On January 31, 1784 disaster struck in the village of Salem. The tavern burst into flames and burned to the ground. Though no lives were lost much material was in the form of furniture and the personal property of those staying in the tavern.
A benefit did, however, manifest itself. The church boards ordered two hand-pumped fire engines from Europe. They arrived a year later in 1785. It pleased the citizens of Salem that the engines could pump water over the highest roof.
The fire engines were first used at a fire in August of 1786.
Pictured above is the 1803 fire house from which were monthly fire drills.
When a fire broke out a bucket brigade was formed. The men would form a line and pass buckets of water from the cistern to the fire engine reservoir. The women would form a parallel line passing the empty buckets back to the cistern.
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