From the Ipswich Tribune Thursday, May 30, 1935 edition

Present Ipswich Fire Department formed in 1922; Herrick Chief

Early boom towns usually had many poorly constructed buildings which in most cases proved to be fire traps or at least good material for destructive fires. Ipswich was no exception. The town succeeded probably as well as most pioneer towns in fighting fires with bucket brigades.

The result of such hazardous conditions was that the town had several destructive fires which wiped out a large part of the business section.

As early as 1886 or ’87 when the own had sunk an arte...