Eighty Couples and a Brass Band: Aberdeen's Firemen Throw a Third-Anniversary Dance

When the members of the Aberdeen Fire Department determine to do a thing, whether it be fighting a fire or entertaining the public at a social dance, they go about it with a spirit that makes failure of a successful termination out of the question, and the dance at Koehler's hall last Saturday night, under their auspices, was no exception to the many enjoyable events of the kind in the past. The announcement that our fire boys are to give a dance is always the signal for an evening of uninterrupted pleasure, and is responded to by large delegations from all the Harbor towns and surrounding country.

On the evening of October 21, 1890, the several hose and hook and ladder companies of this city were formed into an organization known as the Aberdeen Fire Department, constitution and by-laws drawn up and adopted and officers elected for the year following. On each anniversary of the organization, the occasion is commemorated by giving a free dance to the public, the one on Saturday night being the celebration of the third anniversary of the organization of the fire department—not the regular annual ball, which is held on the evening of February 22 of each year. The officers of the Aberdeen Fire Department from its organization to the present time are as follows: Joseph A. Graham, as chief, and C. Bartholomew, first assistant, served from October 21, 1890, to January 1, 1891, when the new officers were installed for that year, who were: L. L. Maley, chief; S. B. Linn, first assistant; Bartholomew, second assistant; F. Ladue, secretary; B. J. Larman, treasurer. For the year 1892—S. E. Linn, chief; W. H. Pearson, first assistant; J. A. Graham, second assistant; W. J. Patterson, secretary; Charles Koehler, treasurer. The present officers, whose terms expire with this year, 1893, are: W. H. Pearson, chief; S. E. Drewes, first assistant; G. B. Morse, secretary; Charles Koehler, treasurer. All of whom have faithfully discharged the duties of their respective offices. No petty strife has ever existed among the members, each individual always being content to abide by the wishes of the majority and the decisions of their chiefs. So well has discipline been maintained that Aberdeen can now justly boast—without fear of contradiction—of one of the most efficient volunteer fire companies on the coast, or anywhere, always ready and willing to risk life to save the property of their fellow-man from the destructive fire-demon. The department reading-room, over the hose house on G street, is one of the finest in the west, always kept in the best of order, and supplied with the latest and best daily, weekly and monthly publications.

The Saturday night ball was participated in by about eighty couples, including large parties from Montesano, Cosmopolis and Hoquiam, and the Cosmopolis Brass Band, which furnished music for the grand march. At 11 o'clock refreshments were served, after which dancing was continued and only interrupted at a late hour by the restive whistle of the steamer Tosie Burrows calling for those from Cosmopolis and Montesano, and the sonorous call of 'All aboard' from the Hoquiam hackman, all of whom were loth to leave the festive hall. Nothing more could have been done to add to the enjoyment of the evening; the music was excellent; the floor in perfect condition; and all praise due the hospitable and gallant members of the Aberdeen Fire Department.