February 2, 2003:
Members Who Died in the Line of Duty (Ottawa) *

GRAHAM, Francis died July 25, 1877 age 37
LOWRY, John died August 12, 1896 age 52
LACHANCE, Ovila died August 16, 1898 age 30
THOMAS, Bernard died September 14, 1914 age 23
POIRIER, Nelson died January 29, 1921 age 34
PRATT, Robert died May 19, 1930 age 55
WILLETTE, William died May 19, 1930 age 38
McDIARMID, William died May 25, 1931 age 35
MORIN, William died January 20, 1941 age 28
SEGUSS, Albert died December 20, 1951 age 58
WISTAFF, A. died died in 1957 age 58
SNIDER, Allan died March 6, 1968 age 56
HARRISON, John died March 16, 1969 age 32
DUNNING, Raymond died June 1, 1977 age 56
GRENON, Maurice died September 13, 1982 age 49

Source: History of the Ottawa Fire Department, 1838-1988

 March 27, 2008:
* Hi Al;

Here are some updates on the "Line of Duty Deaths" from the Ottawa Fire
Services.

DASmith
Note: See the updated Ottawa Fire Fighters Community Foundation web site.
... Al
March 21, 2003:
Hello:
Would you be able to point me in the right direction to obtain info on my 
grandfather Arthur Donald DEAR born Oct. 29, 1886 in England.  He came to 
Canada at the age of 12 and later married Mary Ellen Freeman / Syck? Mary 
Ellen had been married before to Joe Syck (not sure of the spelling and had 
two daughters.
I know grampa lived all their married life in Ottawa and he was appointed 
Fire Chief a position he held in such honour.  I believe he was also a 
member of the Masonic lodge. I remember him wearing a ruby ring with an  
emblem on it that looks like Masonic.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Diane Brown
E-Mail dianebrown645@msn.com
April 22, 2003:
I would like to obtain a copy of the above book to give to my mother as a gift. 
Robert Burnett is my great grandfather and Gray Burnett is my great uncle.
Can you help me? 
Janet Marchington
E-mail jmarchin@magma.ca
______________

Janet:
One of my neighbours loaned me his copy of the book. He's retired from the Ottawa Fire Department.
I'll ask him if he can locate a new copy. It was a limited printing, each copy numbered, and 
leather-bound. A nice book to have.

... Al
February 4, 2004:

Thanks to Dave Smith who has an interest and expertise regarding the
history of the Ottawa Fire Department for the following:

Good morning Diane;

I was just browsing through Bytown or Bust this morning and came across your
question regarding Donald Dear.

Donald did not hold the position of Fire Chief, he was the first Chief of
the Fire Prevention Bureau from 1927 until 1946. The position was a Captains
rank until 1937 when it was elevated to a Chiefs rank and he was the first
to hold the position. Donald joined Ottawa Fire in Feb 6, 1914. The Ottawa
Fire Department was a leader and innovator in Fire Prevention and was
recognized as the best fire prevention program in all of Canada shortly
after your Grandfathers retirement. I'm sure it was a great sense of
accomplishment.
Donald Dear was also very active in the Fire Fighters Association (Union)
saving as the first secretary from 1919-1924 and also as President in 1924.

Donald Dear was a great asset to Ottawa Fire and had a wonderful career.

DAS (Dave Smith)
 February 7, 2005:
Chief Superintendent William Young
Good morning;

December 11, 1872 William Young was appointed Chief Superintendent of the
Volunteer Fire Brigades in Ottawa's Upper and Lower Town. City Council after
vigorous debate chose Chief Young from amongst three candidates.

William Young was born in Quebec July 9, 1837. He came to Ottawa and trained
as a watchmaker and opened a business with a Mr Radford. He sold his share
to Radford after 10 years to devote his time to the fire service.

William joined the Volunteer Central Hook and Ladder Company October 20,
1859.

More information regarding Chief Young may be found in History of Ottawa
Fire Department by David Fitzsimons and Bernard Matheson.

Not sure if this is relevant. (Possibly related to Thomas Young)

DA Smith
_____________________
Hi Al;
 
I am presently doing an article of Line Of Duty Deaths on the Ottawa Fire 
Department and hope to send it to you. I also have permission from the authors 
of Ottawa Fire Department History to use any of their material. 
... DAS
July 3, 2005:
Chief Timothy BRENNAN
Hi Al
Long time no talk to Al...lol. I'm writing to you because I just came
across your pages on the Ottawa Fire Department and was wondering if
you could help me. My g-grandfather's brother was a fire chief for the
Hopewell Station in Ottawa in the early 1900's. His name is Timothy
Brennan born Sept 15 1863 in Dublin Ireland. He immigrated to Canada
sometime around 1887 with his parents and siblings to the Ottawa
Valley. He is listed in the 1901 census as an engineer but I'm not
sure if that's an engineer for the fire department or railroad as his
brothers all worked for the railroad at one time or another. I would
appreciate any help you can give me on finding more information on
him.

