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This week we are publishing the history of the Ross, California Fire Department. They were one of the oldest fire departments in Marin, formed in 1908, and merged into the Ross Valley Fire Protection District as of 2012. They were a very innovative department for a very small town in 1908, with a population of only about 500 people. They acquired one of the first motorized chemical fire apparatus on the West Coast in 1910, and certainly the first in Marin County. The oldest and largest department in Marin, the San Rafael FD, visited Ross in 1910 to consider their own eventual purchase of something motorized. The department also employed one of the earliest paid fireman to drive the new chemical apparatus. For most of it's history it was primarily a volunteer FD, active, proud, and effective at a very low cost to the community. Read the start of what will be expanded on soon under the Departments>Former>Ross FD menu, or by clicking below.  From the Marin Journal, December 22, 1910 We've discovered yet another death in the line of duty (LODD) in the Marin County fire service. A Ross volunteer fireman was killed while fighting a fire at a home in 1914. Aristid Papadimetrion was an immigrant from Greece who was a Ross volunteer fireman and also a member of the California National Guard. He had started using the name of Harry or Henry George (newspaper articles differ) - it was common for immigrants to change their names to assimilate into the American culture. We don't know yet if this was an official name change but will continue research. The phrase "Never Forget" is common is today's fire service. Unfortunately without any methodology to preserve the memories it only takes a few generations of change to forget. That's one of the main reasons we are doing the Marin Fire History project - what we as a fire service have forgotten will now be remembered and recognized. Is this case the very sad death of a young fireman in Ross while fighting a fire. Read the newspaper accounts by clicking the button below or by going to our Line of Duty Deaths menu.  Emigrants boarding small boats in Patras, Greece, on their way to the steamship that will take them to America in 1910. (Library of Congress) If young firefighters were asked to guess where in Marin County fire equipment had been manufactured long ago, they would probably say in San Rafael, possibly Novato, or somewhere along the Highway 101 corridor. The small and very affluent Town of Ross would probably not come to mind. Fire Sirens and nozzles were manufactured, sold, and installed across America by this firm for many years. With thanks to Louis Soldavini, Chiefs Bill Lellis and Bob Marcucci, and Videographer Dan White, this week we are sharing the story of the C.A.M. Manufacturing Company of Ross. "I am so glad I met and interviewed this Gentleman," said Bill. Louis Soldavini is 100 years old this year, and "...sharp as a tack...", said Bill. Learn more about his history and the history of C.A.M. now.  A Larkspur fire truck with a siren made by C.A.M. Manufacturing Company of Ross. |
AuthorOur Blog announces new site content, and gives the context of the topic and it's relationship to fire service history. Written by Bill Lellis & Paul Smith Archives
August 2022
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