Around 1895, before Coquille
had water mains to support fireplugs,
men of Coquille were concerned about
fire protection for the growing city.
Several volunteer groups were organ
ized and the city bought chemical
carts as a first step.
A chemical cart was a tank with
about 40 gallons of water mixed with
soda. Also inside the tank was a glass
bottle of acid which, when broken,
would react with the water-soda solu
tion to create pressure to force the
water out.
The first cart was stationed near
the courthouse, another was placed on
Spurgeon Hill (W. 4th Street), and the
third located in the north end of town.
Small buildings were built at a cost of
$37.50 each to house these carts.
Shortly after the turn of the cen
tury, Coquille began to acquire “mod
em” fire equipment. In December
1901, bids for a steam fire engine
brought an astounding price of $4,490
which was promptly rejected. On July
10, 1910, two chemical trucks were
purchased for $573.50 apiece.
An’other pressing need, a home
for the fire apparatus, got off to an
early start in 1904 when a bid of $270
was accepted by the city council to
construct a building for the then-in-
use hose cart and other assorted items.
This building, which also housed the
council chambers, was located on the
riverbank where Church Pontiac’s was
later situated.
In May of 1904, for the sum of
$75, a hose tower was built on the
west side for the new building. The
tower featured a fire alarm bell on top
of the structure; the bell was also used
to announce curfew. The bell was later
housed in the Coquille Fire
Department Building after falling
from its perch on the current Coquille
City Hall during a storm in January of
1976.
On November 10, 1910, a 40-
foot-high bell tower was erected
behind the then Casey Jones pool hall,
which was located on Main Street.
This was a handy location for anyone
to ring the alarm by day and conven
ient to a fire marshal by night. For
many years, Coquille had a red light in
the middle of several downtown inter
sections, which were turned on by a
telephone operator when a fire mar
shal was needed.
By May of 1919, three large tele
phone bells were installed around the
city and they could be activated by the
telephone operator in case of a fire.
Someone, usually a person from
Walker’S Standard Station, would then
run to the City Hall and ring the fire
bell at that location.
By the 1920’s, dams on Dutch
John Creek at the east end of First
Street and holding tanks on Knowlton
Heights fed from a dam on upper Rink
Creek provided water through pipes to
several fire plugs in the city.
The present City Hall was the
first real home for the Coquille Fire
Department. Constructed in 1912 at a
cost of $11,292, the City Hall housed
the fire hall and, over it, the Coquille
library. The library was moved around
1942 when the state law required
sleepers at all fire halls. The present
fire hall wasn’t built until 1963.
An important addition‘to the fire
department was the appointment on
Dec. 6, 1905, of three fire inspectors
to make sure people kept all moss off
their roofs and maintained a ladder on
their buildings for easy access to the
roof.
Coquille’s first fire chief, J. E.
Perott, was named to that position in
June, 1908.
The first Coquille firemen to
receive any pay for their services
included this group of old-timers who
were granted 50 cents per drill and one
dollar per fire: Owen Knowlton, Paul
Skeels, Perly Lund, J.P. Michaels, E.
E. Cook, Ed Brenner, C. W. Gardner,
O. M Nosier, W. H. Lyons, Ray Jeub,
Harry Tozier and Fred True. W. C.
Chase was fire chief at the time.
Early Coquille fire fighters faced
three major conflagrations. On March
Dave and Kaarina Scolari
founded M3k"E"Way Feed &
Trucking in 1974 with a few
trucks, a little hay and some
grain. With a shift in demand in
the late 1980's, todays Milk“E-
Way is more tailored to fit
your farming and family needs.
From feed like Purina and
Kropf Feeds, alfalfa and oats,
to pet supplies such as
vet
erinary supplements, saddles,
tack and toys. And don't for
get the wonderful line of boots
for the children and youth!
You name it, Mflk-ErWay prob
ably has it! Come See Us!
17,1918, many of the homes and busi
nesses on Second Street were
destroyed in a wind-swept blaze. Just
four years later, on October 22, 1922,
the Baxter Hotel suffered heavy dam
age. And the original Community
Building was completely destroyed by
flames on June 1, 1952.
The following advertisement ran in the Coquille City Herald
on Dec. 29,1896.
iaajffsi, "ftrllnoton"
A $65.00 Machiné
Threading Sewing placing
For
EW
HOME
Cash with Order and Coupon
LATEST
BEST
CHEAPEST
STYLE
Shipped to anyone,
anywhere, on 10
days’ free trial,
in your own
home, without
asking one cent
iu advance.
10 years* written
warranty with
each machine.
