Fire Department History

The Moundsville City Council in February of the year 1912 discussed reorganizing the fire department which was a volunteer fire department with its members being paid for putting out fires when they showed up. Council wanted to wait until the fire truck they ordered was delivered before making this decision.

April 8, 1912 was the day that the City of Moundsville hired its first paid fireman and also the day in which it approved final delivery of its first motorized firefighting vehicle. The first firefighter hired by the City was Charles Bryson and the truck was a Model M Winton Auto Fire Truck.

Charles Bryson was hired by Moundsville City Council after a balloting process between himself and five other applicants for the job. Apparently Bryson tied with applicant Lewis Ramser for the original position which caused the mayor at that time to cast the tie breaking vote. Oddly enough Lewis Ramser was hired at a later date and became a fireman on August 12, 1912.

Bryson was hired at a rate of pay which was $60.00 dollars per month and was given the same authority as a police officer. He was to work 21 hour shifts 7 days a week with the police department trained on how to operate the new fire truck in his absence. Later, George Games, a police officer, was put on 12 hour shifts at the fire department, but it is not clear if he remained a police officer or became a full time fireman. This did however free up Charles Bryson from a 21 hour shift to 12 hour one. It was not until Ramser was hired that Bryson was given a leave of absence which was reported to be on Sundays.

On June 24, 1912, Moundsville City Council Declared a vacancy in the position of Fire Chief. City Council then appointed Charles Bryson Chief of the Moundsville Fire Department. The rest is history.