NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Feb. 5, 1856
Manitowoc Tribune
Notice To Property Holders The property holders, residents in this village are requested to meet at the Court House on Friday the 6th inst., at 7 o'clock P.M. to consult upon the propriety of purchasing Two fire c???? Fire Engines for the use of the Village, in place of the Engines formerly decided upon by the Board of Trustees, who are now awaiting the action of the Tax payers before making a final decision in regard to a purchase. A general attendance is requested. CHAS. ESSLINGER. President.
June 5, 1856
Manitowoc Tribune
The Board of Trustees have taken the preliminary steps for re-organizing and supplying the Fire Department with suitable apparatus. The present Board of Trustees is composed of men of enterprise, and the resolution introduced by Mr. Van Valkenburg, authorising immediate action with reference to this matter, was passed unanimously. We shall take occasion to speak of this subject again.



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Jan. 15, 1857
Manitowoc Tribune
THE TORRENT FIRE COMPANY No. 1.-organized on Wednesday, 14 of January by electing the following officers; Foreman: W.H. McDondald, 1st Assistent: G.C. Wimpf, 2d Assistent: ??e Beigel, Secratary (sic): ?. H. Schmidt, Treasurer: A.C. Gibson. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday the 21st day of January 1857. ?.H. Schmidt Sec.



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
June 11, 1858
The Daily Tribune
BADGER ENGINE Co. met last evening and elected the following officers. Foreman, G. W. Woodin, 1st Assistant,  M. Soler, 2d Assistant, F.H. Damon, Secretary, F.W. Borcherdt, Treasurer, W. Barber, Company adjourned till Friday, 18th inst.



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Aug. 12, 1859
Manitowoc Pilot
FIRE COMPANY.-The members of Badger Engine Company, No. 1, were out on Tuesday evening last, and proved themselves worthy of the name of firemen.-Their "machine" worked capitally, and they worked well themselves. This company is entitled to the good wishes and countenance of the whole community. At a meeting of the Company, on Tuesday evening, C.G. Esslinger was elected Secretary, -a good choice.



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Jan. 6, 1870
Manitowoc Pilot
MANITOWOC FIRE DEPARTMENT - The following officers have been elected in the various fire departments of this village for the coming year: Torrent Engine Co. No. 2.; Foreman - John Kuhnle; 1st. Asst. - Kaver Aumann; 2d Asst. - P. Schreihardt; Sec'y - W.H. Hemschemyer; Treas. - John Schappert; Hose Capt. - Geo. H. Kunz; Asst. Capt. - Geo. Grimm; Color bearer - A. Eckert
 Delegates to State Firemans Association: Carl H. Schmidt; Jacob Fleiegler; Protection Bucket Co.; Foreman - Jas. Philippen; 1st. Asst. - Carl Friecall; 2d. Asst. - Jas. Pfeffer; Sec'y. - Frank Schnorr; Treas. - Edw. Goetzler
Jan. 6, 1870
Manitowoc Pilot
TWO RIVERS FIRE DEPARTMENT - Chief Engineer - E. Evans; 1st. Asst. - Franz F. Kaufmann; 2d. Asst. - Henry Vogt; Sec. - Bernham Richter; Treas. - H.G. Fischbein
Monitor Engine No. 1: Foreman - Ernst Hammel; 1st. Ast. - Rich. Mueller; 2d. Ast. - Bernh Richter; Sec. - Mich. Maloy; Treas. - Rob't Suettinger; Hose Capt. - Aug. Weilep; Steward - Rob't Suellinger
DEETER HOOK AND LADDER CO.: Foreman - C.H. Webster; 1st. Asst. - C. Kumbalick; 2d Asst. - H.G. Fischbein; Sec. - G.W. Kessmann; Treas. - Fred. Kaufmann



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Feb. 21, 1899
Manitowoc Daily Herald
The Water Work company has received a boiler which will be used to thaw out the hydrants, frozen by the recent cold wave.
Apr. 18, 1899
Manitowoc Daily Herald
A fire alarm turned in from the North side about 7 o'clock last evening created all kinds of confusion. A burning chimney at corner of York and seventh was the cause. No damage. The South side hose cart took a run up South Main street, we suppose simply for exercise.



