Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

The old minutes, told of in Friday's State Journal, refer now
and then to negotiation with the concern of Button & Blake,
and it was from this firm, says Mr. Edmonds, from other evidence
he possesses, that the first engine was bought. The minutes seem
to reveal that the money for its purchase was obtained by subscription of the citizens. Nothing, however, is revealed as to
how much money was obtained nor how much was paid for the
old "tub."
Perhaps further investigation will reveal where Button &
Blake, the manufacturers, were located. Some surmise Buffalo,
others New York, perhaps it was Elmira, N. Y., inasmuch as a
big concern for the manufacture of fire apparatus has long been
located there. However it may be, certain it is the old engine
came up the lake to Detroit and was sent from there over the
Michigan Central, then completed as far as Jackson.
BROUGHT OVERLAND.
From Jackson the new fire fighting machine was brought "on
hoof," so to speak. It was a great day for Lansing when the old
tub arrived.
Mrs. Sarah T. Merrifield, one of Lansing's oldest residents, was
in the heydey of her young womanhood when the engine was
brought triumphantly into town and she remembers the circumstance well.
Those in charge brought the engine up through Leslie and
Mason. Then they halted just outside of Lansing while word
was sent into town warning that the engine was prepared to enter
and be received in due form.
What a furore there must have been. Great doings were
afoot. There must have been a hurried donning of red shirts by the
firemen, and deft and fetching placing of poke bonnets atop
bewitching curls, and still more deft managing of wide hoopskirts, and oh, yes, to be sure-fresh pantalettes put on by the
young maids who were to strew the street with flowers, through
which the firemen and their new charge should pass. One may
guess that there were plenty of old-fashioned pink and yellow
roses to be had from every dooryard.
Anyway, Lansing's first fire engine came to town amid a great
hurrah. Too bad that early scene, as the "tub" was halted down