Please bear in mind, the correct history of Verona's city government between 1868 and 1916, is unpredictable, since much of the history went unrecorded and the legendary sources are few and far between. Beginning in 1916 the town board started recording city council meeting minutes in the Town Book. Earliest record show that the town was incorporated on May 3rd, 1870. The Corporation went into effect on May 39th 1870.
The Sanborn Map Company of New York City, conducted a fire safety survey of the structures in the city in 1915 and published a map in October of 1915 showing the results of their survey. They recorded the various building material used to construct buildings, everything from frame construction to brick and iron. Which structures had wooden door's, metal doors or barred doors and windows, night watchman. How buildings were lite or heated, gas or oil. If a building had fire protection equipment or a water well and fire department hookups . According to the Sanborn map the the Fire Department was not an organized department, but owned a had cart with 250' of 2" C.R.L. fire hose, which is a woven cotton jacket that covers a rubber hose. Very similar to today's fire hose. The hose cart was housed at the Fire Station located at on the east side of 3rd street, just south of Washington. It is not know who actually owned the Fire Station and the hose cart. Prior to 1915 the town had a few fire hydrants but were removed. The 6" water main that was located on 3rd Street was for domestic water use only and was connected to two Dean pumps at the spring which pumped 585 gallons of water per minute. The pumps were owned and operated by the Lawrence County Water Company and was located 1/4 mile northwest of the Depot.
The Town Book mentions that on June 13th, 1930, a motion was made and carried to buy 200' for fire hose and 1 dozen bucks.
In April of 1946, the citizens voted to approve a franchise to Empire District Electric Co. the exclusive right to provide electric and water to Verona. The Company began drilling a 1200 foot deep well, new water mains and the installation of 18 fire hydrants.
The first Fire Truck purchased by the City was in 1947. The City purchased a 1929 American-LaFrance fire engine from St. Louis for the sum of $750. Also during that year it was decided to organize the first volunteer fire department. A special bond election was held to a vote on a $5,000 bond issue for the purpose of buying a fire house and additional fire equipment. This City purchased a lot for $80 from B.B. Ham for the construction of the fire house, which was built 25 feet by 45 feet of concrete blocks and an approved roof with two doors in front, 4 by 10 feet and two steel windows in the rear. The building was completed by early 1948.
In 1948 a tower 35 feet high with a siren was installed on top of the fire house completing the requirements for a decrease in insurance rates. The new siren was to be controlled from the local telephone office by a remote control system and was tested periodically with two blasts. At that time the Department consisted of the American-LaFrance fire engine and 18 volunteers. The town boasted of ample water and fire plugs together with an abundant supply of high water pressure.
In the Fall of 1956, Verona residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $7,000 bond issue for the purchase of a new International fire truck. The old 1929 American-La France that the City had purchased 10 years before was well past retirement age and an antique dealer was wanting to purchase the vehicle.
The new truck was to have a 300 gallon water tank and a 500 gallon per minute pump. The total cost of the truck was just over $6,900 and served the City until 2012 when the truck was retired and sold to a private individual in Tennessee, who restored the truck and donated it for use by the local Boy Scouts of America.
One notable fire was in 1898 when the Verona Roller Mill Company burnt. The building was a large three story brick steam roller flouring mill. Workers worked two shifts a day for 12 hours and produced 200 barrels daily. The elevator was the only thing that remained and the Mill Company continued to operate not as a mill. but buying and shipping grain until 1921. The Cause of the fire is not known.
The Sanborn Map Company of New York City, conducted a fire safety survey of the structures in the city in 1915 and published a map in October of 1915 showing the results of their survey. They recorded the various building material used to construct buildings, everything from frame construction to brick and iron. Which structures had wooden door's, metal doors or barred doors and windows, night watchman. How buildings were lite or heated, gas or oil. If a building had fire protection equipment or a water well and fire department hookups . According to the Sanborn map the the Fire Department was not an organized department, but owned a had cart with 250' of 2" C.R.L. fire hose, which is a woven cotton jacket that covers a rubber hose. Very similar to today's fire hose. The hose cart was housed at the Fire Station located at on the east side of 3rd street, just south of Washington. It is not know who actually owned the Fire Station and the hose cart. Prior to 1915 the town had a few fire hydrants but were removed. The 6" water main that was located on 3rd Street was for domestic water use only and was connected to two Dean pumps at the spring which pumped 585 gallons of water per minute. The pumps were owned and operated by the Lawrence County Water Company and was located 1/4 mile northwest of the Depot.
The Town Book mentions that on June 13th, 1930, a motion was made and carried to buy 200' for fire hose and 1 dozen bucks.
In April of 1946, the citizens voted to approve a franchise to Empire District Electric Co. the exclusive right to provide electric and water to Verona. The Company began drilling a 1200 foot deep well, new water mains and the installation of 18 fire hydrants.
The first Fire Truck purchased by the City was in 1947. The City purchased a 1929 American-LaFrance fire engine from St. Louis for the sum of $750. Also during that year it was decided to organize the first volunteer fire department. A special bond election was held to a vote on a $5,000 bond issue for the purpose of buying a fire house and additional fire equipment. This City purchased a lot for $80 from B.B. Ham for the construction of the fire house, which was built 25 feet by 45 feet of concrete blocks and an approved roof with two doors in front, 4 by 10 feet and two steel windows in the rear. The building was completed by early 1948.
In 1948 a tower 35 feet high with a siren was installed on top of the fire house completing the requirements for a decrease in insurance rates. The new siren was to be controlled from the local telephone office by a remote control system and was tested periodically with two blasts. At that time the Department consisted of the American-LaFrance fire engine and 18 volunteers. The town boasted of ample water and fire plugs together with an abundant supply of high water pressure.
In the Fall of 1956, Verona residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $7,000 bond issue for the purchase of a new International fire truck. The old 1929 American-La France that the City had purchased 10 years before was well past retirement age and an antique dealer was wanting to purchase the vehicle.
The new truck was to have a 300 gallon water tank and a 500 gallon per minute pump. The total cost of the truck was just over $6,900 and served the City until 2012 when the truck was retired and sold to a private individual in Tennessee, who restored the truck and donated it for use by the local Boy Scouts of America.
One notable fire was in 1898 when the Verona Roller Mill Company burnt. The building was a large three story brick steam roller flouring mill. Workers worked two shifts a day for 12 hours and produced 200 barrels daily. The elevator was the only thing that remained and the Mill Company continued to operate not as a mill. but buying and shipping grain until 1921. The Cause of the fire is not known.