It was one of the worst tragedies in the city's history - Two were killed, a score injured, 13 businesses, including the new courthouse, went up in flames, and there was an explosion felt as far away as Vinemont and Joppa. And it happened on March 5, 1894.

     This is the account taken verbatim, from the March 9, 1894 issue of the "Peoples Protest", a local newspaper published in Cullman at that time.

     "At 10:00 p.m. Monday night, fire was discovered in the upper and central part of A.J. York's livery stable, in the McMinn, Koopman - Gerdes block (1st Avenue & 4th Street West) southwest of the old Opera House (was Watsons) which was so far advanced it spurned control.

     The large amount of dry provender in the storeroom above the horses and vehicles was a rich repast for the hungry flames which burned with such fury as to snatch away the lives of 19 horses, noble steeds, and mules, before they could be rescued.

     The fire soon advanced to neighboring buildings. A powder magazine, the explosion of which loosed the very hinges of Hades sowed the heavens with fire and firebrands in every direction. Windows were shattered for blocks. Everyone was shocked as by an earthquake.

     C.J. Mitchell, clerk for Koopman - Gerdes, was killed instantly, and borne home to his wife dead. He was one of those noble and enthusiastic natures who yield himself to temptation of excitement and danger he had therefore exposed himself.

     P.M. Allison, unmarried, suffered a broken leg, badly contused; G.O. Dinkelburg, married, has severe injuries that may be fatal; Alvin Aldrich, has a broken leg, badly lacerated. The little daughter of Rev. George Lee suffered ghastly flesh wounds, not fatal. Dr. Finkle and Frank Ardnt have badly burned faces. Today G.O. Dinkelburg died of his wounds.

     A brisk March wind fanned the flames to renewed madness, and 10 more buildings were lapped up, including Kinney Brothers, Mr. Johnson's business, Rudders house and stable, the Arndt house, and business, and the T.M. Wilhite home, the Methodist church, the City Dungeon were also burned. (It is learned from other accounts that the courthouse also the Methodist Church, the city dungeon was also burned.

The losses were estimated at between $25,000.00 and $50,000.00

     When the explosion occurred, the tremor was felt more than twenty miles away at Joppa and Vinemont.

     The powder and dynamite was stored in a steel vault, and so violent was the explosion that no piece of the vault was ever found."

     It should be noted from the above article that the style of writing is very different from that used in newspapers today.

                                            The Fire of 1894

                                             By Ed Herfurth

                 Listen my children and you shall hear,

                Of the night that Cullman  was quaking with fear.

                Thirteen building were consumed in the flames

                 Nineteen mules and noble steeds

                 Died in the flames fed by their own sweet feeds.

                 By an explosion that blasted Koopman and Gerdes

                 With a force that loosed the hinges of Hades

                 Some people were killed as others lay dying

                 As flames spreading the March wind's night sighing.

                 In Joppa the blast was heard as most people lay abed.

                "Must be an earthquake" most of them said.

                 In Vinemont, too, the tremor was felt.

                 With that trouble now we have been dealt?

                 The Johnson's, the Mitchell's, the Methodist Church,

                 People with losses and religion were left in the lurch,

                 There was smoke, rubble and dejection,

                 And as the paper said, In insurance, very little protection.

     Because of this fire a group of prominent businessmen founded the Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Only well-built houses were eligible and premiums were ten cents per month. When a home was destroyed by fire, each member of the organization was assessed a certain amount.

     A volunteer fire department was organized in 1906 with John Beyer as Chief. George Stiefelmeyer was assistant chief. Others included Dan Heck, Lt.; C.C. Copeland, Sec-Treas.; firemen, Ike Mixon, George Stewart, Alton Gailes, O.S. Roden, W.R. Bone, N.A. Burch, and C.C. Whaley.

     There were four fire stations: One located at Hoelscher's Wagon Shop on Fourth Street SW (where Cullman Seed and Feed used to be), One on Second Avenue SE (where Cullman Apothecary once was), One on the site of the old Klein Building. The last site is unknown. The original bell that hung at Hoelscher's Wagon Shop station is now hanging at the Firefighter Memorial at Fire Station #2.

     Since it's creation the Cullman Fire Department has had 11 Fire Chiefs. This includes two volunteer chiefs: John Beyer 1906-1923,  W.M. Estes 1923-1932, Eugene Clark 1932-1948, O.D. Smith 1948-1949, John Hasenbein 1949-1973, Roy Freeman 1973-1982, Junior Walker 1982-1993, Tom Wilson 1993-1994, Interim Chief David Munger 1994-1996, Dennis Murray 1997-2004, Mike Hackney 2004-Present.

     According to Mr. E.F. Fischer, longtime fireman, the fire wagon was drawn by men and the water hauled in barrels from 1906-1913, after this time horse-drawn wagons were used. Fire plugs were also installed around town around the same time period.

     The first fire truck was purchased by the volunteer department in 1923 and Mr. Fischer drove it for the first thirteen years. It was kept at the Fischer and Son Funeral Parlor across from the old Berry Electric Company on Third Avenue SE. The City of Cullman assumed the operation of the fire department in 1936 and hired two firemen who worked twelve hour shifts.