Muncie’s Amazing Fire Horses
A close bond existed between Muncie firefighters and their horses. (Minnetrista Heritage Collection)
The firehouse was quiet. It was past midnight, a light breeze wafted through open windows under a star-studded sky and all were sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly the alarm sounds!
The stall doors opened and, unsupervised, the horses quickly took their places in front of the steamer engine. The harnesses, which were suspended over the horses’ heads, dropped down and firemen fastened the collars. With the outer doors open, the men jumped on the engine and the horses took off, racing into the night.
From the first sound of the alarm, this operation took less than 30 seconds. Just another run for Muncie’s amazing fire horses.
In Muncie’s early days, people relied on bucket brigades, i.e., buckets of water passed from hand to hand, to try to extinguish fires. Following a fire on November 21, 1842, the town purchased hooks and ladders to fight fires. Unfortunately, the citizenry had a habit of borrowing these items instead of using them for their intended purpose.
On October 16, 1871, eight days after the Great Chicago Fire, Muncie’s Common Council suggested that a committee look into acquiring a hand fire engine. A year later they decided to purchase a No. 3 Babcock Fire Engine for $2,500. A No. 4 Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine followed in 1874. Since it was unrealistic for these two engines, a hook and ladder truck and several hose reels to be pulled by men, horses became a common sight in firehouses. But not just any horse would do.
Fire horses were usually acquired when they were 5 to 8 years old. They had to be fast, intelligent, agile, strong, fearless, obedient, and calm in stressful situations. A team of horses with the necessary qualities could cost at least $400-$600. (That’s $13,000-$20,000 in 2021 dollars.)
George and John, Muncie Fire Department (Minnetrista Heritage Collection)
Training began at once, introducing the horse to the firehouse and his duties. Each trainee had to learn to respond to the alarm and take his place in front of the engine, ready to be harnessed. He had to become impervious to loud noises, ignore distractions on the way to the fire, and stand patiently with the engine once they reached the fire, regardless of inclement weather conditions, smoke, ladders, hoses, and his proximity to the flames. Horses that couldn’t meet the strict standards were quickly replaced.
It sometimes made things easier to pair a new horse with a veteran of similar size and color. In the late 1880s and early 1890s, John and George were stationed with Hose Company No. 1. They were a well-matched team of grey horses that loved to run. As with most fire horses, they could also unerringly find their way back to the firehouse at the end of an outing. But all good things must come to an end. In June 1896, George, who had been with the department for over 10 years, was retired and sold. His younger running mate, John, was then paired with a new horse.
Black Frank, Muncie Fire Department (Minnnetrista Heritage Collection)
One of the best-known fire horses was Black Frank. Frank wasn’t exactly the docile horse you wanted to pull your grandma’s buggy to church on Sunday. He was big and fast and had a mind of his own. Around 1893, he was sold to a man in Muncie and later was purchased by Chief Granville Shepp to pull his fire department buggy. By 1899, Black Frank was considered by many firemen to be the best chief’s horse in the country. Fire chiefs from Detroit, Indianapolis, Dayton, and other cities came to Muncie to ride behind the sleek black horse. Black Frank knew every street in Muncie and the outlying areas. And it was common knowledge that you had to look out because he didn’t like to be passed on the way to a fire. Black Frank was retired in December 1900.
Unfortunately, a fire horse’s life was not always an easy one. Running on hard pavement and exhaustion took a toll on horses. Snow, ice, and muddy streets only added to the dangers when answering a call. Streetcars, wagons, and pedestrians were a constant danger; a collision often left horses seriously injured or dead. Railroad tracks or a manhole cover could cause a horse to go down and disease was always a possibility for horses left standing by fire engines in snow, sleet, heat, or rain. Even a blacksmith who was careless when shoeing the horses could cause serious damage. It was an unusual horse who was able to serve for more than 10 years before they were retired or died.
Unlike some of us who look forward to retiring on some tropical island, fire horses weren’t always so lucky. Some horses were assigned to duty as a patrol horse for the police department. As an article in the Muncie Evening Press stated on December 17, 1910, “The new patrol horse has been doing duty on the local fire department for years and should be able to transfer the prisoners in record-breaking time.” Some horses were assigned to the street cleaning department or hauling the dump cart or the ash cart; a sad end for spirited horses. Many others were sold and their fates are unknown.
Babcock fire engine ca. 1880 (In the public domain)
Around 1905, cities began to investigate the potential of motorized fire engines. It soon became clear that motorized vehicles were cheaper to keep than horses. Muncie received its first motorized engine in 1915 and by 1917, the Muncie Fire Department was completely motorized.
When we think of all the things that animals have done for us over the years, we should take time to remember George, Nip, John, Colonel, Black Frank, Teddy, Bill, Lelinkalania, Mike, Rilley, Old Joe, Jerry, Fred, Eulalia, Kelley, Dan, Pat, Rock, Oliver and all the other fire horses that served Muncie. They were fearless, self-sacrificing, and loyal to a fault.
