Elmira's Fire Chief John H. Espey

By Susan Zehnder, Education Director

Imagine knowing what you want to do from a young age and then doing it for half a century. One such determined man was Elmira fire fighter John H. Espey. First joining the fire department in 1887, he remained on the force for 50 years. The last 32 of those years, of those he served as department chief.

John H. Espey

Unexpected circumstances led him down this career path, but it combined his interests in plumbing, firefighting, and public service. Espey was born in Pennsylvania in 1862, the oldest child of Daniel and Eliza Espey. When his father took the position as foreman at the Elmira Rolling Mills Company, the family moved to Elmira. Tragically a few years later, his father died in a work accident at the mill, leaving the family with few resources. Eight-year-old Espey knew he needed to pitch in to help his family. He became a plumber’s apprentice, learning a trade that proved useful.

His plumbing work took him all over the city. One significant job was at the Elmira Reformatory, which was expanding and modernizing its steam piping. Unlike many young boys and men at the time, Espey did not smoke and he avoided any form of tobacco. He was hired for the reformatory job because they knew, as a non-smoker, Espey would not be vulnerable to being bribed by the inmate.

At 14, he found his passion for firefighting and helping others. One Sunday morning while on his way to religious school, he was passed by a parade of horse-drawn fire wagons. He followed the commotion, jumped in to help the firemen, and as he described it later in life, he felt it was the right thing to do.

Espey continued to work as a plumber. In 1887, at the age of 24, he got married to Tillie Lena Kreutter,

Marriage certificate from July 3, 1887

and he joined the fire department as a call fireman. He slept at the engine house at night, on call to answer alarms. Pay for fire fighters at that time was $16.66 a month or a little over $500 in 2024 dollars.

Service certificate awarded 1897

After two years, Espey was appointed call foreman for Engine and Hose Company No. 1. The station was located at East Market Street and was the only station located within city limits. Since Elmira had recently installed new iron pipes to handle a growing water system, Espey’s plumbing expertise became important. He knew precisely where pipes were located, which allowed fire engines to hook up to a water source faster and more efficiently.

Espey soon became known and trusted as the company’s pipe man, and in 1887, he was appointed department plumber. In this position he invented an automatic way to shut off valves at the back of the steamers, and a more efficient chemical engine lighter.

His fellow firefighters thought so highly of him that in 1889 they sent him off to New York City for special training at the New York Department Firemen’s School. There he learned the latest firefighting techniques and training and made valuable contacts with people from around the state.

By now, Espey and Lena had two daughters and a son and the couple lived on Brand Street in the Southside.
In 1902 his position of department plumber was abolished and Espey was transferred to the truck company. This move reduced his pay by $10 a month. In 1904, under a new mayor, Espey was appointed chief of the Elmira Fire Department. This was somewhat controversial since the mayor had previously reassured the current chief that his position was safe. The Star-Gazette newspaper editors reacted by printing:

Apparently other members of the Espey family held positions with the street department and as a superintendent of Grove Park. All appointed by Mayor William T. Coleman who was in fact related to Espey by marriage. The new chief’s salary was now $1,500 a year, marking a big increase from his previous one, and the implied favoritism didn’t sit well with everyone. Mayor Coleman only lasted a year in office, while Espey lasted 32 years in his position. Under his leadership, the fire department moved into the modern age. Among the early changes he made was adding the first aerial motorized truck in 1905.

His efforts got him noticed outside of Elmira. Soon he was elected president of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. He attended national and international firefighting conventions and worked with the local Chamber of Commerce to bring a convention to Elmira. At these gatherings he often endorsed helpful products and new methods. Many of these were associated with the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company, which had relocated its world headquarters to Elmira.

Espey’s popularity didn’t always win over everyone. His reports on the department’s readiness and the city’s fire preparedness were challenged by insurance companies and by local papers. He gained a reputation of having a bad temper. In the 1920s he began to butt heads with local officials. One city official ordered him to test out newly acquired equipment at Eldridge Lake, but Espey refused on the grounds that the lake had too much debris and it would ruin the new pumping system.

At one point he was ordered to give up his night driver. By this time, Espey was 58 and lived with his family on the Southside. If an alarm sounded at night, his driver would come to pick him up before heading to the scene. One disgruntled city official thought he should be required to sleep at the station to save money. Espey protested, and eventually the fuss died down.

