100 Years

May 5th, 1905 Mr. Pomeroy introduced the question of fire extinguishers which was discussed at some length and by vote of the council we referred to J.S. Payne and R.E. Michener as a Committee to the City and ascertain the wishes of the people.

May 19th, 1905 The Committee on Fire Protection reported that a majority of people interviewed are in favor of some kind of protection. The Committee was continued with instructions to obtain prices on hand machines.

July 7th, 1905 Motion was made, seconded & carried that the Fire Committee purchase 12 Patrol Fire Extinguishers.

Oct. 20th, 1905 Moved & seconded that city buy a Chemical Fire Engine, Motion Carried. Mr. Pomeroy then made a proposition on a 2- 35 gallon cylinder Fire Extinguishers with a 40 gallon single engine for $950.00. Moved and seconded that we purchase the $700 machine now provided that Mr. Pomeroy would guarantee the privilege of purchase the #4 machine at $250.00 at some future time. Mr. Pomeroy agreed to said condition. The motion carried unanimously. Moved, seconded & carried that the Mayor and Clerk is here by instructed to sign the agreement for 1 American LaFrance Fire Engine.

Sept. 4th, 1905 At 3:00 a.m., E.B. Black noticed smoke rising from the center of town when he got up to coal the engine for a stock extra off the Englewood. Two engines that were in the railroad yard at the time sounded the alarm. He hurried to the fire where he met Art Shaffer and George and Clarence Howard who were aroused by the alarm. Soon a host of fire fighters were at work. The fire was at the front of the Parrett & Wright Meat Market and Kuhl Harness Shop. There had been either light nor fire in the building since Saturday, leading to the conclusion that firebugs had been at work. An east wind drove the fire westward. The Minnich Grocery, Kuhl Harness Shop, the New Meat Market, I. E. Thompson's Barber Shop, Mrs. Wilder's Millinery store and the post office were consumed with nearly all their contents. Butterfield & Reddick, R. P. Seyfer, Chas. Hodgson and Rucker & Field also suffered losses. The firms affected by the fire were hoping to resume business as soon as possible. They were assured that the buildings would be replaced at an early date. Effective fire protection for the town is to be the next topic for consideration by local organizations. (Information taken from the Mulvane Record dated Sept. 7, 1905)

Nov. 3rd, 1905 By vote of the council, the Mayor appointed G.A. Blair, J.B. Citizen, and R.E. Michener as a Committee to find a location for the Chemical Fire Extinguisher.

Nov. 17th, 1905 The Committee on a Room for Fire Extinguishers reported progress and were continued for further action.

Dec. 1st, 1905 The Mayor then appointed Geo. Howard as Fire Marshall and J.L. Nessly as Assistant Fire Marshall. Said appointments were duly confirmed by vote of Council and the Fire Marshall was instructed to select such persons on Fire Company Roll as he thought best and report at the next meeting. Moved, seconded, and carried that the Fire Marshall and Assistant procure necessary ladders and other equipment as necessary for Fire Company.

Dec. 15th, 1905 The Committee on Fire Apparatus report progress. The Mayor with consent of the council then appointed R.E. Michener and G.A. Blair as a permanent Fire Committee.

Dec. 21st, 1905 On call of the Mayor S. F. Field, the council meet in Special Session and the following request was made. You are hereby requested to call a special meeting of the city council for the purpose of accepting the Chemical Fire Engine and issue City Warrants in payment of same as per contract. Signed Geo. Howard, J.S. Payne, Geo. A Blair, and R.E. Michener. Mr. Pomeroy being present stated that Engine was here complete. Moved and seconded that the Engine be accepted. Motion Carried. The bill for the Engine was $700.00 in favor of American LaFrance Fire Engine Co. was then entered an ordinance #134 to appropriate money from the City Treasury in payment of the same as follows.

January 5th, 1906 A building for the Fire Engine was then discussed to some length and it was moved and seconded that Mayor S.L. Field, a Councilman, and a Citizen constitute a committee to inspect the Dickerson Building and report as to its condition, value, and the advisability of purchasing same at $1,500. Motion Carried. Moved & seconded that the City purchase above building at the price named provided the committee report favorable on condition & value. Motion Carried.

January 9th, 1906 The Committee appointed to examine the Dickerson Building report that they have examined same and find the condition good and the value equal to price asked $1,500 and would report favorable on purchase of same by City. Moved, second, and carried that the Mayor and Finance Committee constitute a committee to see as to the floating the necessary funds to purchase the building, not to exceed $1,600.

July 22nd, 1918 Mulvane Volunteer Fire Department charters with the State of Kansas to become a "not for profit" corporation. This enabled the receipt of Firefighter Relief Funds from the State Insurance Office.

Dec. 30th, 1926 Mulvane Volunteer Fire Department buys it's first motorized Fire Engine, a 1927 IH Boyer Fire Engine. This was known as Engine #1.

Here are some of the U.S. statistics for the Year 1905:

The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.

Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.

There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.

With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.

The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,

a dentist $2,500 per year,

a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and

a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had no college education.

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
          1. Pneumonia and influenza

          2. Tuberculosis

         3. Diarrhea

           4. Heart disease

           5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.
Back then pharmacist said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!)

Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

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Last modified: Friday October 18, 2019