Notable Articles

St. Mary’s Beacon, July 16, 1896 [reprint]
Leonardtown Hook and Ladder Company

To carry out the measures adopted by the Commissioners of the village, the citizen have organized a Hook and Ladder Company, composed of 42 members. At a meeting on Tuesday evening last, a constitution was adopted and the following officers were elected: President, Joseph F. Morgan; Vice-President, Walter B. Dorsey; Secretary, Francis V. King; Corresponding Secretary, Harry Spalding; Treasurer, Enoch B. Abell.

The Fire Department was organized with the following officers:

Fire Marshal, Kemper A. Viett; Assistant, Jackson B. Abell.

Captain Hook and Ladder Truck, Walter B. Dorsey; Assistant, Lewis I. Viett.

Captain Tank Truck, No. 1, Joseph M a. Mattingly; Assistant, Spencer C. Viett.

The president announced the men to be attached to the Hook and Ladder Truck and the Tank Truck.

All the Fire Apparatus has been ordered and is expected here in the near future. When obtained, we think it will be efficient and will add a great deal to the protection of the town and will, to a great extent, reduce our insurance rates.

St. Mary’s Beacon, June 3, 1897 [reprint]

Thursday’s exhibition of the Leonardtown Fire Company was very creditable. Capt. Viett’s regular force was not on hand but the boys who took their places on Truck No. 1 did very well. The colored troops – Truck No. 2, Capt. Jim Sewell fought nobly. In less than two minutes after the alarm the companies were at the scene of action and at work.

The Dailey News, Frederick, Md., May 29, 1897 [reprint]
“Leonardtown has colored and white fire companies”

St. Mary’s Beacon, (date) [reprint]
Leonardtown Fire Department

Marshal – Kemper A. Viett
Assiatant Marshall – Jackson B. Abell

Leonardtown Hook and Ladder Company

Louis L. Viett, Captain
Charles Connelley, Asst. Captain.
Harry Spalding
Joseph Russell
Wm. F. Greenwell
Harry Fenwick
J.B. Raley
George P. Loker
C.J. Clements
Harry Graves
Harry Combs
Milton Jones
Testa Abell
P.O. Budd

Hook and Ladder Company, Engine No. 1

Jos. M. Mattingly, Captain
Spencer CX. Viett, Asst. do
James V. Foxwell
C. Bruce Armsworthy
Woodley Abell
Robert A. Abell
James C. Longmore
Jack Norris
David Milburn
Robert A. Abell
C.W. Foxwell
Frank Camalier
John Doyle

Leonardtown Hose Company, Engine No. 2

James H. Sewell, Captain
George Creighton, Asst. do
John H. Gordon
Edward Butler
Philip Butler
Douglas Butler
Alfred Hayden
Henry Cole
William F. Swales
Jeff Hanson
Henry Wilson
Alex Shirelitte
Maguire Chase
John Shaw

Rules for fire wardens. Times of rounds – 11 P.M., and 1, 3, 5, A. M.

Weather Signals: 1 whistle- starlight, 2 whistles- moonlight, 3 whistles- cloudy, 4 whistles- raining, 5 whistles- snowing or hailing. Fire Signal – Ringing of hotel bells. Watchman- George Russell.