren, W. E. (Will) Harding, Carl Christmson, David Loveless, Ernest (Em) Martin, Parley Peay, Miles Davis, Will F. Olson, Edwin Johnson, full-tim- full-tim- Ward, 21 years. Road Sprinkler When Mr. Strong was not fighting fires, he worked fur the Provo City Street Department as a road sprinkler. He would sprinkle Center Street as far as Second West and Univer sity Avenue to Third South. Mr. Strong, who is the sixth child in a family of 12, is the S. F. (Frank) Roper, Percy Jones, and Joe Stubbs. In the buggy is Fire Chief Joseph W. Loveless on the left, and Robert Bourdman, assistant chief. On the hose wagon in center are R. Dean Strong, still living today, left, Leo H. Bean and James Murkham. Seated on the fire engine are Don Parks, driving, and William Strong. R. Dean Strong is the only living members of the group. father of two children, a daugh day, Mr. Strong was honored ter who is now deceased, and by his family at an open house. Jessie D. Strong, who is employ- The Provo Fire Department pered by the government near sonnel was present with their 1937 pumper fire truck, and he He lives in his own home, was able to compare the vehicle spends his spare time reading, with the pump wagon he used to and has a car which he drives drive so many years ago. He only on errands, such as to get commented, "It's very nice, but I still wouldn't trade it for my groceries and pay his bills. Last March on his 91st birth- - old team of white horses pulling Dug-wa- y. the old firewagon." The old Provo Volunteer Fire Department may be disbanded, but for Mr. Strong, it lives on. Though he is one of the few remaining volunteers left alive and though he is 91, he still considers himself a member. " 'Course, it's been many years since I helped fight a fire," he Sunday Herald 5 JANUARY 5, SUNDAY, Uln County, 19G9 UM LOCKER BEEF USD A. good.... HrQ u. 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