Helena (Mont.) Fire Department Records
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a small quantity of correspondence, plus financial records, legal documents, articles of incorporation, and minute books. In addition, fire record books provide documentation of the date, location, cause, and severity of Helena fires from 1884-1945.
Dates
- Creation: 1872-1945
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Biographical / Historical
On August 23, 1872, a major fire swept downtown Helena destroying twenty-three residences, the old post office, the Masonic Hall, the U.S. Assessor's Office, and the Federal Marshal's office. This fire, and a history of costly fires dating back to 1869, prompted the residents of Helena to subscribe $3157.50 for a fire department and fire fighting equipment.
Fire Department treasurer TH Kleinschmidt purchased the needed equipment and hired professional fire fighters. This force was augmented by a volunteer crew including many of the most prominent citizens of Helena. By 1879, the fire house, located on Clore Street, contained a rotary engine, a hand engine, two hose reels, and a hook and ladder wagon.
In 1874 a permanent watch tower was built on Tower Hill. The tower had a three hundred and sixty degree view of town, and was equipped with a bell, which could be rung in such a manner as to indicate which of the six wards the fire was in. The bell was also used to announce the 8:30 curfew for children. The original bell was replaced in 1886 by one which remained until 1935. The "Guardian of the Gulch" remains as a reminder of the early history of fires in Helena.
Extent
3.5 linear feet
Abstract
Records (1872-1945) of the Helena, Montana, fire department consist of correspondence, financial records, legal documents including the contract for construction of the fire tower "Guardian of the Gulch"; fire records, and minute and roll call books.
Arrangement
This colllection is arranged by series.
Physical Location
57:1-2
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
- Title
- Guide to the Helena (Mont.) Fire Department records, 1872-1945
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Molly Miller, 2000
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov