Site Record

Metadata

Site#

147

Site Name

South Portland Fire Department

Description

Summary history:

1860 - Town appropriates $75.00 for School District 6 to purchase equipment for hook and ladder company.
1892 - Ferry Village volunteer Hose Company No. 1 is organized.
1892 - Willard Hose and Ladder Company No. 2 is organized.
1893 - Pleasantdale Hose Company No. 3 is organized.
1894 - Knightville Hose Company No. 4 is organized.
1895 - City grants land on Church (Thomas) Street in Knightville for Hose No. 4.
1899 - Cash's Corner Hose Company No. 5 is organized.
1906 - Manual fire whistle installed in the Knightville power house.
1907 - Tapper alarm system of 10 boxes and 25 tappers.
1913 - City assumed financial costs of tapper system.
1915 - First motor driven vehicle purchased by Willard Hose and Ladder Company.
1916 - Gamewell bell striker placed in Browns Hill Church.
1923 - Thornton Heights Volunteer Engine Company No. 6 is organized.
1924 - Knightville Hose building on Thomas Street is purchased by city and remodeled into first Central Fire Station.
1925 - Charles Prout hired by City as the fire inspector/fire warden.
1925 - First full time firemen hired.
1925 - Fire whistle in Rigby Yard replaced Gamewell.
1928 - Charles O. Spear, Jr. appointed first fire and police chief by City.
1944 - Renovated school at Cash Corner becomes home to a permanent station for Engine 5
1946 - First use of two-way radios.
1947 - Horace S. Jose appointed chief.
1954 - City purchased its first ambulance.
1955 - New Central Station completed at corner of Broadway and Anthoine Street.
1962 - Ralph Bragdon appointed chief.
1970 - New Cash Corner station opened.
1972 - Philip McGouldrick appointed chief.
1992 - John True appointed chief.
2003 - Kevin Guimond appointed chief.
2004 - Western Avenue station opened.
2016 - James Wilson appointed chief.
2020 - Cash Corner station razed; construction begins on new station.
2021 - New Cash Corner station opened.