THE BIG POND VOLUNTEER

FIRE DEPARTMENT

A BRIEF HISTORY

1968- 1996

This outline was prepared at the request of Fire Chief Frank Sampson. Please forward any correction, additions and suggestions to Don MacGillivray.

Acknowledgements: Jack MacNeil, Alex MacNeil, Anne Thomas, Gerald Thomas, Anne Marie Donovan, Joe Donovan, Sharise McKeigan, Johnny Murphy, Brother MacNeil, Hughie MacPherson, Alf MacLellan.

Don MacGillivray, Big Pond, June 1996

On Thanksgiving weekend, 1967 one particular incident had an immediate and direct impact on the Big Pond community. On Saturday, 7 October fire levelled Alex MacIntyre's two storey house in Big Pond Centre. The fire, according to newspaper reports, was caused by a spark from the chimney igniting the roof. Family members were home and they managed to save some furniture and personal belongings but no one was injured. At the time the nearest fire departments were Sydney River to the east and St. Peter's to the west-both more than twenty miles away. A major fire on Townsend Street in Sydney on Sunday destroyed the former Co-operative building and the Brook's store block which housed Rhymes Flower Shop. Early estimates placed the damage in the Sunday afternoon blaze at $50,000. Again, there were no injuries, although eighteen people were homeless as a result. That was the main story in the local paper on Monday and doubtless there was considerable discussion in Big Pond during the following week regarding the incidents, made more poignant by the fact that Fire Protection Week started that Sunday.

The loss of the old MacIntyre house, located on one of the first land grants to be issued to Scottish Gaels who came to the area in the early nineteenth century (and the site of the Big Pond Concert), heightened the concerns which had already been expressed concerning more adequate fire protection in the area. The loss of Sam Billard's bungalow some time previously and the close call at Ralph Morley's place also lingered in recent memory. In the latter instance quick action by Johnny Murphy who, upon seeing the smoking shingles on Ralph's roof, brought over a long ladder from Alex MacNeil's on his VW and, assisted by milkman Joe Gerrior, nipped that one. A few months prior to the MacIntyre fire the Big Pond Community Council had been formed and the executive (Donald "Brother" MacNeiL Mary MacPherson, Josie MacNeil and Melvin White) immediately brought the topic of fire protection to the fore. Discussions and plans continued through the fall and winter. The process accelerated and was formalized at a meeting in the school on 5 June 1968 when a motion by Alex MacNeil, seconded by Gerald Thomas, to "form a fire fighting unit in the Big Pond area" was passed. At that inaugural meeting Gary Christie was appointed Chief, Gerald Thomas was Deputy Chief, Brother MacNeil and Michael MacInnis were elected captains and Alex MacNeil took over the reins as Secretary-Treasurer. At the time they had less than $400 ($66 on hand and $318 in the bank) but a motion the following week by Alf MacLellan to borrow $1,000 from the Bank of Montreal was quickly passed. The fledgling department didn't hesitate; a system of canvassers was set in place, each with a particular area of responsibility, and before the end of July a list of "bungalow people" was also drawn up. The approach was basic and direct-a door-to-door canvass. The need was evident and the message was obviously convincing; by 29 August a motion to payoff the original loan was passed.

The first wall goes up

The construction of the fire hall started in 1968 and initially was 30' x 40'. Almost immediately the organizers realized it was too small and the first addition (30' x 20') was put on in 1970. Others followed quickly; in 1972 an ell piece (48' x 30') was constructed, which includes the present garage, and two years later the final section at the back of the building was added.

Moving right along

The first truck was a 1959 GMC which the department purchased from Lipton's on Pitt street in Sydney; in its earlier life it had served as an oil delivery vehicle. This would shortly be supplemented by a 1964 Chev 1/2 ton, with a pumper. The first new truck was a 1972 350 Ford, a 1-1/2 ton with 500 gallon capacity. It is still in service. This was followed by another new vehicle, a 1974 3-ton Ford pumper, with a 1200 gallon capacity. It is presently being overhauled and refitted.

