Oak Bluffs Firemen's Civic Association

01/29/2026

12/01/2025

While returning from a fire alarm on Narragansette Ave. toned out at 6:28pm last night, the crew of Engine 3 happenned upon an old man dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, who appeared to be hitchhiking. The crew offered him a ride and soon arrived at Healy Square where town officials were struggling to light the town tree. Santa offered a hand and the rest is history!

11/22/2025

From the Museum - Cottage City Fire
LODD November 21, 1894
Manuel Francis, Jr.

VINEYARD GAZETTE
COTTAGE CITY
Nov. 22, 1894

The events of the past week have saddened the hearts of many here in Cottage City. The downfall of one of its most respected citizens, and one who, so far as known, has always lived an upright and useful life. The burning of the Wesley House by its owner has given the community a shock from which it will take a long to recover. It causes men to look with suspicion and distrust upon their neighbors and friends and is calculated to do much harm. The bitterness toward Mr. Wesley for doing the criminal deed of setting fire to the hotel and endangering thereby the property of his fellow townsmen, is heightened by the fact that a young life has already been sacrificed by this rash act.
Yesterday afternoon Manuel Francis, Jr. died from pneumonia , caused by taking a severe cold from getting wet on the night of the fire while doing valiant service in trying to save the hotel from destruction. Mr. Francis was one of the members of the Steamer company, and was a very popular young man and much loved and respected by those who knew him. His brother, John Francis, met a similar fate from the effects of a cold contracted while trying to save the Highland House from destruction a year ago. These with other facts go to make the burning of the Wesley House one of the saddest event in the history of Cottage City.
In an interview with Mr. Wesley since the first he said “I don’t know how I could do it, but I was urged on by some irresistible force.” He was aroused to a keen perception of the awfulness of the deed and seemed filled with remorse. His family have the sympathy of the community. Mrs. Wesley is a woman who has tried to be a “helpmeet” and has always borne her full share of the burden of life. She is intelligent and fully realizes the awfulness of his situation. Mr. Wesley had a host of warm friends in the place who were glad to see him prosper, and who feel that this is a blow from which they can never recover; and while they would be glad to raise the fallen, the deed is considered so terrible and public sentiment is so bitter against the perpetrator that they are powerless to help him.

11/15/2025

From the Museum:

Another Serious Fire Visits Cottage City

This Time the Wesley House is the Object of Destruction

Cottage City, Nov. 14, 1894

About 10:30 o’clock last evening Capt. S.H. Norton and his son, H. L. Norton, discovered a suspicious looking person prowling about their store and premises at Eastville, and went from their residence, which is close by, to investigate. Upon their approach a man ran and to into a carriage and drove rapidly away.
Capt. Norton and his son, fearing that fire was the object, carefully examined their property, and then started for this section of the town to report to authorities the suspicious circumstances related above. Capt. Norton and son saw nightwatchman LaRoy S. Lewis, and giving information in the matter started for home, walking through County park. It was then early 12 o’clock. As they neared the opening into Commonwealth square they smelled smoke and found the Welsey House was on fire inside. They cried fire, and one of them rang the Methodist bell while the other found Capt. Lewis who pulled the alarm.
The firemen were promptly on the scene and did noble work. The conquered the fire inside the building and prevented its breaking through the outside walls. Fighting the fire in the dense smoke which filled their throats and lungs and almost overpowered them at time was not an easy task, but every may stood faithfully at his post. Had it not been for the efficient work of the fire department and a good water supply nothing would have been left standing in the track of the flames if they had got beyond control. The discovery of the fire by Capt. Norton was providential. The alarm was run in at11:55.
The house and furnishings are badly damaged by fire and water. It is impossible at this date to estimate the loss but it is fully covered by insurance. An insurance of $14,000 is held on the house and furnishings.
Mr. Wesley has the sympathy of the entire community. This house has been a monument to his energy and industry, every timber in it being paid for by the hardest labor and self-sacrifice. Why and one ca want to see the results of a man’s lifetime burned is a mystery.
There is one matter which should be attended to by the Camp Meeting Associate, if they have any interest in the welfare of the lease holders, and that is the removal of every post or incumbrance which obstructs the avenues. The chemical company was obliged to go around through Rock avenue to get to the fire, on account of obstructions in the public walks, causing much needless delay and loss of valuable time and in some cases perhaps the lost of the building. If this is not attended to at once the citizens should take measures for their removal for the sake of life and property.

