Hook & Ladder Co.

 

June 18, 1874, Saturday Evening Press

Menasha was justifiably proud of its new civic status as a city and nothing could have said it more than having a first class fire fighting oufit to serve the community.  The new hook and ladder wagon undoubtedly looked much like the illustration below which was culled from the 1879 Chicago-based Caswell Fire Department Supply Company catalogue. The catalogue's title page states: "Fire Apparatus and Fire Department Supplies of Every Description."  Kudos to the city fathers for having the wagon constructed locally.  I'm sure the Caswell Company would have charged more than $358!