LB2016.15.705

LB2016.15.705

Group photograph of firemen lined up outside the Atlantic Engine #2 Fire Station, Washington Street, Camden, Maine. In 1867, 85 men of leading village families signed an agreement to organize a company large enough to care for the hydrant, Engine No. 1 and Atlantic No.2. Their motto was "Always ready," and has since been known as Atlantic Engine Company No. 2. Located across from the Camden Conference Room on Washington Street was the first fire station. The officers were A. B. Wetherbee, Foreman; E.T.G. Rawson, Assistant Foreman; Revel Philbrook, Foreman Leading Hose; Samuel Ayers, Assistant Leading Hose; John Campbell, Foreman Suction Hose; C.W. Follansbee, Clerk and Treasurer; T. R.Simonton, W. G. Adams and Alden Miller, Jr., Finance Committee. During the Great Fire of Camden on November 10, 1892, the whole business district went up in smoke from Tannery Lane to present day Rite-Aid. That included Main, Mechanic, Elm and Washington streets. It leveled 40 buildings, including the Fire Station. Hydrants were cisterns and wooden troughs. There was neither water pressure, nor equipment to contain the fire. After the disaster, the businessmen made immediate plans to put up new buildings of brick. The Selectmen held a meeting for some important articles. Article 4 voted for a committee to ascertain our standing in regard to water supply to protect against fire and a new system or supply. Article 5 voted that the Selectmen purchase at once an Amoskeag No.3 steam fire engine for the sum of $3,500 or less. The Engine was bought and operated by F. Hanson, Bert Fletcher, Bert Crosby and Lovell Thompson. Constructed on the same location as the first, was another building with the fire station on the first floor and the American Legion on the second floor. Another big fire was on November 17, 1917, when the Bay View House burned completely. In 1921, a Reo truck was purchased for $5,000, followed by a 1925 Cadillac Service Car.