Company History
How it all began:
On Friday, April 9, 1869 at the Town Meeting, the Town Council enacted the following: “…The Board of ^Fire Engineers is hereby authorized to procure a Hook and Ladder Carriage, with suitable Ladders and Hook, at a cost not to exceed $200.00” (Page 83 Unknown, 1869) was culled from the archives of the Bristol Town Council meeting minutes located in the vault at the Bristol Town Hall. It is believed that this was the beginning of the founding of what was to become what is now known as the Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder and Hose Company No. 1. of Bristol Rhode Island. In the same ledger volume, on Page 108 “Town Council, Monday August 2, AD 1869” the following was recorded “… The Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department is received, read and ordered to be placed on file...”. (Bristol Phoenix archives, 1869)
The information from the town ledgers was sparse; so we looked into the archives of the local newspaper. There at The Bristol Phoenix, Saturday Morning, August 7, 1869 the following was reported “… The Regular Monthly Meeting of The Town Council and Court of Probate was held in the Town Council Chamber on Monday afternoon last. Present – the full board…The Chief Engineer of the Fire Department presented his quarterly report which was read and placed on file. From this report we learn that the apparatus belonging to the Fire Department is now in good order, together with the hydrants that the water pipes have recently been repaired and with the connections just laid are amply sufficient to furnish a supply of water in the compact part of the town. The report further states that a Company has been formed under the name of “The Dreadnot Fire Hook and Ladder Company,” consisting of seventeen men under the command of Clark Straight, and recommends that they be received into the Department. In relation to the hose and ladder truck, which was ordered by the town to be purchased under the direction of the Fire Department, the report says: “Mr. Geisler promises to have the hook and ladder truck complete and ready for use in just two weeks from this second day of August, 1869, provided the weather is favorable and it don’t rain, no one be taken sick or get hurt, and he can get it done at the time…” (Unknown, 1869) Unfortunately the names of our founding members were lost to time, due to a horrific fire which destroyed all of our original records, and company belongings on the day of March 9, 1899.
The Hook and Ladder Carriage would not be delivered until October of the same year. In The Bristol Phoenix Saturday Morning, October 30, 1869 the following was recorded “…The Dreadnought Hook and Ladder Company No.1 Captain Straight, received their new Truck last Monday evening, which was made the occasional torch light procession through the principal streets of the town by the Company, escorted by the King Philip Fire Engine Co. No. 4, Capt Darling. Both companies made a fine appearance in their showy uniforms. They were accompanied by the Bristol Coronet Band, the good music which added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. After the march a bountiful collation was served to the Companies, Band, and invited guests in the Four’s hall, corner of Thames and Franklin streets. Several guests, gentlemen who are connected with the fire departments, from Providence and Newport were present. (Unknown-1869)
The following is from The Bristol Phoenix Friday, March 10, 1899. “DISASTROUS FIRE… Dreadnaught Fire Station and Furnishings Totally Destroyed Early Thursday Morning, Hook and Ladder Truck and Hose Carriage Saved, but Badly Damaged- No Insurance on Building- $1,000 Insurance on Furnishings- Other Buildings Slightly Damaged. The Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder and Hose Company fire station, owned by the town and located on the corner of High and Church streets, was burned to the ground about 3 o’clock yesterday morning. All its contents, with the exception of the hook and ladder truck and hose carriage were destroyed. The fire was first discovered at about o’clock, when flames were seen to be breaking through the north and west sides of the main building. William and Robert J McCaughey, members of the Dreadnaught Company, who reside opposite the fire station on Church street entered the building with considerable difficulty ran out the hook and ladder truck, the ladders which were badly blistered and just ready to burst into flames. The four-wheeled hose carriage was also removed before the fire had reached it, although the paint on it showed the effects of the heat.” It was believed that the origin of the fire was caused by an overheated stove.
Thanks to The Bristol Phoenix, our local hometown news paper and Roger Williams University, those two entities paired up a few years ago and digitized the archives of the Bristol Phoenix and placed them in an online repository, which was how we were able to get detailed accounts of our history. Information can be found at this website: bristol.advantage-preservation.com/
The following text is a personal insight into our Company's history, as written by our 1st Lieutenant (Now Past Captain), Tom Prezioso, once to a young visitor of the station.
