Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum MILWAUKEE FIRE THEHISTORICAL REGISTER 1615 W.SOCIETY Oklahoma Ave. December 2019 - Christmas Milwaukee, WI 53215 414-286-5272 Information and news about the activities of the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and the Fire Museum. Heading above from the M.F. D. Register, December, 1968. The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER Milwaukee Milwaukee Fire Fire Historical Historical Society Society and and Fire Fire Museum Museum - December 2019 PAGE PAGE2 2 News from the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society Milwaukee Professional Fire Local 215 Annual Retiree's Picnic - 100th Anniversary Johnson Control Pavilion - SummerFest On Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the SummerFest grounds, Local 215 celebrated its Centennial Anniversary! In addition to the usual Polka music and cold beer, a presentation ceremony was held. The Milwaukee Fire Historical Society presented a beautiful Centennial Plaque honoring Local 215 for 100 years of service to community. Congratulations Local 215! Doors Open Milwaukee On September 28th and 29th, 2019, the Fire Museum was open for Historic Milwaukee Incorporated “Doors Open Milwaukee”. Over 1,200 people came through the museum and enjoyed Milwaukee fire history and stories presented by our firefighter docents. Thank you to every one who came out to support the Fire Museum. The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER Milwaukee Milwaukee Fire Fire Historical Historical Society Society and and Fire Fire Museum Museum - December 2019 PAGE PAGE3 3 Restoration of Car 3 - 1958 Edsel Fire apparatus have had a long and storied history on the Milwaukee Fire Department. This Edsel was Car 3, the Fire Fighting Deputy Chief's car. The car was in service for six years and was one of three Edsels owned by Milwaukee Fire Department. We recently acquired this old workhorse and hopefully this gem can be restored to its original luster, beauty and style. Please consider helping restore this piece of Milwaukee firefighting history. Donations to the: Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum Car 3 Restoration Fund 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee WI 53215-4539 Questions? Contact Randy Leach,Treasurer, 414-630-5777 The Society is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization. Sponsorship is also available Cut Here…………………………………………………………… First Name__________________________Last Name____________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________ City_________________________ State_____________ Zip__________-___________ Area code and Phone___________________________Email______________________ $10 ( ) $25 ( ) $50 ( ) $100 ( ) Other____________________ The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER Milwaukee Milwaukee Fire Fire Historical Historical Society Society and and Fire Fire Museum Museum - December 2019 PAGE PAGE4 4 Fire Museum Open House Dates The Milwaukee Fire Museum will be closed for the Winter in January, February and March, 2020. The Fire Museum will reopen on the first Sunday of each Month, beginning in April, 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M, except holidays. To schedule a private or group tour of the Fire Museum other than scheduled Open House dates, call 414-286-5272. Fire Museum Updates and Improvements During our winter closing, the Fire Museum will be making a number of updates and improvements. A large screen TV and sound bar will be installed for improved presentation capabilities, an improvement of the old projector and screen. In addition, we are evaluating a new lighting design for the dorm-presentation room. And lastly, a new display is planned for the north wall. We will keep it a surprise for now, but you will be impressed the next time you come to visit the Fire Museum in April. Donations to assist in the many projects of the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and the Milwaukee Fire Museum are always appreciated. Contact any Board Member! The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER MilwaukeeMilwaukee FireFire HistoricalHistorical SocietySociety andand FireFire MuseumMuseum - December 2019 PAGE PAGE5 5 Christmas Day Fires The photo (above) was taken on 12-25-70 by the MFD Arson Squad.This 2nd Alarm fire was at the Bullring tavern at 1532 E. Bellevue. The photo (below) was a 5th alarm in the 2300 block of W. Wells. Photos from the MFHS Photo Archives. The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER Milwaukee Milwaukee Fire Fire Historical Historical Society Society and and Fire Fire Museum Museum - December 2019 PAGE PAGE66 Christmas Greater Alarms The old adage “fire never takes a holiday” applies to Christmas day as well. Milwaukee firefighters have been called out for many a greater alarm over the years on Christmas day. Here is a rundown on each Christmas day greater alarm: 1885 Saturday December 25 Fire occurred in the Schlitz Brewery at 2nd & Galena. Two alarms 1892 Sunday December 25 Milwaukee firefighters were battling a fire on the corner of Water and Chicago when another more serious fire broke out in the Gem Hammock & Fly Net Factory located on Greenbush Street. Two alarms were sounded. The entire fire department worked at these two fires in negative 12-18 degree below zero weather. 