Company 3’s
Engine 3, Truck 3, Rescue 3, Dispatch 3
1116 East First Street Stockton, CA 95206
Company 3’s Research
The San Joaquins
In 1855 the growth of the city demonstrated the need of additional fire protection and the German citizens, with the initiative characteristic of them in all matters tending toward the betterment of municipal conditions, formed a company under the above title. Their petition containing twenty-eight signatures, was received by the board of delegates on March 9, 1855, and that body immediately announced their admission into the Stockton Fire Department. The hand engine previously referred to in this volume as the “Piano deck” was placed at their disposal. For a time they housed their machine in a small wooden shed on Weber avenue opposite Lane’s Mill. In 1856 the City Fathers secured a lot at a cost of $300 and had erected, for the use of the company, a two-story brick building. This structure, built by Wm. Saunders, remained the home of the company until 1869, when it was torn down and the building now occupied by the chemical company erected in its stead. The records of the company have been unaccountably lost. (History of the Stockton Fire Department 1850-1908, Tinkham)
The first alarm bell ever in Stockton was purchased by this company in February, 1857. However, this first bell was cracked and in 1865 a new bell was purchased in San Francisco at a cost of $290, weighing 480 pounds. This bell was later sold to a church in Linden. In 1860, new engines were ordered for the Eureka Company and the San Joaquin’s, both being constructed of mahogany and brass trim. This engine did not prove satisfactory, and it was sold to Livermore for $500. In 1869 the old engine house was torn down and a new station constructed. In 1873 a new, experimental Chemical engine was brought to Stockton and the San Joaquin Company was so impressed that they purchased it for $3,500. Carbonic Acid Gas was formed which was used to extinguished flames. The small tanks were lighter and easier to roll than the large steam pumps. (Bank of Stockton records, taken from a story in the Stockton Record 8_26_1946)
The Babcock Chemical Engine
A new hand engine was purchased for the company in 1860. This machine was later sold to a fire company at Livermore where it is still in use. Being desirous of having a steam engine and finding themselves without the necessary funds, the company concluded to raise the money by a lottery scheme. Great excitement was created by the expedient, 371 prizes were offered aggregating in value $22,000. Twenty thousand tickets were issued to be sold at $2 each. The management of the affair was placed in the hands of a few prominent members and July 12, 1871, named as the date upon which the drawing would take place. A large number of tickets were sold, many members of the company purchasing them in lots of fifty, while the general public responded liberally. The date of the drawing was postponed by the committee in charge to September 24th. As that date drew near it became manifest that “old king graft” had been admitted into the management. A large deficiency was found which necessitated the abandonment of the project and the members of the company were compelled to reimburse the purchasers of tickets out of their private funds.
Two years after the San Joaquin’s failure to secure a steamer, an invention that has since proved to be the greatest foe of fire yet discovered by man, was introduced to public notice. This, which was known as the “Babcock Chemical Engine” was brought to Stockton and after several trials purchased by the company for $3,500. A large element in the company was opposed to the expenditure of such a large amount for what they called a “soda water engine” and it was only by dint of much hard work on the part of the late M. H. Bond and the present chief that a majority was secured to vote for its purchase. In order to demonstrate fully the engine’s ability the agent of the manufacturers bought a small superannuated dwelling at the corner of American and Anderson Streets, filled it with boxes and other combustibles and saturated it all with kerosene. Together with many members of the company and a large inquisitive crowd he hauled the machine to a point near the house mentioned and ordered an assistant to set it on fire. Waiting until the flames had gained a good headway he bravely advanced upon the foe, firm in the belief that it would be a question of a moment when he would annihilate it. Alas! and by this story we are reminded of the efforts along similar lines of a popular Stocktonian who lately secured the agency for a flame-extinguishing device - he lacked the knowledge necessary to successful fire-fighting, a knowledge that is acquired by experience only, and after vainly endeavoring to put out the blaze by playing the compound on the base of the fire he gave up the nozzle in despair. Chief McCann caught up the hose and by playing on the flames in the proper manner extinguished the fire without any difficulty.
The acquisition of this up-to-date piece of apparatus immediately placed the company in the front rank of Stockton’s Fire Department. The engine being light and equipped with a speedy span of horses was easily first at every fire. In nine “rolls” out of every ten the flames had gained but little headway and were easily extinguished by the new equipment. “First water,” than which nothing is dearer to the old volunteer’s heart, threatened to become “an empty phrase to be conjured with in memory only.” Jealousy soon became manifest and every effort was put forth by members of the other companies to belittle the work of the “Babcock.” (History of the Stockton Fire Department 1850-1908)
The Snake Pit