In 1929 Espey promoted a training school which drew firefighters from more than 32 cities and villages in the area. In 1931 he proposed adding an arson squad, but this time elected officials were not in favor and it never came to be. Espey’s health declined. He suffered from a heart condition and in 1936 was forced to take a leave for months. In the spring of 1937, he returned to office, determined to continue. He died on June 30, 1937, at 74 years of age. It was two days past his fiftieth anniversary with the Elmira Fire Department.

Fire Truck

By Susan Zehnder, Education Director

In 1923, the clang of a brass bell and the wail of a hand-pumped siren alerted people that a fire truck was on the way. Our current exhibit, “It’s About Time: 100 years of Chemung County Historical Society” features a 1923 American LaFrance Brockway Torpedo Fire Truck which could have been seen on the streets in the early 20^th century. After being beautifully restored, it was donated to the historical society in 2011. It has become a popular artifact. For this exhibit, the fire truck is displayed in the gallery against a large picture of East Water Street from the 1920s. You can almost imagine it racing through the city streets to the scene of a fire.

Back in the 19^th century, the city had speed restrictions. When responding to a fire, engines were limited to no more than 6 miles per hour in order to prevent accidents. The city also ordered fire companies not to compete with each other, which was harder to enforce.

Competition seems to have been part of firefighting culture. Fires were always a constant danger when many buildings were still being constructed out of wood. In the mid-19^th century, a fire on Water Street burned down 18 wooden buildings. It destroyed property, homes, businesses and livelihoods. Another fire in 1866, called the Lake Street fire, burned most of the buildings between Water and Carroll Streets. The fire companies did their best to contain them.

During much of the 19^th century, firefighting was the responsibility of individual volunteer fire companies. They sprang up all around the city and had spirited names like Ours 4, Neptune, Goodell, and Young American. Not far from today’s museum was the Red Rover fire company, situated just across the street..

It was prestigious to be appointed a firefighter and the volunteer work attracted young men looking for adventure. The men were also drawn to the pageantry, parades, social affairs, and dances associated with the culture of firefighting. When a fire broke out, companies competed to be first to respond.

In the spring of 1878, the city council voted to establish a professional fire department, calling it the Elmira Fire Department (EFD.) The various volunteer companies would not be recognized. Reluctantly, the volunteer fire companies participated in one final parade to celebrate their hard work before they handed over their engines, hoses, hooks, ladders and other equipment to city authorities. Some fire company members ended up taking jobs with EFD and were now paid $100 a year. The department’s new headquarters were located on Market Street in a brick building which no longer exists.

The American LaFrance Company, manufacturer of our Fire Truck on display, began in the mid-19^th century. The young fire equipment company attracted local investors like Alexander Diven, his sons, Judge Brooks, Charles J. Langdon, John T. Rathbun, and Colonel William Falck who saw potential in the young company. American LaFrance soon became known as one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of fire engines and apparatus in the country.

Apparently not just the country, but the world. Early American LaFrance fire trucks were built using chassis from the Brockway Truck Company, located in Cortland, New York. There’s a great story about a 1925 American LaFrance fire truck from Argentina. In 1960, Buenos Aires Fire Department volunteers decided it was time to trade in their fire truck and drove it from South America to North American ending up in New York City. The volunteer firefighters, who were a butcher, locksmith, building engineer, and chauffeur, didn’t realize that Cortland was still miles away. Volunteer fire companies along their way provided them with shelter, food, and gasoline. When the news got to the Brockway Truck Company, they drove down to the City and escorted the firefighters to Cortland before shipping them back to Argentina along with a new fire truck.

Headline, The Morning Call, May 15, 1960

This year CCHS installed exhibits on fire fighters in four of the local public schools. Along with borrowed items (not in use) kindly lent to us by the Elmira Fire Department, these displays highlight some firefighting equipment and clothing.

Drop by to see our red shiny 1923 fire truck on display. You can hear its siren and bell by accessing a QR code in the exhibit and imagine yourself scurrying out of the way as it makes its way to a fire.

Other blogs on fire fighters include a profile of Elmira’s first Black Firefighter.

https://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2021/02/elmiras-first-black-firefighter.html

And a blog on the earlier bucket brigades.

https://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2017/03/we-work-for-glory.html