Janet Burgess
E-Mail ancestralforest@gmail.com
______________________
Hi Janet:
 
By co-incidence, a group e-mailed me this week about community plans to save 
the old fire station in Ottawa South from being torn down.
The one in which they are interested is the fire station on Sunnyside Avenue 
in Ottawa South, a block or two from Hopewell Avenue Public School.
It is called the Graham Fire Station (Ottawa Fire Station Number 10).
 
They are also working on the history of the station and its members. One of the 
chiefs there was a Mr. Graham who was stationed there not long after your 
ggrandfather's brother. See www.bytown.net/graham.htm 
 
I'm waiting to hear back from the community group about adding their new material 
to the web site.
When I hear from them, I'll let you know and they may be able to help you out with 
information regarding Timothy Brennan.
 
In the meantime, let me know if it's OK to add your e-mail and e-mail address to 
the page at www.bytown.net/firedept.htm 
 
... Al
______________________
Hi Al
How wonderful that I picked this time to be doing this research. I
would be greatly interested in anything that you find out and would
like to pass on to me. As for adding my email and address to your
page, yes please do add them.
... Janet
July 10, 2005:

Chief Michael Burns
Number 11 Fire Station (Hintonburg)
(Picture included in original newspaper clipping)
Captain M. Burns
Captain Michael Burns, former popular and efficient lieutenant of Number 11
Fire Station, whose recent promotion to the rank of captain of the same station
has greatly pleased his many friends. He joined the fire department in May 1907
and succeeds Captain Stephen Starr, who retired December 31.

This newspaper clipping is from a scrap book created by my GGrandmother, Ann Robb,
(1851-1927), wife of James Burns.  The wife of Michael Burns was Mamie McCurrie.
Michael's sister Mary Jane (Jennie) married Stephen Starr (see above paragraph).

Fire Chief Michael Burns was born in the 1880's at Lot 10, Concession 3, Osgoode
Township (Manotick Station Road). He was my Grandfather's brother.
... Al
July 20, 2005:
Thanks to David Smith for the following:

I have very little on Michael Burns, My data shows his birth date as August
30, 1884 and he joined the Ottawa Fire Department May 16, 1907.

My information on Timothy Brennan was that he was born September 15, 1870
which does not correspond with earlier data. He joined the Ottawa Fire
Department January 1, 1904.
He left the Department either through retirement or death January 1, 1936.
According to the above the 1901 census had him listed as an engineer, so it
must have been railroad as he did not join the fire service until 1904. The
fire service did have engineers as they were the men who ran the steamer
pumps. The Graham station opened in 1921 and was named for Chief Graham
after his death.
Prior to that the fire fighters responded out of Lansdowne Park station.

Hope some of this is useful.

DAS
September 17, 2005:
Here is some e-mail correspondence between Gary Long and David Smith:

John Allan LONG
Hi I am very interested in obtaining the history of the Ottawa (Bytown) Fire 
Service history. My great grandfather John Allan Long served with the Department 
in the 1890's, and possibly beyond. If there is a printed history of the 
Department that I could get, it would be great. And if there is anything in 
the records of the Department pertaining to my great Grandfather, I would 
really appreciate getting it. I do know some facts about him, so if you need 
these to cross reference, he was an engineer stationed at #4 Station in 1891-92. 
And from 1893 to at least 1897 he was at the Central Station, City Hall Square. 

Thanks very much for your time.
... Gary Long
________________________

Good morning Gary;
 
Sorry for the delay in responding, I was out of town.
 
John Long was born in 1850, I have the middle initial as D. my files show he 
joined the Department July 1, 1887.
He and two others joined that day, Robert Burnett who became Fire Chief and 
R. D. Nesbitt.
An Engineer was the term used for a pump operator. They had to work the horse 
drawn steam engines.
 
It looks like fifteen men were hired in 1887 to staff the fire station (Central) 
later renamed Number 8 Station was built behind City Hall facing Albert Street next 
to the canal (present site of National Arts Centre).  I recall that in the fifties 
the building housed both police and fire.
 
A history of the Ottawa Fire Department was written by two Ottawa fire fighters 
in 1988. J Bernard Matheson and David R. Fitzsimons. The book's first printing was 
presold and no other copies were printed. I would suggest you may get your library 
to get a copy from the Ottawa Branch. ISBN-09693609-0-8
 
There is more information regarding the Ottawa Fire Department in the Ottawa 
archives 111 Sussex Drive.
 
I hope this of some use to you. 
... DAS (David Smith)
______________________

Hello Gary and David:
 
David Smith has sent a copy to me of his reply to you regarding your ancestor 
John Allan Long and the Ottawa Fire Department.
 
