From Horses to Horsepower: Bemidji’s First Motor Fire Truck, 1914–1915

The photograph shows Bemidji Fire Department No. 1 standing on a winter street, its front wheels fitted with wooden skis. Two men sit high in the cab, bundled against the cold. The machine looks ready for work, but getting to this moment took nearly a year of debate, testing, and careful decision-making.

Bemidji did not rush into motorized firefighting.

A City Divided

In April 1914, the Bemidji City Council openly disagreed about whether the city should even advertise for bids on an automobile fire truck. Some aldermen believed the city was not ready for such an expense or such a change. Others felt the issue should be explored and objections addressed later. The vote to request bids passed by a single vote, cast by newly appointed Fourth Ward alderman A. W. Ditty.

The fire department supported modernization. Fire Chief Doran formally requested a motor-driven fire truck and asked that the fire committee and department report back on specifications and whether existing equipment could be used in exchange.

This was not a casual request. Fire apparatus in 1914 represented a long-term commitment, and a failure under winter conditions could be catastrophic.

What Firefighting Required in 1914

By the early 1910s, many departments were shifting from horse-drawn wagons to combination chemical and hose motor trucks. These vehicles carried soda-acid chemical tanks for rapid response to small fires and large quantities of hose for hydrant connections or drafting water. Speed mattered, but reliability mattered more.

In Bemidji, winter performance was critical. Snow, rutted streets, sand, and mud were constant obstacles. Horses were proven in those conditions. Motor trucks still had to earn trust.

Selecting the Seagrave Truck

1905 Seagrave Fire Apparatus Advertising Sign. Founded in Detroit, Michigan, Seagrave moved to Columbus in 1891 and remained there until 1963, when the company was purchased by FWD and moved to Clintonville, WI, where it remains today and continues to design and manufacture firefighting apparatus.

In June 1914, bids were opened for a combination chemical and hose motor fire truck. The Seagrave Company submitted two options. Seagrave was already nationally recognized for purpose-built fire apparatus designed to carry heavy loads of hose, ladders, tools, and chemical tanks.

Even so, the council delayed acceptance and referred the bids back to the fire committee and department. The city wanted evaluation, not enthusiasm. Fortunately for Seagrave, Grand Forks was already operating its motor fire trucks successfully, and a visit and demonstration of that potential won over the reticent council.

Arrival, Testing, and Winter Readiness

Bemidji’s Seagrave truck arrived in early January 1915. Newspaper coverage made clear that it would be fully tested before acceptance. The truck was examined for speed, handling, load capacity, and winter operation.

The specifications were substantial for the period. The truck carried 1,200 feet of hose, fifty gallons of chemical, additional chemical hose, individual extinguishers, ladders of multiple lengths, and a full complement of firefighting tools. Powered by a 75-horsepower engine, it was capable of speeds far beyond a horse-drawn wagon once underway.

The skis visible in the photograph were a practical adaptation, not an experiment. Fire departments across northern states and Canada commonly fitted early motor apparatus with removable wooden skis during the winter months. Skis helped distribute weight and prevented the front wheels from digging into snow, while rear wheels relied on chains or aggressive tread for traction.

Their presence on Bemidji’s truck signals an expectation that the motor apparatus would replace horses entirely, even in deep winter.

Acceptance and a Change in Personnel

On January 19, 1915, after testing and evaluation, the Bemidji City Council formally accepted the Seagrave fire truck at a cost of $5,300.

With that decision came the retirement of Charlie and Major, the horse team that had hauled the city’s fire apparatus in response to City Hall alarms for the previous five years. The city arranged to sell the team, along with their harness and equipment.

Motorized firefighting also required new roles. On March 22, 1915, the city officially appointed G. Brennan and Wm. Gaines as fire truck drivers and janitors of the city building. Mr. Brennan and Mr. Gaines were trained by Robert Browning, a representative from Seagrave, when the truck was first delivered, but did not join the city payroll until two months later. Brennan was assigned the day shift and Gaines the night shift, with the two men alternating monthly.

Approved salaries of the day and night "janitor, engineer, and fire truck driver(s)" of seventy-five dollars per month ($2,340 per month in 2025 dollars)

That appointment marks an important transition. Firefighting in Bemidji was no longer powered solely by feed and muscle. It now depended on trained operators, mechanical knowledge, and routine maintenance - traditions that continue today.

References

Bemidji Daily Pioneer. Minnesota Historical Society, Bemidji Daily Pioneer Collection.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Inflation Calculator. Minneapolis Fed, https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Friends of the FWD/Seagrave Museum.“Our History.” FWD/Seagrave Museum, http://www.fwdseagravemuseum.org/ourhistory.html. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC.“History.” Seagrave, https://seagrave.com/Company/History. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.