BIOGRAPHY

Born July 8, 1876 in the Town of Deering, Maine.

Ralph joined the Deering Fire Department in 1898 with Hook & Ladder Co. 1, quartered with Hose 1 at Spring (Woodford) Street, next to railroad tracks at Woodfords Corner, and assigned Badge #81.  When the City of Deering annexed to Portland in 1899, he became a PFD member, assigned PFD Badge #194. His Deering L-1 company was re-numbered as PFD Ladder 4.  Nicknamed “Bert,” his father was a DFD member and Permanent Driver of Ladder 4 and Bert’s uncle was Portland Fire Chief Melville N. Eldridge.

On July 11, 1906, he was appointed a Permanent Man on Ladder 4.  Ralph was transferred in 1909 to Chemical 1 at Central Fire Station, reassigned Badge #136, and promoted Lieutenant September 13th.

On January 1st, 1913, the Lieutenant responded to the Hay’s Drug Store incident with Deputy Chief Steele, leading his crew into the cellar with a hose line.  After some fresh air, Lieutenant Eldridge with his crew continued returning to the cellar, holding soaked sponges over their noses and mouths. There were no air packs during this era, and firefighters were commonly called “Smoke-eaters.”  Later that day, he was also feeling ill from the acid effects and was taken home.

On January 2nd, at 4 AM, Lieutenant Eldridge, age 36, died from the same effects of the acid fumes as Deputy Chief Steele on January 1st.  He was survived by his parents, his wife Leura, and his daughter Ruth.

Lieutenant Eldridge was buried in the Pine Grove section of Evergreen Cemetery in Section A, on Union Avenue near Woodbine Avenue.  Years later, his body was exhumed from Evergreen and interred in Westbrook’s Woodlawn Cemetery in Section R, to be buried beside his wife.