Metamora, in the early 1900's, was a busy village of brick and wooden buildings, unpaved streets, and no running water. The drafty homes and stores were heated with coal and woodburning stoves that were often stoked to the sizzling point. In the heart of every adult was the fear of fire. Several times fires completely desrtoyed the business district.

 

In the spring of 1894, the small settlement suffered fright and loss when a tornado struck down the Santee Methodist Church west of town. Farm buildings and tall trees were destroyed, but the tornado missed the town proper. Later in the same year a fire razed the white frame Methodist Church in town. This fire destroyed buildings in the block where now are the drug store, bank, hardware, Dennis Market, and Church.(March 1957)(April 2007 Country Charm Resturant,Village Offices,Lawyer Offices,Lot where Metamora Bank is,Methodist Church.)

 

 In 1902, Mayor Ed Davoll and the townspeople appointed William B. Crocket Sr., the first Fire Chief and thereby established a bucket brigade. Later that same year the bucket brigade was somewhat mechanized with the purchase of a two wheeled cart carrying a 45 gallon chemical tank. A rope was tied to the cart and it was pulled by the fireman (anyone willing to help) through the ruts and mud of the unpaved streets. Sometimes even going down the sidewalks.

 

Sulphuric Acid and soda were mixed in with the water in the tank in order to build up pessure to throw the water on the fire. Fireman had to run to and from the nearest pump carrying buckets of water to keep the tank filled. Acid and Soda had to be put in each time the tank emptied itself of water.  It was noted the first Fire Chief was dressed in new clothing on one occasion when the call came in, and he spilled acid over his new trousers, ruining them.

 

The sulphuric acid in bottles were put in under the pressure cap near the top-side rear of the tank. The bottles were broken by steel and iron rod and bulb in the tank. Buckets and hoses were carried in the wire basket on the top of the tank. The box in front of the tank carried sulphuric acid in glass bottles. Boxes of soda were stored in the box too.

 

Two handles extended out the back of the tank. One handle was used to break the acid bottles, the other was connected to an agitator which stirred acid, water, and soda to build up pressure. The tank had to be completely empty before it could be refilled. Buckets of water had to be ready to pour in when the tank was empty. A big fire was a back breaking chore.

 

The new tank cart was given a lot of work to do those first few years. In 1908 fire again swept through the town and left in its wake the complete ruin of the town's handsome(Blair House) hotel and saloon (which thrived where Iffland's market and Loar's Variety Store were in 1957) and again in 1910, when the little two room school house burned to the ground.

 

In 1919 another chemical cart containing two 45 gallon tanks was purchased. The tanks on this one were steel bottle-shaped tanks, also pulled by ropes.

 

In 1915, Chief Crockett, seeing a need for more adequate transportation, led a subscription drive among the business and professional men and purchased a model T Ford truck body to which Chief Crockett had the 45 gallon chemical tanks switched over and it also pulled the original hand cart. Then in 1917 a front mount pump was installed on the model T.

 

Even a new fire engine wasn't enough, and in 1921, the R.A. Smith Drug Store, the Franklin Dry Goods Store, the town telephone exchange, the Snyder-Arnold Grocery, Farmers and Merchants Bank , Seely's Furniture and Undertaking, and several prosperous but questioinable businesses were ravaged by fire.The Metamora Record reported that the Sylvania and Swanton Fire Departments did not respond when called to the fire when it was learned that there was not enough water in the Ten Mile Creek to supply even Metamora's Model T.

 

Fire broke out again, and 1923 the Bo Ely Hotel, the Post Office, the Metamora Record newspaper office and the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Hall was lost. The buildings were west of the creek on the south side of the road. It was after this, the Water Works were installed. Ozzie Page was Fire chief of the Bucket Brigade about this time. Then in 1924, fire took its toll on the buildings where the Pure Oil and Gulf Stations were located in 1957.( This would be in the vicinity of T-Mart.)

 

Something good happened in 1925 when conscientious young men got together and had the first (but infrequent) meetings of the department. Meetings were held in a room over the Wise Barbershop. (possibly where the Post Office is today.) The equipment was kept in the old creamery on Maple Street.(where the town parking lot is behind the post office and aparments) Ozzie Page was Chief of the re-organized department. Later that year Sam Ottgen took over as Chief and Ray Wotring was Assistant Chief.

