Owosso Firefighters Local 504

Department History

The early history of fires and those individuals who fought them in Owosso is sketchy at best. But any man that could hall buckets of water was expected to fight any fire in town. But because most homes, businesses, stores, factories and public buildings were built of wood and heated with either wood or coal, conditions were ripe for a good fire. Most buildings were consumed quickly as indicated by the fire list at the bottom of this page.

 When a fire was reported, a bell was rung, and those in charge of the Steamer had to start a fire in the pumper to build pressure for the pump to operate. This would usually take about 11 minutes, during which time the team of horses would be hitched-up and they would head for the fire. Hopefully, the hose company was already there laying hose to the cistern or river to supply the water. When the temperatures fell below freezing, it became very interesting.

According to Letson Jencs, smaller towns, like Corunna, couldn't afford a separate team of horses for the their Fire Department and had to use the Department of Public Works team. This team could be working anywhere around town on odd jobs of blading gravel streets or hauling wagons full of dirt. And when the Fire bell rang, they would be turned loose to return to the Fire Department. Imagine the sight of horses running wild for the Fire Hall unescorted. Once they reached the Fire Dept., they would back into the stall and wait for the harnesses to drop down and the firemen would then hitch them to the Steamer. And of course, by this time, the horses were quite pumped and nervously danced, until the rig pulled out of the building.

In 1890, Owosso built it's first water works including treatment plant and pumps. And soon thereafter, several hydrants was appeared through-out the City. This greatly improved the ability of the Fire Department.

It was no joking matter on April 1st., 1900 when the old Central School burned to the ground and two Owosso citizens lost their lives. It all started at 7 A.M. on Sunday morning when a passerby notice sparks from the chimney catching the belfry and attic on fire. He quickly pulled the alarm at Box 16. The fire department, students and citizens quickly responded, however by the next day the school laid in ruins with a firefighter and student dead. Many were injured while attempting to save school furnishings including the Superintendent, E.T. Austin.

The large 4 story brick building was built in 1868 and the wood framing and interior was dry and perfect "tinder". Additionally, the building was located at one of the highest points of the city, which resulted in a low water pressure at that site and there had been a water main break at Huggins Street. High winds that day fanned the flames. By noon the fire was under control, but the main section was a total loss.

About an hour later, the firemen worked to put out remaining flare-ups, but when the west wall collapsed, fireman Fred Ross and student Frank Tucker were killed. Ross was still handling the fire hose and the school boy was carrying items out of the building. They were pulled from the rubble, but it was too late. At 9:30 P.M., the fire had rekindled and was "burning fiercer than ever." The school was a total loss.

Fred Ross - Killed at the Central School Fire

In 1908, as Owosso grew, the need arose for a paid department. James Brown was hired as Chief and a crew of 12 men (7 paid and 5 'call men') working nine days, before getting a day off and taking turns to go home to eat. These men were assisted by about 40 other 'call men'.

In 1910, Claude Craig became Chief. In 1911, Station #2 was opened in West town Owosso. And in 1917, Owosso purchased its first motorized equipment, a REO Chemical and Hose Truck.

William Howell served as Chief from 1918 until 1929 and then Claude Craig became Chief again. In 1921, Owosso purchased an American La France Pumper. In 1925 the department moved to a building at 202 S. Water St. which had been the Copas Slaughter House and on October 20th 1929 the West Town Station #2 was closed.

The City purchased a Service Truck in 1929, which was used to replace the 1917 Duplex Ladder Truck. In 1942 the City purchased an American LaFrance Pumper with a 750 gallon per minute pump. In 1943 a law was passed by the State Legislature cutting the hours of a paid fire Department to 73 1/2 hours per week. Roy Coakes was appointed Fire Chief in 1944, on the death of Mr. Craig and served in that capacity until Jan. 1, 1961, after serving more than 35 years in the Department.

In 1945, the citizens of Owosso, voted to have a retirement system for all City employees. With the hiring of 4 new firemen on July 1, 1950 each shift has 9 men assigned to it and a telephone man. The City purchased an American LaFrance Pumper with 1000 gallon per minute pump and a matching Aerial Ladder Truck with an 85 foot ladder in 1952.

The set cost about $60,000. This year also saw the installation of a 2-way radio system in 4 fire trucks.

In March of that year, the Lansing Fire Department offered their old fire alarm system to Owosso. A new system could cost as much as $15,000, so the city quickly accepted the offer from Lansing. Owosso's first alarm system had been installed sometime in the 1930's. Bryce Hoshield was appointed to oversee the installation of the new system, which appeared to be about the same vintage as Owosso's current system, only with added features and updates. A master panel was installed in the new Dispatchers Room at the station to monitor about 60 'call boxes', which were located throughout the city at factory buildings, schools and on various telephone poles in the residential sections.

