I am taking off the rest of the weekend from writing and concentrating on research. Here is Tomorrows history post today.
Before the establishment of the Falmouth Fire Department, it was the citizens themselves who rallied together in times of crisis – fighting fires, disasters, and emergencies with whatever tools and courage they had. Falmouth has seen its fair share of history, and while we couldn’t possibly fit every major event into a single article, here are a few notable moments for our fellow history buffs:
McDonald’s Distillery Fire (1884)
On December 15, 1884, a devastating fire consumed McDonald’s Distillery, a flour mill, and a warehouse right here in Falmouth. The damage was estimated at around $40,000 , a tremendous sum at the time and none of it was covered by insurance. The fire was believed to have started when a column in the machinery burst. The equipment had only been in use a few weeks. Remarkably, despite the scale of the loss, plans to rebuild began immediately.
Source: nkyviews.com
Covered Bridge Fire (1926)
On September 23, 1926, the covered bridge spanning the Main Licking River in Falmouth caught fire and collapsed into the water. A smoldering trash pile near one of the bridge’s abutments was reignited by wind, and the flames spread quickly across the wooden structure. Firefighters did respond, but within just 25 minutes of the alarm, the bridge was gone. Until a new iron bridge could be built, the city was forced to operate a free ferry service.
Source: nkyviews.com
Falmouth Tornado (1968)
On April 23, 1968, an F4 tornado tore through Falmouth. It destroyed 180 homes and damaged another 380. Tragically, four lives were lost, and 91 people were injured. The storm hit so fast that residents had no warning ,there were no tornado sirens at the time. It remains one of the most devastating natural disasters in the town’s history.
Source: nkytribune.com
And of course, beyond these events, Falmouth has faced flood after flood since its founding. Through every generation, fire and emergency response has evolved. One thing has remained consistent: the bravery and selflessness of those who show up when the call comes. Our volunteer fire department and local first responders have built a long-standing tradition of answering that call. And they haven’t done it alone. Surrounding departments, including NPFD, have long stood beside Falmouth in times of fire, flood, and crisis. From mutual aid to shared manpower, their support has mattered.
A Rare Moment of Thanks
At The Whisper, we often find ourselves reporting on what’s broken – the corruption, the dysfunction, the things that need fixing. This is a thank you and a clarification. We are not trashing our first responders. We really are not trying to trash anyone. We are trying to demand accountability in systems that have little at times.
Today, we pause to recognize the sacrifices these men and women make. Emergencies don’t happen on a schedule, and when they hit, it’s these individuals who drop everything sometimes at great personal cost, to respond.
I’ve said it before in comments, and now I’ll say it on record: our first responders deserve better. Their pay, their resources, and their safety should never be an afterthought. Many go without proper gear. Many work dangerous hours on little rest and even less recognition.
And yes that includes the smaller things too. Let’s revisit an idea that came up after one of our most talked-about stories:
Why not hire someone to handle food, supply runs, and logistics for our responders during long shifts? That wouldn’t be a waste of funds, it would be support where it matters. It also would not cost that much on the budget.
As long as there’s life in this town, there will be emergencies. And thankfully, there are still those brave enough to face them head-on. We’re committed to supporting our first responders and holding them accountable when it matters.
Here’s to all the First Responders, past and present.
Let’s do right by them.
Whisper One Out