Portage Fire Co. No. 1.

FROM 1 APRIL 1971 EXPONENT: There is a new sign on the front of the Oak Harbor Fire Station. It says. "Portage Fire Co. No. 1." AND FROM THE "OLDTIMER," (George Bredehoft), that same date: It is always interesting to know that there is something new in town. Have you noticed the new sign above the large door of the Fire station on West Water Street? If you have seen it, you known that it reads "Portage Fire Co. No. 1 EST 1873." You may wonder how this sign happened to be placed there recently.

Fire chief Charlie Brown tells that not long ago a citizen of Oak Harbor found a small booklet entitled "Constitution, By-laws and Rules of Order, Portage Fire Co. No.1. ; printed in Toledo by Steam Press of V.J. Zahn & Co, 1873." Wayne Seamon was the citizen who found the book, he showed it to Boyd Wilkins and Art Paulsen. Art had copies made of the booklet and gave Chief Brown a copy.

The first page of the constitution reads this way: Whereas: The Legislature of the state of Ohio have encouraged the formation and organization of Fire Companies, and have extended the means thereof certain privileges and immunities and

Whereas: In our opinion the formation of Fire Co. in the Village of Oak Harbor will tend to promote social feeling, and render the lives and property of ourselves and our fellow citizens secure from the ravages of fire; therefore we, the undersigned, to promote the objects foresaid, do mutually agree to form ourselves into a Fire company, to be governed by the following articles of Association and such resolutions and By-laws as the company may adopt.

ARTICLE I. This company shall be known and designated by the name of Portage Fire Company No. 1 of Oak Harbor.

ARTICLE II. The officers of this company shall consist of a Foreman, Assistant Foreman, Secretary, Treas., Marshall and Pipeman.

ARTICLE III. It shall be the duty of the Foreman to see that the engine with all its apparatus, is kept in good order; to take command of the company at every muster, to preside as chairman of every meeting, but shall have only a casting vote; to make each member do his duty; to order refreshments for the Company, when necessary, and to obtain a discharge from fires as soon as possible after they are extinguished. He shall impartially enforce all By-laws and call all meetings when he things proper. For neglect or default, he shall be fined not exceeding five dollars ot less than one dollar.

The duties of the Assistant Foreman, Secretary and Treasurer were outlined in succeeding articles. Each article provided for the fine in event of neglect or default of duty.

The Marshall was charged with the duty of taking care of the hose or apparatus at all washings and fires or parades to protect them from injury and to keep bystanders from interrupting the operations of the company, under penalty of fine if in neglect or default of duty.

The Pipe men were responsible for the pipes. The first tow members of the engine house were directed to assist the pipemen under their direction at fires. In the absence 0f all officers, the Pipemen were to act as foreman under the same penalties.

ARTICLE IX AND ARTICLE X provided the persons desiring membership in the company should present their applications tin writing through some member and with the sum of twenty five cents to be aid to the secretary. Provision was made for the refund of the twenty five cents in event the applicant received five or more black balls in the balloting by members. In event of a favorable vote, four or less black balls, the twenty five cents became the initiation fee.

Under the Rule of Order no member was allowed to speak in a meeting more than once on a subject until all other members had a chance to speak.

It took a two thirds vote of those present to expel a member with only a majority to pass ordinary business. Expulsion could follow refusal to pay fines.

Since the promotion of social feeling was mentioned first in the constitution is likely that a great deal of the social life of the village centered around Portage Fire Co., No. 1. The sign is displayed proudly by the present fire department whose history now goes back to 1873.

STATE FLAG OF OHIO - THE OHIO BURGEE; Ohio's official flag was adopted by an act of the Ohio Legislature on May 9, 1902. The Ohio burgee ((bur'je), as the swallow-tailed design is properly called, was drawn by John Eisenmann, architect and designer for the Ohio State Pan-American Exposition Commission.

The Ohio flag has three red and two white horizontal stripes. At it staff is a blue triangular field whose apex is at the center of the middle red stripe; there are 17 white, five-pointed stars grouped around a red disc superimposed on a white circular "O."

Mr. Eisenmann explained the Ohio flag's symbolism most aptly: "The triangles formed by them in lines of the flag represent the hills and alleys as typified in the State Seal, and the stripes the roads and waterways.

"The stars, indicating the 13 original states of the Union, are grouped about the circle which represents the Northwest Territory; and that Ohio was the seventeenth sates admitted into the Union is shown by adding four more stars.

"The white circle with its red center, not only represents the initial letter of Ohio, but is suggestive of its being the Buckeye State."

In 2002, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Adoption of the Ohio flag, the Ohio General Assembly adopted a pledge to the Ohio flag for the first time in state history. The pledge "I salute the flag of the State of Ohio and pledge to the Buckeye State respect and loyalty," can be recited following the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.

GOOD SAMARITAN: This past week, some anonymous person cleaned out my driveway. We did not see wile it was being done so we have no idea of who did it. Would like to know so could thank personally but if not, hope this suffices: "Thank you deeply."

AN OLD AND DEAR FRIEND FROM ELMORE sent me a newspaper picture of Mrs. Julia Bauch, widow of Rev. J. Bauch, who for many years was pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church. Mrs. Bauch had celebrated her 88th birthday. (LW: I tried to scan the picture to put in the paper. It was too old and too yellowed - would not scan well. Thank you so much of thinking of me and the Exponent readers).

The fire bell was clanging and

On came the firemen on the run

The horses were ready and

The men knew what must be done.

**BURMA SHAVE**