Brice Hoshield had to run wiring to each of these  boxes and maintain them regardless of the weather conditions.

The boxes were connected in eight loops or circuits, so if a short or a break occurred, it could be located quickly. It also had a battery back-up system and even recorded the date, time and box number on a tape.

The only draw backs of this system seemed to be the weather and in the residential areas, where youth could "pull" the box, as a prank. After several prank calls at the old high school, Mr. Hoshield rubbed some invisible gel on the handle of the box. Within days, another alarm came in from the school, only this time Mr. Hoshield took a black light with him and checked out a few hands of the suspected culprits and soon found out where all the trouble was coming from. No other alarms came from there the rest of the year.

This Gamewell alarm system was used until about 1972 and did a good job, especially since many who lived in the residential area had no telephone and depended on the alarm boxes which were fastened to telephone and utility poles. If one looks carefully at these poles today, you can spot an old pole where the alarm box was, as there is some remnants of the old red paint still visible, but the boxes are long gone.

There was also a large red globe at the corner of Main and Washington Streets. If this was turned on, the patrolman knew he was wanted at the police station or he could pick up the phone located under the light and call the station. By the late 1950s, the City had purchased portable police telephones and radios and the fact that most homes had telephones, the old systems of communications were less depended upon.

On Dec. 1, 1955, Arlo Parks was appointed as Fire Marshall, as the need for stricter inspections of factory and retail buildings arose. In 1955, the City Commission granted a 63 hour work week to the firemen. Lester Reid was appointed Chief, upon the retirement of Roy Coakes on Jan. 1, 1961.

Owosso Fireman Walt O'Dell and Smokey...circa 1950

Someone gave the firemen a Dalmatian pup. He was named Smokey and he lived at the Owosso Fire Hall for about 10 years. Smokey always sat in a chair at the table to eat off a plate. He also only rode in the cab to Rural fires and never went to City fires. He was frequently seen around town riding on the back of Bill Clayton's motorcycle. Bill was an Owosso fireman. Bryce Hoshield recalls that the fire department only had one dog in all the years he was associated with it.

In 1969, the department moved to its present location at 202 S. Water St.

On the morning of January 12, 1981, fire destroyed the northwest corner of Main and Park streets including the Oakes Insurance Office and the Gittleman building.

On the second floor was the Odd Fellows Hall which was also destroyed.

 Fireman Hodge was located in the center of Park Street about 1/2 block north of Main St. when the east wall collapsed upon him.

He was aiming a two and half inch water line at the open windows.

Several lines from all directions had been pouring thousands of gallons of water into the building for at least 4 to 5 hours when the disaster took place.

Elmer's flag-draped casket was taken on the fire truck from the funeral home to the cemetery. 

Firefighter Elmer Hodge

Wednesday, June 2, 1993 proved to be another trying day in the history of the Owosso Fire Department. Although just outside of the city limits, when the Colonel's Bumper Factory caught fire the Owosso Fire Dept. was called out in full force. Owosso Township Fire Department responded on the initial call and quickly called for mutual aid from 11 other departments including Owosso Fire Dept. who was called right away. Owosso Fire sent 3 engines and a ladder truck, leaving the reserve engine and ambulances in the building. Only an officer and 2 firefighters were left at the station to provide ambulance and fire coverage for the city. Luckily, only two ambulance calls came in during the fire and they were to evacuate bed bound patients from the evacuation area.

OTFD Chief as the fire rages

OFD Engine 4 as the fire overtakes it

July, 1867........Josenhan's Tannery and the Ball & Green's Woolen Mill on Race Street (later it was the 100 block of South Water St.)

1890...........Owosso Casket Co.

1885...........Wesener Block (100 block of N. Washington St.) burned. Loss-$50,000

1896.........Dewey and Stewart's Mill

1898.........Mueller Brewery & Woodard Plaining Mill ( Across the street from each other - the fire jumped across the street)

1898.........Payne & Graham's Implement Co.

April 1, 1900........Central School...$125,000
Killed Fireman J. Fred Ross and Owosso High School student, Frank Tucker.

During the Central School Fire

Remnants of Central School

1905.........Bryant School

1906.........Estey Manufacturing (Plant "A") - May

Estey Furniture Factory

(Factory "A")

Nov. 18, 1911........Pearce and Ward Store 100 N. Washington St.

1912..........Owosso Food Factory

1924..........Isbell Bean Co.

1924..........J.A. Byerly Co. Warehouse S. Lansing St.

1929..........Dinty Moore Bulk Gas Station - In 1929, a fire that started with an explosion in a gas tank truck at the storage depot of the O.E. Moore Co. on S. Lansing St. Owosso, is the worst in the city's history. Four firemen were burned or overcome with smoke. The buildings of the Owosso Boiler and Welding Works and the Square Deal Coal and Furniture Co. were saved although smoke was too dense to assess all of the damage.