 

Then in 1928 Ray Wotring was appointed Fire Chief to take Chief Ottgen's place.Ottis Pifer was Assistant Chief. A meeting was held in B. A. Crocketts gas station (Gulf Station in 1957 vicinity of T-Mart today). After discussion it was decided to organize a volunteer fire company. Otis Pifer was elected Chief of this new department and was sworn in by Mayor Bert Cole. This new department was named Metamora Volunteer Fire Department. The following were charter members: Otis Pifer, Bert Crockett, William Colon, Lester Dennis, Doyle Emerson, John Gormley, C. J. Malone, Cecil Porter, Glen Robertson, Hollis Schafer, G.M. Robinson, Ray Wotring and Floyd Holland.

 

In 1928 The Exchange Club purchased a 1929 Willys Overland Whippet Fire Truck and gave it to the village.(This truck is still housed in Metamora and is used as a parade truck.) With this new addition, the equipment was moved into the Metamora Oil Company garage. Subscription was raised by the farmers in the surrounding area, so they too, might be furnished with fire protection.

 

January of 1929 was cold and frosty. It was a group of brave men who helped fight the devastating fire that roared through the skating rink, dance hall, bowling alley, and W.E. Watson's veterinarian office. These buildings stood where the former Woodring Chevrolet (presently Mike's Repair) is today. When the smoke cleared, it was discovered that many of the town's records were lost in Mr. Watson's office, since he was the village clerk.

 

The official touch to the fire department was great encouragement to the towns people. Now they felt that fire wasn't to be feared so much as in the years before. Running water was available and a fire department was ready to do their best to protect the town from the ravages of fire. The equipment was not the best, nor the latest, but it was available. Now a proper place was deperatley needed to house it.

 

On the town property surrounding the water tower, was the abandoned Congregational Church. Chief Pifer suggested to the town council that for a very low cost the building could be heated so the fire fighting equipment could always be ready to roll. The council liked the idea, but went one step further. The old church was torn down and in 1936 a brick garage was erected  in it's stead. ( On Maple Street where the Library is today.)

 

The building cost was $10,000 dollars. In order to get the money to build the building and to replace the old equipment with new, in 1931 the Fireman revived a homecoming celebration known as Fun Days. Fun Days was originally started around the turn of the century by local business men as a Homecoming Day and as a day to show off new wares.

 

Still more money was needed and with the help of merchants and friends and feather parties around Thanksgiving time, (which is still done today) enough money was raised to finish the building and start a nest egg for new equipment.

 

The fireman used part of the money to purchase a Dodge tank wagon around 1940. Also about 1940 the Fireman hired C. J. Lafountain to install the town's first Fire Siren. In 1942 the Department began a fire protection agreement with Ogden Township Michigan. In 1946 the township purchased a 7 man cab Buffalo Fire Truck for the Department and in 1947 the Department sold the Dodge tank wagon and purchased a 3 man cab Buffalo Fire Truck.

 

This new equipment led to the addition to the station in 1947. Around 1950 the Department grew again when they purchased a rescue truck from the Sylvania Fire Department and started providing rescue services to the community. This truck was later replaced with a Chevrolet Panel truck. In 1957 forty-one members and Chief Otis Pifer comprised the rolls of the Fire Department. Some officers were; First Assistant Chief Elmer Welch, Second Assistant Chief Joe Boroff, Captains William Donahue and Ray Burgermeister Secretary Harold Buck, Treasurer Doug Barnaby and Custodian Claud Woodring. 1957 also brought the addition of the Civil Defense Radio Equipment and a Generator in case of power failure. The Ladies Auxillary was organized in 1958.

 

In 1960 it was voted on to move the feather party to the Fire Hall. In 1962 a  4- wheel drive Chevrolet truck was purchased for field fires and April of that year Fire Phones were installed in several homes and businesses. William Donahue was elected Chief in December of that year. He would serve until his death while fighting a Heating Oil house fire in Ogden Township on Feburary 5,1978.

 

Under Chief Woodring the Department would again increase in size, and ask for and receive a new Fire Station for the expanding Department. On June 8, 1982 the voters of  the village of Metamora and Amboy Township approved a 3.5 mill five year levy. This is the current building built on Mill Street directly behind the original Fire Station. (now Evergreen community Library.)