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The Cranston Volunteer Fire Company was established in circa 1897-98 and originally occupied a building on Pine Street near Dyer Avenue which it rented from the Cranston Print Works.
The fire company’s first fire engine was a second-hand apparatus from the Combination Ladder Company, (Presumably of Providence.) This hand-engine, dubbed “Volunteer”, proved unsatisfactory, and in July of 1899 it was voted to purchase another hand-engine named “Star No. 1” from a dealer in Marblehead, Massachusetts, who’d obtained it from a small town in Michigan. This “new” engine was built in 1858 by William Jeffers of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, thereby making it obsolete by the time the Cranston’s obtained it, for even the Cranston Print Works had a steam powered fire engine at the time.
Yet “Star No. 1” was a vast improvement over the original engine, and could reportedly throw a powerful water stream 226 feet.
As stated, the engine was built in Pawtucket in1858. It was custom built for the Woodbridge Fire Co. No. 12 of Detroit, Michigan. It later saw service in Iowa, and then Harbor Springs, Michigan, where it was sold to the Massachusetts dealer in June of 1899, who in turn sold it to Cranston. In July of 1916, it was sold to the Westerly Veteran Firemen’s Association.
While official records of fires that the Cranston volunteers responded to are believed to be non-existent, some fires were reported in local newspapers.
On January 28, 1900, the fire company responded to a house fire in Arlington Village near the railroad tracks that once crossed Dyer Avenue. Volunteers laid 1,200 feet of hose to the nearest hydrant, with lines crossing the railroad tracks. As firefighting operations commenced, an unscheduled freight train passed and severed the hoses. Volunteers were then forced to bring the old hand engine into service. Unfortunately the house was lost, but a barn and two neighboring homes were saved. There were no injuries.
On September 18, 1900, volunteers responded to a house fire on Cleveland St. They put the blaze out in short order – damage was estimated at $500.
On October 4, 1908 the company responded to a fire at the J. A. Budlong & Company, and later received a fifty dollar donation for their work.
On October 12, 1908 early morning blaze in a shoe store at 1336 Cranston Street caused an estimated $4,900 in damage. There were no injuries.
The company held its yearly elections every January. In 1909, those elected to office included: John H. Stone – Foreman; Michael McNabb – First assistant; Harley Howard – Second Assistant; George Mayette – Third Assistant; James Duncan – Recording Secretary; William Cronshaw – Financial Secretary; Henry Walters – Treasurer; Edward Copeland – Sergeant-at-Arms.
A sketch of the proposed fire station for the Cranston Volunteer Fire Company. To read more about the station, click here. 
In January of 1915, the company’s annual elections included the following officers: Edward Ferrell – Foreman; John Burke – Assistant Foreman; James Duncan – Recording Secretary; Charles Evans – Financial secretary; Henry Walters – Treasurer. It was also reported that the company was in the process of buying a motorized fire engine and when this occurred they would sell the hand engine.
On February 16, 1919, the Cranston Volunteers, along with the Pocasset volunteers, responded to a structure fire at an abandoned historic house that once stood on the property of St. Mary’s Cemetery, and was owned by the Cranston Print Works. The building was the Rodney Dyer House which dated to 1736, and had been vacant for several years.
In November of 1920 Chief John H. Stone was presented with a chief’s fire helmet at a company meeting. Dignitaries present included James E. Cuff, Cranston’s Chief of Police, James V. Crofton, chief of the Arlington Fire Company, Chief D. F. Young of the Pocasset Fire Company,
In 1923, members of the fire company began planning for a permanent fire station of their own, and began raising funds through various ways. By July of 1926 their dream became a reality with the opening of their new station at the corner of Cranston and Byron Streets. (1344 Cranston Street.) The building was reportedly a two story bungalow style structure with a wide veranda across the front facing Cranston Street. The first floor was consisted of a large club room which could serve different purposes. Crew quarters were on the second floor and showers were in the basement. The two-bay apparatus room was situated off the back and the doors opened onto Byron Street. The main portion of this building survives to this day.
At the time the new station opened, the fire company was commanded by Chief John Stone. Chief Stone is mentioned in newspaper articles in 1932, indicating he still held that position.
Until January of 1923, Chief Stone had served as head of the fire company under the title of captain. At the January meeting the position of chief was enacted, and Stone was promoted. At the same meeting, Medos Ouimette was promoted to captain, and James O’Loughlin was elevated to lieutenant. Other company officers at that time included: Richard Nixon – President; William Dutton – Vice President; Frank Dodd – Recording Secretary; John Spearman – Financial Secretary; William Evans – Treasurer; William Guertin – Sergeant-at-Arms.
Ironically, the opening of the new station coincided with excavation work being down just a block away for what would become the present-day Station 3 of the Cranston (paid) Fire Department.
On February 17, 1924, volunteers and city firemen responded to a fire at the Cranston Community Church at 8 Pendelton Street. The building was saved but the interior was gutted.
It is unclear when the Cranston Volunteer Fire Company officially disbanded as a fire fighting force, but newspapers show that the company was listed as a voting place into the 1940s.
The Cranston Volunteer Firefighters Museum welcomes anyone with more information to contact the museum.