History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

294

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

and trustees" to "common council," and allowed the people to choose a
president, three trustees, a recorder and a marshal. The treasurer was
appointed by the council. The first election under the new order of
things resulted as follows: President, Pierce Patrick; trustees, Francis Darrow, Rufus Hosmer and Willard M. McConnell; recorder, Warren J. Nelson. Julius Dean was appointed treasurer.
It would appear that the people became tired of the monotony of the
place under the order prohibiting the ringing of bells, for in I850 a petition signed by 221 citizens was presented to the common council praying that Martin Bransby be appointed bell ringer. Their prayer was
granted and said Bransby was allowed a salary of $52 for ringing the
bell at five, nine and twelve o'clock A. M. and at one, five and nine
o'clock P. M.
In 1851 a new bridge was constructed over the Clinton river on Pike
street, at the mill pond, and in 1853 one was built on Andrews street,
now Orchard Lake avenue. A bridge was built over the mill pond on
Pike street in i858, and in I860 one on Pike street, west of the railroad, was completed.
THE VILLAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The question of applying for a city charter began to be discussed
early in I859. In the meantime the fire department had been so developed
that it consisted of Pontiac Fire Company No. I, with forty-one men,
and Deluge Fire Company No. 2, with thirty-seven members, two hand engines and one hose cart. The first company was organized in 1833, but the
men appear to have got along with buckets until I844, when a hand
engine was purchased in Rochester, New York, for six hundred dollars.
In 1847 a Piano engine was purchased, and in the following year a one
story brick house was completed; herein was housed the engine of 1844
(No. I) and the engine of 1847, which was christened Deluge Fire Engine No. 2," the second fire company being formed in that year.
In 1847 H. C. Thurber was appointed chief engineer of the department, being succeeded by Colonel Archibald Spear in 1850, William C.
Palmer in I85I, and James A. Weeks in 1852.
GAS WORKS INAUGURATED
Previous to the incorporation of Pontiac as a city in I86I the department consisted only of the two companies mentioned. The year
before it became a municipality preliminary steps were taken to erect
gas works, a committee of the common council being appointed to look
after the matter and an ordinance passed March 21, I86o, authorizing
Enos F. Chappell to form a stock company for that purpose. At the
'time Pontiac donned city garb, however, the gas works were still "in
the air."
HEADS OF THE VILLAGE GOVERNMENT
The heads of the village government when the popular body was
known as the "board of trustees" were as follows: 1838, Suel Wesson,