In March of that year, the Lansing Fire Department offered their old fire alarm system to Owosso. A new system could cost as much as $15,000, so the city quickly accepted the offer from Lansing. Owosso's first alarm system had been installed sometime in the 1930's. Bryce Hoshield was appointed to oversee the installation of the new system, which appeared to be about the same vintage as Owosso's current system, only with added features and updates. A master panel was installed in the new Dispatchers Room at the station to monitor about 60 'call boxes', which were located throughtout the city at factory buildings, schools and on various telephone poles in the residentual sections.
The boxes were connected in eight loops or circuits, so if a short or a break occurred, it could be located quickly. It also had a battery back-up system and even recorded the date, time and box number on a tape.
The only draw backs of this system seemed to be the weather and in the residentual areas, where youth could "pull" the box, as a prank. After several prank calls at the old high school, Mr. Hoshield rubbed some invisable gel on the handle of the box. Within days, another alarm came in fro the school, only this time Mr. Hoshield took a black light with him and checked out a few hands of the suspected culprits and soon found out where all the trouble was coming from. No other alarms came from there the rest of the year.
This Gamewell alarm system was used until about 1972 and did a good job, especially since many who lived in the residential area had no telephone and depended on the alarm boxes which were fastened to telephone and ultility poles. If one looks carefully at these poles today, you can spot an old pole where the alarm box was, as there is some reminents of the old red paint still visable, but the boxes are long gone.
There was also a large red globe at the corner of Main and Washington Streets. If this was turned on, the patrolman knew he was wanted at the police station or he could pick up the phone located under the light and call the station. By the late 1950s, the City had purchased portable police telephones and radios and the the fact that most homes had telephones, the old systems of communications were less depended upon.
On Dec. 1, 1955, Arlo Parks was appointed as Fire Marshall, as the need for stricter inspections of factory and retail buildings arose. In 1955, the City Commission granted a 63 hour work week to the firemen.
Lester Reid was appointed Chief, upon the retirement of Roy Coakes on Jan. 1, 1961.
Owosso Fireman Walt O'Dell and Smokey...circa 1950
Someone gave the firemen a Dalmation pup. He was named Smokey and he lived at the Owosso Fire Hall for about 10 years. Smokey always sat in a chair at the table to eat off a plate.
He also only rode in the cab to Rural fires and never went to City fires. He was frequently seen around town riding on the back of Bill Clayton's motorcycle. Bill was an Owosso fireman.
Bryce Hoshield recalls that the fire department only had one dog in all the years he was associated with it.
In 1969, the department moved to its present location at 202 S. Water St.
Elmer Hodge moments before he was killed.
On the morning of January 12, 1981, fire destroyed the northwest corner of Main and Park streets including the Oakes Insurance Office and the Gittleman building. On the second floor was the Odd Fellows Hall which was also destroyed.
The fire was believed to have been started by a second-floor tenant, a 33 year old man, who burned some clothes in a metal container to keep warm. He later confessed to police.
Fireman Hodge was located in the center of Park Street about 1/2 block north of Main St. when the east wall collapsed upon him. He was aiming a two and half inch water line at the open windows. The light pole below, was only a few feet from Elmer.
Several lines from all directions had been pouring thousands of gallons of water into the building for at least 4 to 5 hours when the disaster took place.
Elmer's flag-draped casket was taken on the firetruck from the funeral home to the cemetery.
Here is a list of Owosso Fire Department Chiefs
since it went to a full-time position
in 1921.
William Howell-------1918-1929
Claude Craig-------1929-1944
Roy Coakes-------1944-1961
Lester Reid-------1961-1974
Amiel Makara-------1974
Bryce Hoshield-------1974-1977
Marvin Geeting-------1977-1988
John Kenney--------1988 to May 2004
Michael Bradley-----------May 2004 to PRESENT