Fire Chief Elmer Reed recalls Middletown’s early fire service
Former Middletown Fire Chief Elmer F. Reed, aged 1027 Columbia Ave, preserves memories of the city’s 1886 Broad Street City Building and its horse drawn era. He identifies in a photo the officials and volunteers, noting Joe Pressler as the first hose reel driver and the reel as Middletown’s first horse drawn apparatus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Middletown
Elmer F. Reed
Columbia Ave
Broad Street
Joe Pressler
Joe
Pat Lyon
Chief Reed
Clinton Street
Columbia Avenue
Dublin
Praise for retired fire chief Elmer Reed from successor Fishbaugh
Chief William Fishbaugh lauds Elmer Reed as still chief in spirit. He credits Reed with outstanding service and guiding the division, noting Reed worked with 32 men across three stations and faced harsh equipment limits. Reed retired in 1944 and saw a transition from axes to power saws and new masks and nozzles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Patty Mummert
Elmer Reed
William Fishbaugh
Reed
Fishbaugh
Middletown Fire Chief Reed recalls early department days
The article profiles Chief Reed recalling his 47 year tenure ending 1945, the evolution from hand drawn reels to modern fire gear, the 19th century beginnings with ladders, horse drawn reels, the Pat Lyon engine, and memories of volunteers and pays, notes on key fires and station life, and the transition to Chief Fishbaugh.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Reed
Hamilton
John B. Tytus
F. J. Tytus
Ten Major Street Projects Earn Top Priority in Middletown
Middletown assigns high priority to ten city street upgrades as summer work begins. Key items include Grand Avenue from Orchard to Breiel Boulevard, a $450000 state project with $60000 city share, starting soon and lasting a year. Breiel Boulevard ties into Riverview, with about $150000 city funds. Roosevelt Avenue will extend from Orchard to Carolina Street, about $20000. Stevens Avenue expands to create a major north–south arterial costing $577000 and extending to Sunset Street over 18 months with drainage work. Additional plans include Breiel between Central and Grand, Rosedale Road extension, Marshall Road through traffic link to I-75, expanded 735 program, and Countryside area improvements assessed to benefiting property owners.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Breiel Boulevard
Nelson Road
Riverview Avenue
Breiel
Riverview
Stevens
North Avenue
Central Avenue
Aerial Barnstormers Return for Middletown Charity Show
Historic barnstormers from National Air Shows return to Middletown Municipal Airport for a charity air show hosted by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The program features Harold Krier and Charles Hillard performing low flight stunts, a 2,000-foot parachute drop by Red Pidget, and ground displays by the Middletown Aero-Modellers. Gates open at 11, show starts around 1 p.m., with the Blue Angels performing later the same day.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Junior Chamber of Commerce
National Air Shows
U. Navy
Blue Angels
Harold Krier
Middletown Aero-Modelers
Red Pidget
Krier
Charles Hillard
Hillard
Also Mentioned on This Page
Kix
George Crout
Wilfred D. Vorhis
Henry Beatty
Tom McCue
Weegie
No. 2
Crawford Street
Carswell
Lemon Township
Francis J. Tytus
Cincinnati
Ben Smith
J. C. Penney
Young
Wentz
Tytus
Main Street
Montgomery Ward
Manhattan Street
Gardner
Sorg Paper Co
Harry Ewing
George Sebald
L. C. Heffner
John Weinell
James Anderson
Heffner
City Electrician
Weinell
Anderson
William F. Fishbaugh
Joe Pregster
Adam Cordell
John Graft
Lee Peebles
George Betts
Harry Hyam
Billy Frost
Journal
Mummert
By Jim Mills
Grand Avenue
Orchard Street
Jackson Lane
Roosevelt Avenue
Roosevelt
Orchard
Carolina Street
Highland Street
Highland
Stevens Avenue
Ellen Drive
Sunset Street
Sunset
Manchester Road
Rosedale Road
Rosedale
Redbud Drive
Williamsdale Subdivision
Alamo
Sheldon
Milton Roads
Curryer Road
Marshall Road
Nelson
Gage Drive
Nixon Court
Middletown Municipal
Pidget