The Water Witch

This month, we delved into the Society’s digital archives to bring you a lightly edited article published in Leo J. Murphy’s August 1963 North Reading Review. An avid local historian, Murphy (1917-1976) owned a used bookstore on Main Street and published dozens of articles on North Reading history. Enjoy Leo’s research on North Reading’s very first fire engine!

North Reading firefighters pull the Water Witch down the street during a parade c. late 1940s. (NRH&AS Collection).

Late in March, 1825, a group of local men met in the rooms of the old Barnard Hotel, owned and kept by Jacob Barnard. This famous hostelry was situated on the west side of Main Street, just north of Park Street. The purpose of the meeting was to formulate plans to activate the Second Engine Company of Reading.  In the course of the evening, after careful deliberation, the assembled members voted to draft a Constitution of the new Fire Engine Company. Two nights later, the same group of men met once more, this time to read over and sign their acceptance to the hastily prepared, but ever binding constitution.

The records of these meetings disclose the following men as being the original signers of this Constitution: John Batchelder, James Taylor, Jacob Barnard, his son Prentice S. Barnard, Benjamin Holt, George Flint, Nathaniel Batchelder, Jr., Asa Sheldon, John Batchelder III, Jonathan Batchelder, Randall Nichols, Ezra Damon, Jr., Peter Flint, Daniel Flint, B. C. Sanborn, Amos Batchelder, and James Batchelder.

At the next regular meeting held in May, 1825, the Company assembled to elect a commander for the recently purchased engine and its complement. John Batchelder III was chosen for this coveted post and his term to run one year from the May meeting. Mr. Batchelder, George Flint, and Major Daniel Flint, were delegated a committee of three to choose an appropriate name for the engine. After much consideration, and the rejection of several names, the new engine was named the “Water Witch” and duly accepted by the assembled company.

Mr George Spear pictured with the Water Witch alongside the 1896 fire station that stood on the south side of the Town Common (NRH&AS Collection).

At this meeting, and chosen as a committee, John Batchelder, the newly elected Commander, Nathaniel Batchelder, and Amos Batchelder were asked to prepare adequate quarters for the company and the engine. On the following day, wasting no time in their assignment, the three committee members approached Mr Jacob Barnard, owner of the hotel, who being sympathetic with the movement and himself a member of the company, sold the committee a piece of land to erect the engine house upon, the sum of one dollar being agreed upon as purchase price, “so long as it shall be used as an engine house, and that the company be not allowed to add to the structure by building a second story”, read the consideration. Mr. Barnard was evidently protecting his interest as hotel owner from encroachment fearing the second-story would be used for meetings or lodging in time of storm. 

Among the rules adopted by the company were fines levied at the rate of twenty-five cents for each meeting not attended, one dollar for disobedience to Commander’s orders, and five dollars [$160 in 2025 dollars] was assessed as punishment if any member failed to appear at any fire if he had knowledge such fire was taking place. In the course of the formation of the new company, several of the Charter members, for one reason or another, sold their shares to other interested parties.

When the Water Witch was housed in the engine-house and provision provided for its maintenance, weekly meetings were held to provide the Company with the proper procedure of an organized fire-company. Drills were attended, equipment was procured, and all were pleased with their duties. Damage due to fire was kept at a minimum and the company was paraded at social, political, and holiday engagements and presented a fine appearance at all times.

Nineteenth-century firefighters answering a call.

In the fifteen year period, from 1825 to 1840, the Company remained virtually intact; there were very few exceptions. The engine attended a great many fires and through the co-operation of the Company and the townsmen, the engine was considered adequate to its duties. In 1840, at a special meeting, the members were assembled to consider repairs to the engine-house and the Water Witch itself. Each member was assessed one dollar to meet these expenses, the necessary work being done by local mechanics and carpenters.

