Atlanta And Its Builders, Vol. 1 - A Comprehensive History Of The Gate City Of The South. Thomas H. Martin
went very well in Atlanta after the forces of disorder and insubordination were subdued. The young city became quiet, so far as law and order was concerned, but not quiet, by any means, as to enterprise and growth. The place was nothing if not bustling. Its trade had steadily expanded, and its reputation as a cheap trading point extended far and wide. Atlanta was known as a cash town in contradistinction to the credit policy so prevalent and so ruinous in the older cities of the state. At a very early period in her history Atlanta laid the foundation of her great commercial supremacy and rapid upbuilding by adopting the plan of trading on a cash basis strictly and selling at a narrow margin of profit.
It was in 1850 that Atlanta experienced her first fire. Two fires, in fact, occurred simultaneously, one in a business house on Alabama street and one in a cotton warehouse a little out of the business center. These fires were extinguished by an improvised bucket brigade made up of well-nigh the entire male population, but not, however, until several bales of cotton had been consumed. The night of the fires the money drawer of the Georgia Railroad depot was broken open and its contents stolen. The general opinion was that the fires had been started by incendiaries for the purpose of creating an excitement, in the midst of which they could loot unprotected property. It was known that some suspicious characters were sojourning in the town, and after this occurrence, the police quietly notified them to leave, which they did with alacrity.
Thus warned, the property-holders, who for some time had been agitating the organization of a fire department, met in mass convention and went about the proposed organization in a practical way. The legislature was applied to for a charter, which was granted under the name of Atlanta Fire Company No. 1.
The charter members were: W. W. Baldwin, W. Barnes, C. C. Rhodes, G. R. Frazer, H. Muhlinbrink, B. T. Lamb, Reuben Gardner, S. Frankford, P. J. Immell, C. W. Hunnicutt, John Kershaw, T. J. Malone, H. M. Mitchell, W. J. Houston, L. J. Parr, J. F. Reynolds, C. A. Whaley, A. C. Pulliam and J. S. Malone. The act of the legislature was approved by Governor Herschel V. Johnson, and the company was soon in fire-fighting trim. There was some difficulty in raising the funds necessary for the equipment of a company with a hand engine and 500 feet of leather hose, but by dint of much perseverance the good work was accomplished. The next step was to secure the location for the engine house. A suitable site was found on Broad street, between the old calaboose, which extended to the railroad, and the public market on the other side, which extended to Alabama street. The original building on this lot is said to have been a fine old Southern mansion, the home of Ewell Wright. The yard of the residence occupied the whole square between Alabama street and the railroad, and was very attractive, being filled with lordly shade trees and beautiful flowers. Here was built the little one-story engine house. As other companies were formed, they built houses for the apparatus in other parts of the city, but No. 1 house was known as the general headquarters, and the first alarm bell was put in there. Before the bell was installed in its place, another story was added to the structure and a tower built for the bell. The same bell used a half century ago is still used by the fire department in its handsome headquarters on West Alabama street, and every Atlantan is familiar with its resonant tones. From this little building the protection of the city from fires was directed by the volunteers until the paid fire department was organized about 1877. The old hand engine was called "Blue Dick," and all the country for miles around gathered with no little curiosity to see it perform its work. Fire engines were a decided novelty in those days. The first exhibition was voted a success, and from that day the proud firemen were the pets of Atlanta, the city always evincing much enthusiasm in its support of fire measures. Few of the charter members of Atlanta Fire Company No. 1 are now living. W. W. Baldwin was the first president of the company and was elected chief, which office he held two terms, declining re-election for a third term. H. Muhlinbrink was the first treasurer, and was succeeded by Henry Kuhrt, Sr. A number of the early members of the old volunteer fire company are prominent businessmen and citizens of Atlanta at this writing. Among them are Major John H. Mecaslin, J. H. Ellsworth, "Uncle Tom" Haney, Henry Haney, foreman of Engine House No. 4, Thomas W. Haney, chief of the Jacksonville, Fla., fire department; John Berkele, Charles Heinz, Charles