1973 Emergency response vehicles

The hall and the department were up and running by February 1969. Brother MacNeil became Chief at that time and he would remain in that position throughout the formative years. Gerald Thomas was deputy chief. John Roddie MacInnis was captain of the hose company, which also included Michael MacInnis, Michael Joe H. MacNeil and Johnny Murphy; Louie Sampson had the salvage company, with Duncan M.A. MacPherson, Alban Thomas and Peter Frank MacNeil; Duncan Martin MacNeil was responsible for the engine company, along with Melvin White, Martin MacPherson and Jackie Micky Rory MacNeil; the hook and ladder crew was led by Alf MacLellan, assisted by Johnny Murphy, John MacPherson and Cecil Kennedy. Executive members also included Frank Cash and Joe Koziel. Other individuals who helped to build the department up in the first few years include Hector Morais, Stevie John S. MacNeil, Hughie Cash, Alex Fougere, Dan Cash, Martin MacInnis, George MacNeil, Dave MacInnis, Allie MacFarlane, Bobby Murphy, Joe Donovan, Donald MacIsaac, Michael MacInnis, Dan MacNeil, Con White and Joe Jones. They would eventually be joined by Charlie Cash, Roy MacNeil, Dave Langham, Roy MacInnis, Cyril Rasmussen, Steve MacFarlane, Archie Carmichael, John MacLeod, Roy MacInnis, George Murphy, Danny Thomas, Mel MacNeil, George MacLean, John MacLeod Jr., Chris Ward and Terry Dixon. Sometimes the meetings demonstrated a practical brevity. On 29 April 1969, for example, there was a solid exchange of views on expanding the hall. That was followed by the notation: "Due to the hockey game the meeting was cut short." It is clear that there were few, if any, followers of the hapless Leafs among the original members; the game in question saw Montreal trounce the St. Louis Blues 3:1 for a solid 2:0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals.

The rapid expansion and the seemingly continuous additions to the building in the early years helps to explain why the official opening did not take place until 1972. When they finally got around to it, it was accomplished in fine style. Father John Hector MacGregor was the Master of Ceremonies and guest speakers included Dr. Theresa MacNeil and Dr. Doris Boyle, both of 51. Francis Xavier University, and Josie MacNeil, who delivered a paper on the history of the fire department to date. Other speakers included Chief Brother MacNeil, Warden Ed Kyte, District Councillor Donald MacIsaac, Richmond County Councillor Mrs. J.H. MacNeil, former County Councillor Joseph MacDonald and former Parish Priest Father A. MacLeod. The ribbon cutting task was carried out by Leonard MacLellan and Brother MacNeil. Music, dance, food and drink followed.

A formal and Festive occassion

The initial funding to get the department into existence came from the residents themselves in the form of individual contributions. Later, operating expenses were at least partly covered by district charges, which the department would receive from the County administration. But the role of the Fire Hall, people quickly realized, was expanding beyond the initial purpose-to provide fire protection for the local area. This would have a considerable impact on the social and cultural scene. It would also prove to be an excellent source of income for acquiring additional equipment. At the same meeting which moved to payoff the first loan (29 August 1968) there was a discussion "about the holding of a dance for funds for the fire department." Wisely, they passed the idea over to the Community Council, during which, as was noted at the time, the ladies of the community would also be present. While the specific minutes of that organization are not readily available the idea was obviously well received. It should be mentioned, as background, that the Parish Hall as a venue for dances had become more or less dormant and the legendary square dances at the Big Pond Parish Hall were becoming, by the late 1960s, but a fleeting memory. This would soon change.

The square dances at the Big Pond Fire Hall started that first winter. The members would take the trucks out, tidy up the garage and, if the awkward polisher located in the school was not available, David and Wayne Kennedy would take turns donning an old wool sweater-with their legs through the arms of the garment-and drag each other around until there was a fine shine on the dance floor. What they were preparing for was the Saturday night square dance, featuring Theresa and Marie MacLellan. Theresa and Marie, Invernessers and daughters of legendary fiddler "Big" Ronald MacLellan, packed them in every Saturday night, winter and summer, from the first days of the Fire Hall, throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s. There were few places in the wider area during that period offering such an attraction and the square dance at the Big Pond Fire Hall became a touchstone for the renaissance of traditional dancing in the wider Cape Breton Gaelic culture. At a regular department meeting on 10 June 1970 they decided to purchase a piano, and asked Marie MacLellan to "shop around" for one. It was obviously a sensible decision. More than one local observer has referred to the Fire Hall as the "hall built by Theresa and Marie." Also popular on Friday evenings in the summer months during the early 1970s was the round dance sounds of the "DC3", led by Don Crouse. The Fire Hall had also become the community hall and was one of the main focal points for community activities.