In 1842, an extraordinary special meeting was held. It was well attended by members and townspeople in general as it was of interest to all. The shareholders in the Company had decided for the better maintenance and general upkeep of the engine it would be more beneficial if it were owned by the town. At this meeting it was voted to sell the Water Witch to the Town of Reading, the shareholders receiving ten dollars per share, on condition the engine remain in its present location and perform the same duties as previously. A committee consisting of Amos Batchelder, George Flint and James H. Eames were chosen to put an article in the forthcoming Town Warrant to this affect. The measure did not pass and the engine remained the property of the Company. From the years 1842 to 1853, the Company performed a more or less routine duty. The engine and its complement continued its fine showing both at fires and civic affairs.

The last meeting of the Company held under the original constitution occurred on the evening of May 12, 1853, the same year that North Reading became a Town in itself. It was at this period of disorganization that the Water Witch was put to tremendous effort, but to no avail. At four a.m. April 29, 1860, the Baptist Meeting House was discovered to be on fire. The alarm was quickly given, but the flames bursting out the north and west windows had too great a start, and all efforts of the volunteers proved fruitless as the thirty-two year old edifice was reduced to ashes within one hour from the time of the fire’s discovery. 

Prior to the purchase of the Watch Witch, North Reading was served by Reading’s Engine One, purchased during the War of 1812. This engine was manned by an independent Company of share holders, and when the Water Witch was acquired for duty in the North Parish it was designated “Engine Two” and the Company was patterned after that of Engine One. It is very interesting to note that the last great conflagration that the “Water Witch” responded to was on April 18, 1867, it being the destruction by fire, of the Barnard Hotel, the scene of the Water Witch’s inception as the town’s flre-flghting force.

Today, the Water Witch is on display in the foyer of North Reading Town Hall.

From 1853 until 1870, the Water Witch was without a formal company. In the later half of that year, a new company was formed, and a new constitution was drawn up and signed by the new members who were chiefly heirs of the original shareholders. 

It is not known exactly how long this Company was associated with the Water Witch, but the period involved did not compare with the longevity of the original Company. In the ensuing years, the town was asked at the annual Town Meeting as in Article 21, for the year 1891: “To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to purchase a fire-engine and apparatus, or what they will do in relation thereof”. In 1893, the question was voted upon with favorable results and an appropriation was forthcoming. 

At this time, the Town of North Reading was growing, and the small industries and manufacturing plants were in need of more adequate protection. The Water Witch, while still a powerful engine, could not cope with any major fire due to the increase in size of the new buildings under construction.

By the vote of the townspeople, a committee was formed to make a purchase of suitable equipment. This committee was instrumental in purchasing from the Salem Veteran Firemans’ Association, the engine previously used by them, and designated “Number One.” The Town of North Reading paid $305 [$11,000 in 2025 dollars] for this apparatus, and at the same time, the committee also purchased a quantity of hose and a hose-carriage.

Hose carriages similar to those purchased by the Town of North Reading in 1893. From a catalog for the Caswell Fire Department Supply Co., Chicago, IL, circa 1879 in the Smithsonian Collection.

This purchase took the pressure off of the “Water Witch” and gave the town additional protection, both engines being serviced by citizens and volunteers when necessary. In the year 1895, a paper was circulated among the heirs of the original shareholders of the “Water Witch” whereby they relinquished all claim upon the engine to the Town of North Reading, and the old engine became an integral part of that department. At the annual town meeting held shortly after its acquisition, the townspeople voted, “to repair the ‘tub’ and put her in commission.” In 1896, the “Water Witch” was recorded as being especially powerful as a water-thrower and was believed by many of the older inhabitants as being as good as she had ever been following her reconditioning.

In 1895, the town voted at a meeting the appropriation of $1,100 [$42,400 in 2025 dollars] to build a suitable engine-house on Park Street [pictured above], south of the Common. Mr. Solon Holt of North Reading undertook the contract and early in the spring of 1896 completed the structure. At this time the town was in need of an organized department and laid plans to fulfill this need. Through a series of meetings and committee building, the town formed a Fire Department with Burton K. Symonds as Chief, Jared B. MacLane, 1st Assistant Chief and W. F. Upton, 2nd Assistant Chief. John Geddes was chosen Foreman of the Company.