Do you mind if I add your e-mail to our page at www.bytown.net/firedept.htm as a 
contact for other researchers? Please let me know. (And thanks, David, as usual for 
the information).
 
There was a family named Long who were in the Ottawa area, very early on. I'm not 
sure if this is your family or not. A lady named Lois Long has written a lot about her 
Long family history. An area in Nepean Township (part of the City of Ottawa) is 
called "Longfields" after this family.
 
Thanks again for this.
 
... Al Lewis
____________________
Hi Al

By all means, I do not mind. It was the fortunate relaease of the 1901 and 1911 
Canada census that got me back on track with my genealogy. David says John D. Long, 
but this must have been a reading error from somewhere, as Allan is the name on 
census records and his mother's maiden name was Allan.

Both of my great grandfathers lived in Ottawa and New Edinbugh during the 1890's. 
And I have obtained the street addresses for them. I was in Ottawa during week of 
Sep. 1 to 8 and visited many of the addresses.

I wonder if there is a record of how long my g.g.father John served with the 
Department. Some of his fire fighting blood passed to me, as I spent 10 years on 
the volunteer Department here.

Thanks to both you and David for your quick responses.

Sincerely
Gary
October 18, 2005:
Good morning Gary;

My records show that there were two John Long's on the Department

(A) JOHN LONG ENGINEER "JOHN HENEY" Dec'd      Appointed  Dec 08, 1874
There is no birth date or departure date for (A) but it shows he was
Engineer (pumper operator) for the steamer "John Heney"

(B) JOHN ALAN LONG Date of Birth 1850 Left Jan 01, 1904 Appointed Jul 01, 1887

I originally had John D. Long and changed to John Allan Long after your
correspondence as you can see there is a birth date a departure date and 
an appointment date.

The fire chief was Peter Provost who had been brought in from Montreal to
straighten out the Department. He was a strict disciplinarian who dismissed
many and I do not have the particulars of these dismissals.

I hope to go to the city archives in October and will try and sort these
records out.
... David Smith


Visit the Ottawa Fire Department Wall of Honour Web Page

February 27, 2006:
John DANN, Hull Fire Department, c. 1890's
Hello Everyone!

I’m researching the history of my great-uncle, John DANN (born Jun. 12, 1860 in 
Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, England).  He was a “fireman” living at No. 23 Ann Street, 
Hull, from the mid-1890s onwards.   (Reference:  “The Ottawa City Directory:  1897+)  
According to his niece, who is still alive, and contemporary news articles, he perished 
in the great Hull fire in April 1900.  Is it likely he was employed by a municipal 
fire department or was there a firefighting company funded by E.B. Eddy?  Any 
information you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks.
... Jeremy DANN
e-mail: jpdann@shaw.ca
September 21, 2007:

Looking for photograph of Fairmont Avenue Fire Station, Later Police Station

Hi Al:
I am a volunteer with the Ottawa Police Service and have been looking for a
photo of the old Number 11 Fire Station on Fairmont Avenue for several years.  
It was a fire station until approx. 1924 and then the Ottawa Police
inhabited the same building until 1958.  Do you know if you or any of your 
relatives have a picture of this building? 

Thank you so much for your swift - and interesting -
response.  Yes, the early days of Bytown were
certainly a challenge for those trying to enforce law
and order.  James Burns must have had a very interesting career!

I have researched with Serge Barbe at City Archives
and have the book by Gilles Larochelle and have spoken with him too. 
This seems to be the most invisible building on the
planet.  I'd almost wonder if it had ever really
served as a police station except that I've spoken to
2 people who served in it....but didn't take any
photos, of course.  I've canvassed the churches in the
area, Hintonburg historians, and the Orpheus Society
and Crawley Films, which were both on the street at
the time. I've put requests in local newsletters. I've
spoken to one of the authors of the History of the
Ottawa Fire Department and he says it's the ONLY
building they can't find a photo of! So if you don't
mind posting my request on your site it would be much
appreciated.  Everything helps and it may, by some
miracle, turn up someone who has such a photo.  Even
if the photo is of the building when it was a fire
station - the exterior will look much the same.
Many thanks again.
Alison
E-Mail: rockpark_police@yahoo.ca
March 22, 2008:
Mr. Smith:

For the next Ottawa South Community Review (OSCAR), I plan to run some  
of these photos and a short article describing what took place: an  
April 29, 1960 fire on Bank Street south of Sunnyside. The people in the 
picture are looking across from the Hopewell school yard that fronted onto 
Bank. The firefighters would be responding from 260 Sunnyside.

Any insight from people with knowledge of the Ottawa Fire Department  
at this time would be appreciated.

The photos, cleared through Library and Archives Canada, are from the  
Ted Grant Collection.

Thanks,

Leo B. Doyle

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