Charles Huey: Brimfield Fire Department

Interview Date: 24 May 1976

Charles “Pat” Huey was interviewed on 24 May 1976 by David F. Clark about the history of the Brimfield Fire Department. Charles discusses when he got interested in the fire department, fire equipment, finances of the department, siren and whistles, cold weather operations and firefighting tactics.  The interview covers the years between the 1910s through the 1940s.  The interview was originally recorded on cassette tape. 

The original recording was converted to a digital format by Kim (Claybaugh) Hanks in May 2022. Due to the quality of the original recording and the limitations of the digital conversion process, sections of the digital recording may not be audible or discernable.  

The spelling of names and places referenced may not be accurate. When searching for key words, names, and places, use spelling variations as needed.  

00:02   Interest in Fire Department
00:38 Horse drawn fire engine
02:48 Fire pumper on truck
03:29 Chemical wagon
04:51 Ford fire engine
05:39 Finances of fire department
06:18 New fire equipment
07:51 Cold weather operations
08:31 Fire alarm/siren
11:46 Response to alarm/siren
12:50 Fires outside of town
14:27 Number of fires
14:58 Rescue vs. fire calls
15:04 Compensation
15:12 Filing tank, equipment, and training
16:31 Firefighting tactics/large fires
17:28 Meetings/organization
18:03 Equipment repairs

Hand pumping fire engine 
Horses 
Jim Murdoch 
Ford 
Sodium acid 
Tax 
Chevy/Chevrolet 
Galesburg 
Les Baysinger [Lester] 
Town marshal 
Charlie [Charles] Welch 
Cecil’s Hardware building 
Hard road 
George LaFollette 
West Jersey 
Roy Bale 
Carson’s corner 
Laura 
Route 78 
Keith  

Interviewed by: David F Clark

Interview Format: mp3 Recording from Original Cassette

Total Time : 19:21

The interview is archived at the Brimfield Public Library District in Brimfield, Illinois.

The Brimfield Oral History Project is a long-term effort to record the stories of Brimfield’s past in the voices of those who remember and make these original sources available for generations to come. This collaboration is a partnership between the Brimfield Public Library District, the Brimfield Historical Society, and the Peoria County Genealogical Society.

Readers of interview transcripts, if available, should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word and that the interviewer, interviewee, and editors sought to preserve the interview as recorded. Brimfield Public Library District and project volunteers are not responsible for the factual accuracy of this interview, nor for the opinions expressed within.

© Brimfield Public Library District 2023

This interview and accompanying documents may be used for educational and non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Brimfield Public Library District. However, the Fair Use criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials may not be deposited in other repositories or used for resale or commercial purposes without authorization from the Brimfield Public Library District Director.