1910 Sunday December 25 A fire at Water & Huron required a second alarm. 1911 Monday December 25 Pipeman Fred Glander of Engine 20 was electrocuted at 8th & St. Paul 1915 Saturday December 25 The three-story Wallace & Smith Harness factory located at 55 3rd Street was heavily damaged by a fire that broke out around 5 p.m. on Christmas day. A third alarm was called and damages amounted to more than $35,000. 1917 Tuesday December 25 Four firefighters were injured when a fire broke out in a three-story building at 213-17 2nd Street. Two alarms were sounded and there was a loss of $43,400.00. 1929 Wednesday December 25 Two alarms were sounded for a fire in a two-story rag and junk shop which also threatened an adjacent home at 343 Mineral Street. A mother and her three children were rescued from the home but the rag shop was destroyed. 1941 December 25 A basement fire in the Auer Court apartments at 1018-28 N. 15th Street drove a score of tenants from the building and caused $8,000 damage in a two-alarm fire. The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THE REGISTER Milwaukee Fire Historical Society and Fire Museum - December 2019 PAGE7 1952 Thursday December 25 A third alarm fire hit the Rural Transformer & Equipment Company located at 632 N. 8th St. Battalion Chief Karl Schuh estimated the damage to be $75,000. 1970 Thursday December 25 Firefighters were called to the Bull Ring, a tavern at 1532 E. Belleview at 1:17 a.m. Two alarms were called in what was called an “obvious arson fire”. Damage amounted to more than $35,000. 1993 Saturday December 25 An early Christmas morning five-alarm fire swept through a business apartment complex at 2325-35 W. Wells St. At least eight people were rescued by ladders. Deputy Chief John Coffey said five alarms were called because it was unknown how many people were inside. 1995 Monday December 25 Family members were alerted by their dogs when a fire broke out in their home at 1820 N. 24th Pl. The four family members escaped with only the clothes they were wearing in the two-alarm blaze that left their home a total loss. 2016 December 25 3248-50 N. 35th St. Two alarms The Register, 1615 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee WI 53215 | 414-286-5272 (Answering Machine) THETHE REGISTER REGISTER Milwaukee Milwaukee Fire Fire Historical Historical Society Society and and Fire Fire Museum Museum - December - December 2019 2019 PAGE PAGE88 THE NEWHALL HOUSE FIRE – MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN WHAT: Hotel fire WHEN: January 10, 1883 WHERE: Milwaukee, Wisconsin FATALITIES: At least 74, maybe as many as 90 Chicago Daily Tribune – January 11, 1883 The Newhall House was built by a group led buy Daniel Newhall. It was opened to the public on August 26th, 1857. The building was made of Milwaukee Brick and occupied the corner Broadway and Michigan Streets in downtown Milwaukee. The largest and finest hotel in the West had already narrowly escaped disaster. On February 14, 1863, a blaze broke out in a room occupied by a newly-married couple, and before it was extinguished nine apartments were lost. On the morning of January 10, 1883 disaster struck. At around 4am fire was discovered and in less than 30 minutes the entire building was destroyed by fire. The fire started in the elevator shaft and spread very quickly through the wooden and brick building. The Newhall House as it looked The Newhall House had long been considered a hazard by the in the late 1860s. Photo courtesy Milwaukee Fire Department due to its poor management, construction, of Jeff Beutner. ventilation and lack of exits. Unfortunately for those that perished, the were no laws/ordinances to force the Newhall to make the changes that may have spared lives. Further Particulars of the Terrible Calamity The scene on the morning of January 10th was pure chaos and pandemonium. The Reno Evening Gazette from later that day describes the scene with colorful details common to newspapers at the time. The Register, 1615 W.