From James Hillman as Constable of the ten townships that made up the civil township of Youngstown, to individual township constables, to the appointment of George Mygatt as the first Marshall of the City of Warren in 1834, the people who have lived in the Mahoning Valley always recognized the need for law enforcement.  But it was not until 1868 that Youngstown got a police department.  It was composed of one marshal and three night watchmen, but up to 50 unpaid policemen could be appointed during emergencies.  The watchmen also lit the streetlights and sounded the alarm if a fire started.

As the communities on the Western Reserve grew and became better organized, residents also recognized the need for structured fire protection.  Warren especially needed fire fighters as one disastrous fire after another destroyed parts of the city.  Warren had 938 inhabitants in 1836 when the first volunteer fire company was organized.  In 1874, when the new city hall in Warren was built, the lower part of the building was used for the fire department and stables for the horses that drew the engines.  The fire department moved into its own building on Park Avenue in 1896.  This volunteer company continued to protect the city until 1899 when a professional fire company was organized and the office of Fire Chief was created.

Youngstown did not organize fire protection until 1869 after the newly built mansion of David Tod burnt.  As the driving force behind the new volunteer fire company, Governor Tod’s name was given to both Station #1 and the first steam fire engine.  Youngstown’s fire company was all volunteer until 1891.

Who enforces the law where you live today? Why did buildings burn so easily in the early years of the 19^th century?  What pulled the fire engines before horses did? Visit the Mahoning Valley Historical Society to learn more about early emergency services.  You can also go to www.mahoninghistory.org, and, under ‘Education,’ and ‘What Do You Know About,’ click on an article title to access downloadable files of the images.

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