Merryweather Steam Fire Engine - Fire Fighting Vehicles on Waymarking.com

In October of 1872, the Town of Whitby received the long awaited Merryweather Steam Fire Engine from London England.

The Merryweather weighed 2,500 pounds and cost $3,000.00. It was frost proof, and specially made for the Canadian climate. It was able to pump water through 800 feet of hose from a well at the Four Corners and shoot a stream 15 feet over the steeple of All Saints’ Church at Dundas St. West and Centre St. North.

Only a month after it arrived in Whitby, the Merryweather proved its worth by saving Downtown Oshawa. At last, Whitby was able to pay Oshawa back, for all the help rendered in the past when Whitby was without a fire engine. The Merryweather served the town faithfully for 54 years.

The worst fire, in Whitby’s history occurred on October 16, 1877, when a lamp burst in Thomas Lawler’s store. Almost the entire east side of Brock Street from Dundas to Colborne was destroyed. Many businesses were gutted, with the total loss amounting to $150,000.00. The Merryweather and the Oshawa ?re engines pumped the Town wells dry
that day.

In 1879, the fire engine was kept at the Town Hall building at Brock and Colborne Streets. A bell on a tower behind the Town Hall was rung whenever a fire alarm was turned in. When the bell sounded, anyone within hearing distance would unhitch his team of horses from his wagon and race to the Fire Hall. The first team to arrive pulled the Merryweather to the fire and received a reward of $7.00. The second team was rewarded with $5.00 and had the duty of hauling the ladder wagon. The last wagon to go earned $3.00 hauling the hose reel.

Through the years, Whitby suffered many other less serious fires. The Town lost its curling and skating rink in 1888, its Catholic Church in 1901 along with a hardware store, and a school in 1920.

In 1926 the Merryweather was replaced with Whitby’s first motorized fire trucks. These were a Godfredson Pumper and a Chevrolet Chemical Truck, purchased by the Town at a cost of $10,200.00.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/27/2023 Skyecat archived it