CITY ORGANIZES TO FIGHT FIRE
City Fathers Form the First "Hook and Ladder" Company
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         The City fathers on March 16,
       1858 started the Lapeer Fire De-
       partment, then known as the "hook
       and ladder company," by the fol-
       lowing legislation: "Any number
       of able bodied men not to exceed
       50, above the age of 18, resident of
       said village, may form themselves
       into a Hook and Ladder company
       for the purpose of preventing and
       extinguishing fires within said vil-
       lage, and when so formed, may
       elect such officers and make such
       by-laws as they may deem neces-
       sary for their government, such by-
       laws shall be submitted to the Presi-
       dent and Trustees, and be approved
       by them, before the said by-laws
       shall become operative.
       
         "Jeremiah T. Hinman, Thomas
       Ryan, Jonathan Ash, William H.
       Cockett and C.T. Dodge, are here-
       by appointed members of said Hook
       and Ladder company, and all per-
       sons wishing to become members of
       said company, shall make applica-
       tion to them and such others as
       shall become members of said com-
       pany, whose duty it shall be to
       report the names of such applicants
       to thePresident and Trustees for
       election or rejection.  The hooks,
       ladders and buckets shall be kept
       at such place in said village, as
       shall be designated by the Presi-
       dent and Trustees of said village."
       
         The hook and ladder wagon with
       the hose cart attached was drawn
       by men for many years, many of
       whom would assist when the alarm
       was given.  Later a large
       truck was secured, drawn by horses,
       and a more recent development has
       been the motor propelled truck.
       
         The City Hall which houses the
       fire department, as well as the of-
       fices of the City clerk, was built
       in 1882.  The hall in the second
       floor of the building was the scene
       of many an interesting social in
       the days when the Firemen's Ball
       was a vivid part of the City's life.