Jail and "Firemans Hall"

The first jail was built on the NE corner of C and 2nd Streets on a lot sold by Henry A. Ross in 1872. The walls were one brick thick, like a “sweatbox” and too small. The first paid policeman was Hugh Vance, appointed as a Special Deputy Sheriff October 16, 1872.

In September of 1889, a new Branch Jail was constructed on the site of this plaque, on a lot sold by James Hardie. This two-story brick building was the town’s first City Hall. The two cells on the lower cement floor had iron doors and four-inch walls. Upstairs was a small room for safe keeping of town paperwork and a larger office for the Town Trustees, Town Clerk and Assessor.

The Dixon Fire Company officially organized as The Dixon Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 on 10/15/1872. They fought flames with a hand drawn cart of buckets, hooks and ladders to form a bucket brigade. In 1876, they bought uniforms, a Babcock fire engine and Engine Co. No. 2 formed to man it. D.B. Huff allowed a 18 x 32 engine house to be built to store the two trucks and equipment, on his lot south of the depot, until his death. In 1880, Peter Timm rented to them on his lot on South First Street.

Fire hydrants were installed in town by A.A. Osborne in 1890. Funds were raised to buy the first hose cart on 10/16/1890 and the volunteers that manned it named themselves The Eolus Hose Company.

In April 1891, Peter R. Willot sold his lot north of the jail to the town. Protection Fire Co. No. 1 organized in May. A new “Firemans Hall”, 50’x25’ with cement floors, iron walls and roof was completed by November 1891. In 1893, Milton Carpenter built a hose cart to match the Eolus cart, and volunteers named themselves The Alert Hose Company, making four fire companies within the department. A tower was added in 1893 as a lookout, to hold the fire bell, and to hang the hoses to dry.

A new two-story fire department replaced the original in 1929, with 150 Fire Chiefs from around the state coming to the opening. In 1951, a new City Hall, Justice Court and holding cell was built on North 2nd Street. The jail was torn down in 1963 for the enlargement of the fire station in 1966.

In 1998, a brand new Fire Station was completed on Ford Way.