$19.90
AND
Coupon, if
sent C. 0. D.
or on trial
STYLE No. 55. ” ARLINGTON.”
A strictly high-grade Sew?
ing Machine, finished
throughout in tne best pos
sible manner. It possesses all
modern improvements, and its
mechauical construction is
such that in it are combined
simplicity with great strength,
thus insuring ease of running,
durability, and making it im
possible for the machine to be
put out of order, it sews fast
and makes a perfect stitch
with all kinds of thread and
all classes of material. Always
ready for use and unrivalled
for speed, durability and qual
ity of work. ' Notice the fol
lowing points of superiority:
The Head of the “Arlington” swings on patent socket hinges, firmly held down by a thumb
screw. Strong, substantial, neat and handsome in design, ana beautifully ornamented in gold.
Bed plate has rounded corners and is inlaid or countersunk, making it flush with top of table.
Highest Arm—Space under the arm is 5% inches high and 9 inches long. This will admit the
largest skirts, and even quilts. It Is Self-Threading—Absolutely no holes to put thread through
except eye of needle. Shuttle is cylinder, open on end, entirely self-threading, easy to put in or
take out; bobbin holds a large amount of thread. Stitch Regulator is on the bed of the machine,
beneath the bobbin winder, and has a scale showing the number of stitches to the inch, and can
be changed fijom 8 to 32 ^Lftches to the inch. Feed is double and extends on both sides of needle; «
never fails to take goods through; never stops-at* seams; movement is positive: no springs to
break and get out of order; can be raised and lowered at will. Automatic Bobbin Winder—For
filling the bobbin automatically and perfectly smooth without holding the thread. Machine does
not run while winding bobbin. Light Running—Machine is easy to run, doos not fatigue tlieoper*
ator, makes little noise and sews rapidly. Stitch is a double lock stitch, the same on both sides»
will not ravel, and can be changed without stopping the machine. Tension is a flat spring ten
sion, and will admit thread from 8 to 150 spool cotton without changing. Never gets out of order.
The Needle is a straight, self-setting needle, flat on one side, and cannot be put in wroug. Needle
Bar is round, made of case-hardened steel, with oil cup at the bottom to prevent oil from getting
on the goods. Adjustable Bearings—All bearings are case-hardened steel and easily adjusted
with a screw driver. All lost motion can be taken up, and. the machine, will last a lifetime.
Attachments—Bach machine is furnished with necessary tools and accessories, and in addition we
furnish an extra set of attachments in a velvet lined metal box, free of charge,, as follows: One
rufiler and gatherer, one binder, one shirring plate, one set of four hemmers, different widths up
to % of an nich, one tucker, one under braider, one short or attachment/foot, and one thread
cutter. Woodwork of finest quality oak or,walnut, gothic cover and drawers, nickel-plated rings
to drawers, dress guards to wheel, and device for replacing belt.
nnM’T DAV high prices for piiy directly of manufacturers and .
Uul’i I I Al SEWING MACHINES DU I SAVE AGENT’S AND DEALER’S PROFITS
OUR GR E AT OFfER. $23.60 I? our Special Wholesale Price, but
iu order to introduce this high-grade sewing machine, we make a special cou- X
CftunAn
A
pon offer, giving every reader of this paper a chance to get a first-class ma- V
vo
w
chine at the lowest price ever offered. On receipt of $18.50 cash and coupon. X No. 2D7O
X
we will ship the above-described machine anywhere securely packed and w
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w
crated, and guarantee safe delivery. A ten years’ written warranty sent with X good y K II 11 X
each machined Money refunded if not as represented after thirty days’ test m for w U«UU w
trial. We will ship C. O. D. for $19.50 with privilege of twenty days’ ttial 011 A If
. . X
receipt of $5.00 as a guarantee of good faith and charges. If you prefer thirty W
v
days* trial before paying, send for our large illustrated catalogue with test!- X »or Arlington x
monials, explaining fully how we ship sewing machines anywhere to any- w SewingMachine w
one at the lowest manufacturer’s prices without asking one cent in advance, X
gg
X
The best plan is to send all cash with order, as you then save the $1.00 dis- V
’
_ Jr
count. Remember the coupon must be sent with order.
Or make your order direct through the Hi bald , as agent, without
extra charge.
MONTANA SILVER
£ Oil NEW NOW
o fcV IN STOCK!
APPLE & OAT
or CARROT & OAT
CHECK OUT OUR SALE PRICES!
FOR HORSES!
We are continually expanding to better serve our customers.
MILHEWSY’M
rii
396*2336
af Coquille
Cnciuille on Fairview Road
396"2836 * - 1/3 Mile fMnrth
North of