Dinty Moore Bulk Storage Fire - May 19, 1929

1932........Field Body Plant (formerly Owosso Carriage Co.) Burwood Products. Washington and Stewart Sts.
Today the site of the A. O. Smith Co. plant.

1937........Elks Temple ($8,000 in damage)

Feb. 1942........Baptist Church, Rebuilt on same site.

Spring 1943......Central School Annex. Shiawassee and Oliver Streets.

1944........Gambles Store 116 N. Washington St. One employee died in the basement.

Feb. 1948........Gute's Drugstore located on the northwest corner of Washington and Exchange Streets.

1949........Eagles' Home on North Washington St.

March 1951.......Mid-West Abrasive Plant on North Washington St. (2 million dollars in damage.)

March 1952........Wildermuth (Milner) Hotel - Frank Charvat died, in an upstairs room, of smoke inhalation. He was not a guest of the Hotel, according to Bryce Hoshield, fireman, who also remembers that Flint Fire Dept. was called for Mutual Aid assistance because Owosso did not have an aerial ladder truck. Flint's ladder collapsed and luckily no one was injured. By April of 1952 the City took delivery of their new ladder truck. Monetary damage or cause unknown.

Flint Fire Dept.'s aerial ladder 

(collapsed later in the fire)

In the alley behind the Milner Hotel

Oct. 1953........The Minor Building -Kline's Store - middle of the 100 block of East Main St.

Loss-$250,000

Kline's Fire

(Owosso Fire Dept.'s New Aerial Truck shown)

Feb. 1955.......Mitchell-Bentley Corp. Loss-($2.5 million)

1957.........Mobile Home Corp.

Sept. 28, 1965.........Montgomery Ward Warehouse 200 block of West Exchange St. Loss-$100,000 - the north side of the block was turned into a parking lot due to this fire.

Montgomery Wards Fire

Montgomery Wards Fire - Last time Old Pump #1 worked at a fire.

Sept. 24, 1970.........Economy Mills

Nov. 10, 1970.........Carpart Corp. Warehouse Loss-$100,000 (Mitchell-Bentley Corp.)

Oct. 30, 1972......... American Record Pressing Co. - 1810 W. King St.

1977..........Westown Freight Depot

June 13, 1978..........Raycliff Foundry - 715 Martin St.

1978..........Three Grand Trunk Locomotives

Jan. 11, 1981..........Gittleman's Store - Oakes-Coons Insurance - Main and Park Sts. (Fireman Elmer Hodge died)

1982..........Selleck Insurance - Melco Decorating (Owosso Barber, Joseph Radon dies.)

1985..........Valley Lumber Co.

1992 .........Bryant School Fire - 3 Juvenals were apprehended for this arson.

1992..........Partz Corp.*** This fire contained many types of hazardous chemicals.

June 1, 1993..........Colonel's Bumpers (Loss-$30,000,000-reputed to be largest $ loss in State)120 firemen from 12 area Departments

July 17, 2000 ...... A smoking accident at Kona Vila resulted in a working structure fire in a 72 unit, three story elderly apartment complex. All occupants evacuated with no major injuries. Additional 6 mutual aid Fire Departments called. And 3 mutual aid ambulance services were called for potential life hazard. The fire was contained to one wing of the two wing complex. The fire damaged wing has since been rebuilt.

November 14, 2001..... A fire of suspicious origin broke out in the Flat Iron Building on the corner of Washington & Water streets. This building contained a taxidermy shop, a tattoo shop and several apartments on the second floor.

April 16, 2005.....An empty factory building caught fire on a sunny Saturday afternoon while the department was busy with a stubborn grass fire. 9 departments assisted Owosso Fire before the block long building was extinguished. Departments from 3 of the surrounding counties assisted as did 3 of Shiawassee County's ambulance services.

James Brown--------1908-1910

Claude Craig---------1910-1918

William Howell------1918-1929

Claude Craig---------1929-1944

Roy Coakes-----------1944-1961

Lester Reid-----------1961-1974

Amiel Makara---------1974

Bryce Hoshield-------1974-1977

Marvin Geeting-------1977-1988

John Kenney----------1988 to 2004

2004 ------- No more Chiefs at least for now!

2004 ------ Mike Compeau was made Public Safety Director by the City Manager & he appointed Charles Schaufele as the Deputy Director of Fire and EMS

2005 ------ Charlie Schaufele was moved to the unfilled position of Fire Marshall & Deputy Director position is unfilled until Jan. 2006.

Thank you to Capt. Dan Owen (Ret. OFD) and Steve Schmidt for their help with the Owosso Fire Department history.

For more Owosso Fire Department History, go to our link page.

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Last modified: April 03, 2006