The Dreadnaught Hook, Ladder & Hose Company 1 (also known as the "Dreads") is one of four charted volunteer fire companies in the town of Bristol, RI. The fire department is also made up of a volunteer Rescue Squad and an engine squad. The engine squad (Engine 4) is made up of seven members from each of the four charted fire companies. The Dreadnaughts have provided service for the town of Bristol for over 150 years. We argue this with the other companies because there is little to no history of our company. The reason for this is in 1899, a fire broke out one early morning, destroying the wooden structure housing the Dreads. The apparatus, at the time, was pulled out in time and saved along with our fire trumpets, but our records perished in the flames.
(On our official Company mascot…) Puff is a water-shooting dragon. If you notice on the patch, the tail of Puff is attached to a fire hydrant. The water from the hydrant runs through Puff and shoots out of his nose, like fire would shoot out of a fire-breathing dragon.
You may wonder how our ladder truck was named Puff. Well, I will tell you. A few days after Puff proudly rolled in to the small town of Bristol, RI in 1982, a demonstration of what she could do was put on for the town.
There was Puff, the largest truck in the fleet and the largest and loudest in the surrounding towns. She was truly the pride of the fleet. When her jacks were lowered to raise the aerial, the thrust from the engine sounded like a loud roar. Once settled in to place, the aerial was raised to her full length of 110 feet with a nozzle at the tip and mid-point of the aerial. When the young school children observing the demonstration saw the long length of hose behind the ladder truck begin to move as it charged up with water and then witnessed the two powerful solid streams of water shooting out of the two nozzles towering above them, many of them began to say it look like a dragon. As the children described with excitement how the ladder truck looked and sounded like a dragon to each other and their parents, the name Puff began to emerge from the crowd of the children. It was from that moment on that the ladder truck was named from mythical dragon Puff from the children's song Puff the Magic Dragon.
The Dreadnaughts perform truck support at the fire scene (i.e. ladder buildings, ventilation, salvage and overhaul). We like to say; "We are the best ladder company in town." The joke is…we are the only ladder company in town. The other three companies are engine companies. We also perform auto extrication, handle hazardous materials, perform water rescues and assist rescue from time to time. You will notice in our company photo on our website the "special hazards" truck along side Puff and the bow of Marine 1 along the side of the members. We may be the only ladder company in town, but none the less we are certainly the busiest.
The photo of Puff (coming soon to our website) was taken in at the Dreads in December of 1999 while putting up Christmas lights on our station. It is a tradition we do every year. The station that you see was completed around 1900. It was built in the exact same location as the first station. Although our history is not complete, we have been at the same location (Church & High) for over 150 years. It is our home, and every member is "family".
You may notice that the middle of the road on Hope & High Streets has a red, white & blue line, rather then the traditional yellow. The reason is that this line marks the route for the oldest continuing July Fourth Parade in our country.
When most people hear the word Dreadnaught, they immediately associate the word with the great battleship. Or, a style of acoustic guitar. Although the spelling of Dreadnaught (with an 'a') could also refer to the great battleship, the actual word Dreadnought, with an 'o', is the appropriate spelling referring to the great battleships. Our company spelling of the word Dreadnaught has another meaning. The word Dread means to fear intensely and the word naught means nothing. When the two words Dread & naught are combined the meaning is entirely different. It means "fear nothing."
Station History:
The main part of the station was built right around 1900, after a fire destroyed the original Dreadnaught fire station, sitting on the same site. The addition on the Church Street side was built in the 1960's to house the new ladder truck at the time, a 1961 Ward LaFrance snorkel. The station has been well-maintained over the years, and has served the members and the town well. We have renovated and restored many spaces in recent years. Further photos can be found here Historical Photos of our Station
Department History:
Can also be found in the local book titled Bristol, Rhode Island, Volume II, by author Richard V. Simpson, published by Arcadia Publishing (HISTORICAL PHOTOS OF COMPANY & DEPARTMENT)
1962 Ward La-France Snorkel undated photo c.1960 's
Taken in front of 297 Hope St, Bristol, R.I.
1982 E-1 110' rear mounted ladder Hurricane Cab (Retired)