The Creation of the Benton Fire Department
By Cody Berry
On September 21, 1916, the Benton Courier reported that a fire had destroyed H. S. Glenn’s storerooms on Market Street in downtown Benton the previous Sunday. By the time the fire was discovered, it had also damaged the adjoining property – Glenn’s home and the Walton block to the north. Glenn’s two storerooms and their contents were not insured. The loss was $2,000 for them alone. The entire inventory of M.A.J. Bennet’s grocery store, valued at $1,500, and Mc 999 furnishing goods, valued at $2,000, was gone. The Walton building was also not insured.1
There was no organized fire department at the time of the fire, so the response was not good. According to the Courier, “through the inability of the city council and the waterworks commission to get together on charge for hydrant rental, there was a delay,” as the responders couldn’t find the tools they needed.2 Efforts were made to save the Walton block with four streams of water on the building saving it with only “slight damage.”3
This fire and the number of damages it left behind “made a number of converts to waterworks,” said the Courier. Dr. Walton and Mr. Glenn were opposed to the installation of a new water plant but after the fire they acknowledged the need for fire protection. Mr. Glenn said that while a new tax was “quite a burden,” he would gladly pay more for the protection. Dr. Walton was convinced after his building was saved. At a meeting of the City Council Monday night after the fire, it was decided that the city would pay $1,500 a year for hydrant rental.4
The next topic discussed at that meeting was the arrangement of a fire department with “equipment furnished.” The city treasury was “short” at the time, so they called for citizens “to subscribe money to purchase some.”5 The Benton Hardware Company donated the first $50.6
On October 5, 1916, the Courier announced that the BNFD had been established. The article said that there were four companies organized in the BNFD, each with their own leadership. Practice drills were held every Tuesday. A soliciting committee was appointed to buy Benton’s first fire truck. Committee members included W. M. Steed, E.T. Holiman, J.S. Utley, Fire Capt. Frank Long, and Niloak creator C.D. Hyten.7
The Benton Fire Department was very generous with the number of things that they loaned us for our exhibit First In: A Tribute to Our First Responders. We have a fireman’s dress uniform complete with a hat and badge from Assistant Chief Jay Chitwood. Next to that, we have a set of fireman’s turnout gear with a small hose and some tools used on the job. See more local history at the Gann Museum of Saline County any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
Citations:
1 “A Destructive Fire Last Sunday Morning,” Benton Courier, September 21, 1916, p. 1
2 “A Destructive Fire Last Sunday Morning,” Benton Courier, September 21, 1916, p. 1
3 “A Destructive Fire Last Sunday Morning,” Benton Courier, September 21, 1916, p. 1
4 “A Destructive Fire Last Sunday Morning,” Benton Courier, September 21, 1916, p. 1
5 “A Destructive Fire Last Sunday Morning,” Benton Courier, September 21, 1916, p. 1
6 City of Benton, “Fire Department – Brief History,” bentonar.gov, https://www.bentonar.gov/departments/Fire, Date Accessed 9/2/2026.
7 “Fire Department is Organized in Benton,” Benton Courier, October 5, 1916, p. 1