1793

TIMELINE:

April 3, 1793:   Town Meeting, Article 6; “Voted-L 100 be raised, that Town procure a Fire Engine,

                        And that a committee of three (Daniel Tucker, Eben Preble and Stephen Deblois) be

                        Appointed to procure the Fire Engine.”

                        (From 1786 Portland Town Records book, volume 1, page 145, City Clerk’s Office, City Hall)

                        May 6th: Voted to purchase the Engine (Town book, page 150).

                        September 25th: Voted to procure persons to care for Engines (Town book, page 157).

                        November 25th: “The Selectmen having been empowered to procure a suitable number

                        Of persons to take care of the Engines, and request that those who incline to engage in

                        That service, would make application to them as soon as may be.”

                        (In the Eastern Herald newspaper with a second notice on December 9th)

                        December 2nd:  “Selectmen to be a Committee to have an Engine House built.” (Town book, pages 158 and 159)

                        Shortly after, a wooden structure large enough to house the new small hand-pump

                        Engine was built in Market Square, near the hay scales.

         1794:  The engine house was completed in the spring. “Vigilant” Engine Co. organized.

                        It is not known the exact location of the engine house in Market Square.

                        April 1, 1811: Voted “That the placing of Engine Houses be committed to the Fire

                        Wards, to fix them in such places as they may judge best for the interest of the Town.”

                        (Town book, volume 1, page 508)

                        By 1827, the Vigilant Engine Company had relocated to Free Street.

It is not known if the Market Square engine house was re-used, moved or torn down.