Steamer 1

Clapp & Jones Steamer (c. 1885)

The department’s oldest and most historically significant piece of equipment is its Clapp & Jones steam fire engine, acquired by the town in early 1889. Although original purchase records are not conclusive, historical research strongly indicates that the steamer was most likely an 1885 model purchased as a used piece of apparatus.

The steamer bears serial number 464, which has not been definitively documented in existing Clapp & Jones manufacturing records. However, surrounding serial numbers 463 and 465 have both been confirmed as having been manufactured in 1885, further supporting the belief that this engine dates to that year.

During the late 19th century, Clapp & Jones steamers were considered the gold standard of fire apparatus, widely recognized as the highest-quality and most expensive fire equipment available. It is believed that the town either could not afford the cost of a new Clapp & Jones steamer or did not want to wait for a new engine to be built, leading to the purchase of this used but highly capable apparatus.

The steamer served as a critical advancement in the town’s firefighting capability during the era of steam-powered fire suppression and represents the department’s early commitment to acquiring reliable, high-quality equipment to protect the community.

In later years, the steamer was placed on display at a fire museum, where it was preserved as an important piece of firefighting history. In 2008, upon the department’s move to its current fire station, the steamer was returned to the fire company and is now proudly displayed in the station vestibule, where it continues to serve as a powerful symbol of the department’s origins, heritage, and enduring service to the community.

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