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
May 24, 1915
Manitowoc Daily Herald
HAS BOOK CONTAINING LIST OF OUR OLD TIME FIRE FIGHTERS JOS. AUERMILLER PRIZES AS HISTORIC ORIGINAL RECORDS OF THE OLD BADGER ENGINE COMPANY OF 1870
 Old time residents of the city and even the younger generations will be interested in the history of a book retained as a souvenir of olden days by Joseph Auermiller of this city, at one time foreman of the old Manitowoc engine company.
 The book contains the list of members of Badger Engine company of Manitowoc and is prized by its owner as a relic of Manitowoc's olden days. This list of names will bring many memories to the minds of older residents. The roll as given to the Herald by Mr. Auermiller is as follows:
 Jonah Richards, Henry Mulholland, John Lantry, H. Morrison, H. Halverson, Cornelius Murphy, Job. Parworth, P. Sullivan, Thos. Robinson, Peter Johnston, Chas. Luling, August Dueno, C.C. Barnes, S. Sanderson, J.E. Platt, Homer Hill, Jas. Barry, Fred Seeger, Jacob Peterson, G.G. Dwyer, E.K. Rand, Aug. Grostueck, Anton Vogt, Christ Koebke, Chas. Franceway, Wm. Clement, Hy. Scherer, L. Schurr, H. R. Sommer, A. Michaelson, Jos. Thomas, Paul Leubner, Wm. Egan, Ed. Conway, G. Halverson, Nic Ley, L. Sander, Chas. Bock, M. Riplinger, Wenzel Kautzky, Miles McMahon, Lars Nelson, E. Holton, F. Baker, Thos. Thompson, F. Horn, A. Anderson, Thors. Knudson, H. Wilcox, F. Kostomistzky, Lars Olson, Mich. Doolan, Jos. Fulmer, John Sheahan, C.W. McCullon, F. Sorge, Hilge Gulicson, Hans Larson, J.C. Bolmeyer, Ed. Borcherdt and Jos. Auermiller. 



NEWSPAPER DATE
NEWSPAPER
EVENT
Jan. 18, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
FIRE CHIEF IS TO GET MOTOR RUNABOUT NOW Council Asks For Bids on 35 H.P. Runabout For Him Fire Chief J.H. Kratz is to have a benxine(sic) buggy for use in reaching fires. By unanimous vote the council last night called for bids on a runabout motor car of not less than 35-horse power, 106 inch wheel base, 2,000 pound weight and equipped with electric starter and lights. Some of the aldermen thought that the specifications were vague and should include provision for a chemical tank on the machine but the mayor and committee said that the specifications explained that the machine was wanted for the fire department and that bidders would understand, and predicted that the city would get 100 bids on the machine.
Feb. 12, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
FIRE TRUCK PROVES IT CAN GET THROUGH SNOW IN TEST CALL MADE BY ALD. SCHUETZE TODAY That the city's motor fire truck can get through the snow and is all right for winter service was demonstrated conclusively this afternoon when the truck made a run to Twenty-second and Hamilton street in less than six minutes, one-half the time a team would have required. Alderman Schuetze turned in the alarm and Alderman Smuggler who opposed the truck purchase because he thought it could not do service in snow drifts, was present and expressed complete satisfaction with the test. The alarm was sent in from Box 74. There was no fire.
Feb. 26, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
In city hall circles it is reported that the motor patrol for the police department is to get an adverse report and that bids will be rejected. The council took no action Wednesday night on the bids for a motor car for Chief Kratz of the fire department but Alderman Thorison of the fire and water committee said that a report would be ready at the next meeting.
Mar. 7, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
FIRE CHIEF TO GET AUTO, NO JOY RIDING IN CAR Chief J.H. Kratz is to have a motor vehicle for his own use. The council last night accepted the bid of Hall Bros. of $695 for an Overland car for the chief's use. That's not the end of the story, however. The council, after purchasing the machine, adopted a motion of dered (sic) by Alderman Smuggler directing that the car be painted red to conform to the apparatus of the department. And the end is not yet. It is said that the council, at its next session, will consider a resolution which will provide that the chief's car be not taken outside the city limits except in response to fire calls. The action is said to be prompted by a determination of the aldermen to prevent city machines being used for joy riding. Probably Alderman Bigel's fight to have the council purchase a heavier car for the chief may have been responsible for the attitude of the council. Bigel insisted that the car recommended by the committee was too light for heavy weather and snows and wanted a much heavier machine. He voted against the report. Bigel talked of a car costing $1,450 or more, but the council couldn't see it. Bids for a motor patrol for the police department were rejected and new bids will be called for. The police committee said that the department wanted a patrol that could also be utilized as an ambulance and that machines offered did not meet the requirements.
Mar. 17, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
Responding to a call from the North side, the fire department found the home of Fred Vetting, on Fourth street, between Park and State streets, ablaze from a defective chimney. The fire was soon extinguished with the chemical apparatus, but it was found necessary to remove the roof. Chief Kratz declared that he would take steps to condemn the.(sic) The call was entered at 12 o'clock, both the North and South side apparatus being called out. The actual damage was small, chemicals exclusively being used.
Mar. 18, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
From the Council Proceedings: Moved and carried to have fire chief's automobile painted red, all members present voting aye except Thorison.
Mar. 22, 1916
Manitowoc Daily Herald
Fire Chief J.H. Kratz is at Milwaukee today on business. Chief Kratz expects to get a look at the run about machine which the council recently purchased for use of the department and which is being decorated in red as ordered by the council. The machine will probably be delivered in ten days or two weeks.