From the Thursday, November 15, 1894 edition of the Vineyard Gazette.

10/30/2025

From the Museum:
HIGHLAND HOUSE BURNED
Cottage City Loses Another Large Hotel
Vineyard Gazette
October 26, 1893
Cottage City, Mass October 26th, 3:20am
Only the burning and smoking ember left to mark the spot where yesterday, in all its completeness, stood the popular Highland House.
At 12:20, midnight, the town was aroused from its slumber to witness another conflagration. This time the Highland House was the object upon which all turned their eyes as it stood out on the Highlands bluffs, clearly defined in the light of the moon and the bright flames which enveloped the north-east end and tower, and which, fanned by the strong wind blowing from the north-east, were soon to cause the destruction of the whole building. The alarm was rung in from box 34, at the old “Star office”. The fire was discovered by Mr. Lewis Bartlett and others who were returning from a dance in Vineyard Haven. When first see the blaze was small when compared to the size of the hotel, but before the fire department could cover the long distance the fire was under full headway. But had they been on the spot efforts to save the hotel would have been futile. The best of the burning structure was so intense that the buildings on the opposite side, at the head of the wharf, were scorched, and it was feared at one time that everything from the Highland House to New York avenue would be set on fire by the sparks which were carried over the avenue and rained down upon the houses to the westward of the burning house. The sparks lodged on roofs and ignited, but were put out by citizens and firemen, who were stationed along the line. The house or stock was purchased a short time since Messrs. Clofus Gonyon and A.G. Wesley of Cottage City, and John D. Flint of Fall River. But a small insurance was carried on the house , amounting to $6,000. The house was thoroughly renovated and improved last season at an expense of about $6,000, so that the loss comes very heavy on the owners.
Agassiz Hall was saved by the change of the wind which carried heat and blaze a little on side of it and covered the concrete drive with live sparks.
It was expected that the Selectmen will offer a reward for the conviction of the person or persons who set the fire, for it is the opinion of most of the people that fire is of incendiary origin, and a thorough investigation will be made.

Sheriff Jason L. Dexter left Edgartown for the scene of the fire at 3:30 o’clock this morning, and Deputy T.A. Dester was also sent for later in the morning. An investigation is being made quietly but vigorously.

08/09/2025

OBFCA tee shirts for all last night!

Ruby’s fits great-front legs through the arms of a medium!

Just 100 50th JAWS shirts remain in stock along with several Classic 2018, 2019 and 2021s

If you don’t see us on the street stop at the fire station corner of Wing Rd and County Rd.

07/24/2025

From the Oak Bluffs Fire Department Museum

(Nantucket) Island Review
Martha's Vineyard Matters (column)
August 7, 1878

FIRE!
Monday night, just before twelve o’clock, a glare of light flashed up beyond the Highlands, and the crew of “fire!” and ringing of the bells awoke the people, and sent them hurrying over to the scene of the conflagration, the reflection from which lit up the whole western sky, and Make Lake Antyony gleam like gold. The burning building proved to be a cottage on Pemelika Court, Prospect Heights, belonging J. & W. R. Wing of New Bedford. In forty minutes the cottage was flat to the ground. All theories as to the origin of the fire must as yet be but theory, as nothing very definite is known. A gentleman who had been fishing, and landed at Eastville, says that as he neared the house on his way home he saw a light in one of the rooms, and immediately after flames burst through the gable. A man was seen by him running from the house towards the woods. There is no doubt but that the fire was of incendiary origin. It will be remembered that the fire in the grass of a week ago was near this cottage, being fired to windward, so that the breeze might drive the flames upon it. By great effort, however, the fire was beaten out within a short distance of the house. It would appear like a deliberately planned destruction of the property. The cottage was valued at $1600 and partially insured.