Additional support for social activities came with the establishment of the Ladies Auxiliary in October 1976. The initial president was Marie Cash; Anne Thomas was vice-president; Liz Cash served as secretary and Anne Marie Donovan looked after the financial aspects as treasurer. Other founding members who attended regularly (and paid their 50 cent dues each month) included Catherine MacNeil, Judy MacNeil, Angela MacNeil, Mary Ellen MacNeil, Irene MacIntyre, Jean Ann MacIsaac, Sis MacLellan, Margie MacLellan, Marie (A) MacNeil, Annie MacInnis, Anne White, Arabelle Fougere and Bunny Murphy. They had a busy schedule putting on and attending dances, supper dances, variety concerts, wedding receptions, anniversaries, showers, benefits, steak socials and-for the past seven years an annual Monte Carlo Night. Their roster is smaller now but they are still going strong and they recently expanded the kitchen facilities. Present members of the auxiliary include Anne Thomas, Sharise McKeigan, Chris MacPhee, Josephine McCarron, Anne Marie Donovan, Arlie Myatt and Pat MacKillop.

In 1976 Brother MacNeil stepped down after eight years as chief-during this period the hall and the department expanded and became a strong presence in the community in fire protection, social, economic and cultural terms-and was replaced by Gerald Thomas. Others who served in that capacity (sometimes on more than one occasion) were Martin MacInnis, Gerald White, Joe MacInnis, Cyril MacPherson and Frank Sampson. In the early 1970s most members of the department made the trek to Waverley to acquire training. By the early 1990s a second generation of firefighters had acquired Firefighter Level-I from the Nova Scotia Firefighters School; this time around it was Cape Breton-based. Now, in the summer of 1996, the department has ten active firefighters with Level-I qualifications. Considerable up-grading both in the hall and regarding equipment has been carried out in recent years. The major acquisition has been a 1991 GMC 1500 gallon pumper. The department has 1000' of 1 1/2" hose and 750' of 2 1/2" . We have a number of portable pumps, thirteen modem bunker suits, six air packs, an emergency paging system (with fifteen pagers) and both mobile and portable radio systems. The Fire Hall, which the community decided to build when they had less than $400 in the bank, is now insured for $175,000. At least an equal amount (the 1991 GMC is insured for $80,000, for example) is in equipment.

The department is also keeping pace with new technology and we are continuing to add to a computer generated data base for all the properties in our coverage area. This project is in its second summer. Our area of responsibility extends from Ben Eoin Beach west along Highway #4 to the Cape Breton-Richmond County line, a distance of twenty miles. It includes about one hundred dwellings for permanent residents and possibly four times that number of seasonal places. Information on every dwelling is easily accessible from the emergency response vehicles and firefighters can quickly check the location of any particular building, the number of people normally present, accessibility, nearest source of water, possible hazards such as propane and oil tanks and other pertinent information. This data base, which has already proved useful, is updated on a regular basis. The Fire Hall continues to serve as the main community centre and the Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department remains an important and integral part of the community.

Big Pond firefighters at present (1996) include Chief Frank Sampson, Deputy Chief Bill MacPhee, Captains Greg MacMillan and Ed MacIntyre and Cyril MacPherson, Don MacGillivray, Gerald Thomas, Dave Macinnis, Blair McDonald, Art Lewis, Stan Maclean, Bob Murphy, Ron McCarron, Tom MacPherson, Fred Myatt, Fred Edwards, Alex Fougere, Brother MacNeil, Kenny MacLellan, Melvin White, Roy MacNeil, George Salmaniw, Michael White and Dave MacKillop.

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