Heinz, Jr., John M. Heinz, Peter Lynch, Charles Klassett, Jemmy Mann, Jacob Emmel, Mike Emmel, William Erskine, George H. Deihl, John K. Weaver, and others. As near as can be ascertained, the old volunteers sold their apparatus to the city in the early spring of 1882, and since leaving active service, the company has been perpetuated with Major Mecaslin as president; George Deihl, vice-president; J. M. Heinz, secretary, and John Berkele, treasurer. Before dismissing the subject of the organization and early history of Atlanta Fire Company No. 1, it is interesting to add that a few years ago the old building partly collapsed and the north end, with the tower, fell over the embankment upon the railroad tracks. It was repaired and transformed into a one-story building again, and was rented out as a store, its tenant generally being a produce commission merchant. It was the remnant of this historic building that was torn down in the summer of 1901 to make room for Hugh Inman's handsome modern structure. For a number of years prior to the partial collapse of the old engine house, one of the interesting features about the place was the grave of a dog, located on the extreme edge of the embankment in a grass plot kept green by the firemen. The grave was marked by a weather-stained wooden board on which was inscribed simply the name "Jeff." The dog belonged to Jake Emmel, of the volunteer company, and was a favorite with the firemen of long ago, running with the company to all fires.
There were a number of substantial citizens in Atlanta by this time. Er Lawshe, who came sometime in 1848, and John Silvey, who came the following year, were leaders in all movements looking to the advancement of the city. The Lynches, energetic Irishmen of sturdy qualities, were among the prominent newcomers. There were five brothers of them. Patrick Lynch was a stone mason who knew his trade thoroughly and, during his lifetime, had the distinction of building more foundations and stone walls in Atlanta than, perhaps, any dozen masons. He built the Georgia Railroad machine shops in 1850. John and James Lynch were well-to-do grocers.
The banking agencies established in the city were either railroad or branch institutions. A regular bank was now organized by George Smith, a gentleman from Chicago who had large financial connections. The capital stock was $300,000. The local management was in the hands of J. R. Valentine.
The Catholics and Episcopalians by this time had substantial church structures erected. The first priest of the former church was Father Quinn, and the first rector of the latter church was John J. Hunt.
The council elected to serve under the mayorship of Jonathan Norcross was composed of Julius A. Harden, John T. Humphries, D. McSheffrey, W. W. Roark, John Jones and Paschal House. The salaries and bonds of the several officers appointed by the new council were fixed as follows: Marshal, salary $350, and bond $3,000; treasurer, salary one and one-half per cent, of all moneys received and disbursed, and $6,000 bond; deputy marshal, salary, $300, and $2,000 bond. On the 23rd of February. 1851, an ordinance was passed consolidating the two offices of clerk and tax receiver and collector. The salary of this official for acting as clerk was to be in accordance with the ordinances, and for acting as tax receiver and collector it was fixed at two and one-half per cent, on all moneys received and disbursed. The bond of the consolidated office was placed at $6,000. At the election on January 24th, William McConnell had been elected marshal; Oswald Houston, treasurer; Benjamin J. Williford, deputy marshal; Adam N. Jones, clerk and tax receiver and collector.
On February 14th council adopted an ordinance which required each building within the city limits, kitchens and other small houses excepted, to be furnished with a ladder, and each store and dwelling to be supplied with two buckets to be used in the emergency of fire. On February 21st O. H. P. Canant was elected city sexton, and Mr. Humphries was given authority to proceed with the plotting and enclosing of the lots in the new cemetery. On the 28th of March Mr. Frankford appeared before the council to urge the great necessity of digging wells to supply the necessary water in case of fire. Subsequently council authorized the committee on wells to proceed with the digging of a well at the corner of Whitehall and Mitchell streets, to be eight feet square and hold fifteen feet of water; another of the same dimensions to be dug at the corner of Marietta and Peachtree streets, in front of Norcross's store, and one, also, of the same dimensions, at the corner of Whitehall and Hunter streets. These three wells were to be covered with two-inch plank. At the same time, a large reservoir fifteen feet square and fifteen feet deep was ordered dug