Dewey the Beloved Fire Horse
Fire Horses Dewey and Rex pulling a fire wagon, about 1919. [1989.044.0008]
Great Falls Tribune, Friday May 1, 1903:
HORSES SCARCE
It Seems Impossible to Get a Badly Needed Team for the Fire Department.
Chief French of the fire department returned yesterday morning from Fort Benton, where he had gone in hope that he might be able to purchase a team for the Central station. He was unsuccessful. He could not find a suitable team anywhere in that vicinity and saw only one horse that came anywhere near meeting the requirements, and that animal is not lively enough.
“We are up against it good and hard,” said Chief French, “and I have given up hope of securing a team at any place. I have had men looking for a team for several months, and thus far we have been unable to find, anywhere in the state, even one horse that is suitable and is for sale. We have scoured the state, and the departments of Bozeman, Butte and Helena have done the same, and they cannot get horses. Two months ago, buyers for the Chicago fire department were in Montana, trying to get horses, and they could not find what they wanted, though they visited every prominent ranch and went right into the heart of the country formerly noted for horses suitable for fire departments. The British army took all the good horses there were in the state and now men who formerly had horses for sale are trying to buy them and cannot get them, though high prices are offered.
“If we should finally get a team, we would probably have to pay $500 for it, for we must big against many others who are eager for the same class of horses — animals well bred, well built, high-lived, intelligent, weighing 1,400 pounds and from 5 to 7 years of age.
“We must have new horses very soon, as we have none in reserve now. The black team, at the North side station, are all right, but our Central station team is not adequate to the work. Old ‘Kid’ has now been in the service for 12 years and is 17 years old, and ‘Buck’ is 12 or 13 years old and bleeds freely when run hard. Either may break down at any time, and we must have a new team, but I don’t know where we are going to get them.”
When Chief French of the Fire Department had about lost all hope of finding a suitable fire horse to replace the aging horses Kid and Buck, the department finally found a grand white horse in 1903 to purchase from a farm outside of town.
The horse was named Dewey, and he would become the most cherished horse in the city of Great Falls.
Photograph of Dewey the Fire Horse by Rogers Photo, circa 1919. [1992.066.0230]
Dewey was a favorite horse of the firemen. He was described as prompt and well tempered, never stubborn in freezing or wet weather. He served the Great Falls Fire Department for 17 years.
At about 26 years old, Dewey was employed at the west side fire station alongside Rex. In his old age, the firemen were afraid to urge him to run for fear he would work himself to death in his harness.
In June, 1919, the city council approved the purchase of a motorized fire engine for the West Side station, replacing the last remaining horse-drawn fire truck in Great Falls. The council voted to relieve Dewey of duty and retire him from any form of work:
“He will not be humiliated by being put to work on a garbage wagon or in other tiresome work in the street department, but he will spend the rest of his life in the luxury of the prairie with nothing to do but eat and sleep.” Great Falls Leader, Wednesday, June 11, 1919
His partner Rex was not so fortunate. Young enough to still work, Rex became employed at the city water plant.
“Dewey Did His Duty” invitation to Dewey’s retirement party, sent to Mr. August Bergstrom. [2022.001.15]
Pages 3 and 4 of Dewey’s retirement party invitation and program. [2022.001.15]
Dewey was given a formal retirement party. A banquet was held for him at the Central station, presided by Mayor Louis Newman. Dewey’s feed box was placed at the head of the banquet table. Prominent citizens voiced Dewey’s praises, and children read poems to the old horse while he munched his oats and his dessert of sugar cubes. The banquet was attended by over 100 guests, including Robert Mentrum, the state fire marshal, State Auditor George Porter, Chief Friend Martin of Butte, and several other Montana fire department officials.
Many reports described Dewey’s demeanor during his banquet as “undoubtedly bored” yet impeccably well behaved, just as his service had been for 17 years.
“Dewey stood within a giant horseshoe untied and alternately ate, whiffled greetings to the speakers and dozed. When his oats had been eaten he reached for the lumps of sugar tendered by the guests at his end of the table, vastly more interested in the sugar than in the pronouncements of those who sought to put into words their admiration for him.” Great Falls Tribune, Wednesday, February 25, 1920.
News of Dewey’s retirement made way across the country. Helena, Montana, Grand Rapids, Michigan, San Angelo, Texas, and a Detroit Magazine “Our Dumb Animals” published Dewey’s retirement.
The old horse was visited by a self-appointed “Dewey Committee” of firemen who checked on him weekly to care for him. Though the opportunity rose for him to do work for the city, this idea was quickly snuffed out, and Dewey was given peace and rest as promised.
“With a field of rich forage as his domain, Dewey, retired fire horse since February 24, 1920, is enjoying life as only a horse of leisure can do. The big strapping horse, loved and respected by every member of the fire department, is living a carefree life on a ranch 12 miles south of Great Falls. He is looking fit, say the firemen who make trips to the ranch to see how Dewey is faring.
“It is nearly time for Dewey to be brought back to his winter residence, the city barn, although if the season continues fair, it will not be until the latter part of September when he is changed from his ranch home. Dewey’s caretakers visited the veteran horse last Tuesday, gave him medical attention, inspected his feet and in other ways displayed consideration of Dewey’s state of heath. Dewey, with plenty of grass and water at his disposal, together with the fact that he is immune from further work, has acquired a sleekness very satisfying to his custodians.” Great Falls Tribune, Friday, August 26, 1921.
On November 19, 1921, tragedy struck Dewey in the form of hooves. Dewey’s former partner Rex had kicked him in his thigh. The kick made a cut “seven inches long and five inches wide” on the about 29-year-old horse who’s health had been rapidly failing for the last month. The Great Falls Leader reported:
“…Dewey and Rex were being led out to water. They were teammates in the fire department for 10 years, Rex being 17 years old. But Rex was always dangerously playful, as fire horses are wont to be, and always had to be watched. He felt playful Monday night and he suddenly whirled and kicked at Dewey. In the olden days Dewey would have gotten out of the way, but he was too wobbly on his feet to avoid the sharply shod hoofs. Since Monday his death has been expected hourly.” Great Falls Leader, Sunday, November 20, 1921
Dewey was humanely euthanized by chloroform November 19, 1921.
Fire Chief A.J. Trodick made arrangements for Dewey’s hide to be taxidermized and eventually displayed with the fire wagon and his partner Rex (upon his eventual death). Trodick’s proposal before the city council, however, was not successful. While the aldermen agreed that it was a fine idea to preserve Dewey for years to come, they determined spending city funds on the estimated cost of $350 was too expensive.
Dewey and Rex hitched to the fire wagon. Rex in front, Dewey in back. [1992.066.0227]
-Ashleigh McCann, Collections Curator