Papeete & Monumental (cont.) - Compliments of CB&S

Hunneman No. 452

HAND PUMP COMPANIES BATTLE.
From Barbara Eastman notes

January 9, 1860, fire destroys five buildings on Broadway and State Streets.

1860, the Tuolumne No. 1 and Columbia No. 2 companies were having difficulties with housing and votes and Trustees.

March 1860, John B. Douglass was elected Chief engineer. (He was elected every year until he relocated in Stockton 1869). Some records show that he may have served in 1857 acquiring 12 years as Chief of the City Fire Department. But records aren't clear.

February 22, 1861 the ladies of Columbia presented a banner to Columbia Engine Co. No. 2. The banner still hangs on view in the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department office off Jackson Street.

March 30, 1861 Columbia No. 2 challenges Tuolumne No. 1 to a friendly trial of power and capacity. The contest was to be at the cistern on Broadway near the Fallon Hotel. From 2:00 to almost dark thousands of people saw the two engines put to the test. Engine No. 1 (Papeete) won the first 4 trials and Engine No. 2 (Monumental) won the last 3. The Engine No. 1 received the coveted "Cock and Broom" banner.

Cock to crow victory and the broom to sweep the losing Co. down Matlot Gulch.

July 27, 1861 Although two new cisterns were soon built, the new hose was not at once supplied. As a result, when fire broke out in the rear of the Eagle Cottage on Washington Street, it swept through all of the frame buildings between Main Street, and Broadway, north to State Street, two entire blocks. Some of the property would have been saved if No. 2's hose had not burst.

July 1861 Tuolumne No. 1 received a silk American flag, made by two ladies.

September 1861 Columbia No. 2 heads for a fire down Main Street and Udo Van Keller grabbed a rope to assist and fell under the wheel of the heavy machine and was crushed to death.

December 4, 1861 Columbia No. 2's first Annual Ball was held. The weather postponed the normal date of the ball November 27. The annual ball continued in November until 1868. Their balls change in the 1870's to Washington's Birthday and last into the 1890's.

October 1864 Columbia's Chinatown has a fire. Both companies managed to stop the fire with only two buildings lost. Fire proved to be arson.

June 5, 1865 Columbia has a fire. Accidentally started in a stove pipe at a bakery on Jackson Street, this fire nearly wiped out Chinatown and the two story building on the corner of Jackson and Main Streets, the Long Tom Saloon. Chinese rebuilt, as did the owners of the saloon.

July 1866 Columbia (Montezuma) has a fire.

October 1866 Columbia has a fire.

May 1868 Columbia No. 2 joined the City Fire Department with No. 1.

September 1882 A Chinese Opera House or theater built on Main Street north of Jackson in 1881, is destroyed in a fire, along with eight other buildings. Valiant efforts by the fire companies were made to halt the fire before it could spread into the city.

1885 All of Chinatown north of Jackson lost to fire.

January 1, 1897 Tuolumne No. 1 held their 38th Annual New Year's Ball.*

February 22, 1897 Columbia No. 2 held their Grand Annual Ball.*
*no further mention of social activities until 1901.

January 1902 Tuolumne Engine Company No. 1 gave a Grand Annual Ball.

July 4, 1903 images were struck of Tuolumne No. 1 with 27 men in brass buttoned uniforms in front of their Engine House on State Street. George Napolean was foreman. Columbia No. 2 was before their engine house on Main Street, with their flag and bunting draped jose carriage, 15 men in uniform of black pants, white shirts and fireman's helmets.

Early 1908 Both companies in town become Columbia No. 1.

April 1910 Tuolumne Engine House No. 1 and lot on State Street is sold and the building is torn down and the bricks are used to build a new building on Main Street.

1931 Tuolumne Engine No. 1 continued to service the town until the first motorized equipment arrived.

2004 The restored hand pumps have a firehouse of their own.

Papeete or Tuolumne No. 1, has been painted up as she looked in 1859. Papeete is housed in a reconstructed firehouse on State Street called Tuolumne Engine Co. No. 1.

Monumental or Columbia No. 2, has been painted the way she looked in 1860. She is housed in the 1911 building called Columbia No. 1 Engine Company. Both handtubs compete in our Annual Fireman's Muster.

Citizen No. 1 Housed in the same building as Monumental is the little town of Standard's hand pump.

2007 The Handtubs were moved:

Papeete is housed in a reconstructed firehouse on State Street called Tuolumne Engine Co. No. 1.

Monumental & Citizen No. 1 are housed in the 1911 building called Columbia No. 1 Engine Company.