Lucas Fire Department

The Lucas Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1882. After a time, interest waxed and waned. During the waning periods, the city depended on anyone who would come running to help. It was said that most people came to the fires anyway and they may as well help.

In 1924, it waxed strong again and was reorganized with 12 members. As the members didn’t have to pay poll tax, it had to be limited – human nature being what it is. They had a wagon with hook and ladder and a bucket brigade with leather buckets so that if any were dropped or were thrown from a roof, they wouldn’t injure or kill anybody. Later they acquired a pumper to lower into a well and a 40 gallon chemical tank. To test it a huge pile of banana crates, old boxes and other flimsy stuff was constructed and set afire only to burn furiously because the chemical didn’t work.

In 1902 occurred the largest fire Lucas ever had, according to present day citizens. Five buildings on Front street were completely destroyed: a lumber yard, a millinery store, shoe repair shop, Leck Hooker’s harness shop and the two story K. P. Hall. Most were never rebuilt. Sometimes about 1913 to 1915 the Rogers and McElvain lumber yard and hardware store burned. They were rebuilt and today are a stable business in Lucas.

In 1932 fire broke out in the furnace room of the school house. On that December day the temperature was 19 below zero. The Chariton department was called and went flying in an open truck. Firemen huddled on the hoses in the bed of the truck and tried to cover themselves but nearly froze. They then found that their hose was four sections short. There was a cistern under the building but it was rendered useless by the stiff northwest wind that blew heavy smoke into the faces of the men. The fire was too far along anyway.

The William Hunter home is across the street and their son, seven year old Billy, Jr. stood at the window and cried because his beloved books were burning. He and Betty Mitchell (later Mrs. Chester Spoon) were classmates and graduated together.

Mrs. Spoon was historian for the 1968 Lucas Centennial. The present school building was built with little delay and at the laying of the corner stone, Mr. William Hunter, trumpet player, led a 15 piece band up the long hill to play for the ceremony.

The opera house was built in 1883 atop the hill west of Dr. Bell’s office and was quite an imposing building for that time. It had a life span of half a century and various businesses were housed within its walls during those splendorous years. The auditorium on the third floor had a capacity of 300 to 400 persons. The elevator was hand operated with a rope and a large wheel. There was no fire escape.

Each year there was an impressive listing of all the famous road shows of the day. The mines were working, money flowed easily, the people enjoyed good entertainment and to this mecca came all kinds of shows in addition to many entertaiments of local talent and interest.

There were famous artists appearing there – Jenny Lind, the great Swedish operatic start, known as The Swedish Nightingale. Paton and Edna May Spooner, husband and wife team of actors who grew up in Centerville, became famous in New York City and made the big time. Then there was the famous wrestler, Farmer Hunter, who also made Lucas.

Of all the great road shows of the day – and there were many – the three hardy perennials were St. Elmo, East Lynn and Uncle Tom’s Cabin. These three were the tear jerkers and they never missed a year. Sometimes '‘Little Eva'’looked as she should have looked but many times she didn't'’. One time she weighed 200 pounds! Sometimes they had real bloodhounds, depending on the troupe, but no matter, the people loved it just the same.

There were magicians and hypnotists with all the wiles of their professions. The medicine shows too, had many artful ways. They sold candy kisses in little bags, giving votes for the most popular girl in town; soap at 10 cents a bar – a fantastic price compared to 11 bars of good soap for 25 cents at J. C. Baker and Sons Store! Then the patent medicine at $1 a bottle – but would cure cure ANYTHING!

The heyday of the once glittering opera house had passed when in February of 1934, fire reduced it to ashes, leaving only a memory of happier days. The Lucas Fire department now has a very attractive steel building, well located and which also has a community room in addition to garage room for their trucks and other fire equipment. Wendell Skinner is Chief.