Fire Musters started in this country in Bath, Maine in July of 1849. It is the oldest recreational sport in the country. Marblehead’s, Okommakamesit, the "Oko", has had a long proud tradition of participation and today, 130 members of Okos carry on the proud tradition for Marblehead.
What is a Muster? It is defined as a gathering of antique equipment for the purpose of display and competition. But for most participants, Musters mean something a little more. Fire Musters have come to mean lasting friendships between people and organizations who normally live and operate great distances from each other. Through the competition and camaraderie comes a mutual understanding and friendship that few other activities seem to generate. Those Fire Departments and Apparatus Buffs who participate in Fire Musters are able to establish a rapport with others who partake in the events, enjoy some friendly competition, and help each other out. (buffalofire.com).
Marblehead’s Okommakamesit is a Button & Blake hand-pumped fire engine (a handtub) built in 1861, that carries the serial number 551 It is owned and maintained by The OKO V.F.A. and still actively competes in musters held all around New England every summer with other hand-pumpers in the New England States Veteran's Firemens' League (NESVFL).
It was originally given the name "Good Will” and served in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania until the end of the Civil War when it was traded in 1869 for a steam fire engine and sold to Marlborough, Massachusetts. Its name was changed to Okommakamesit #2, replacing a 5" Howard & Davis machine of the same name. The name for the engine came from the local Nipmuc Indian language and means "City of Hills". The engine house for the 10" button hand tub was located at 110 Pleasant Street close to the present day Pleasant Street Fire Station in Marlborough. While in Marlborough, the engine attended it's first muster on October 7, 1869 at Milford, Massachusetts. The engine was retired from fire service in March of 1886.
On April 5, 1895 the Okommakamesit was sold to the Phoenix Veteran Fireman's Association of Marblehead, Massachusetts. One of the first things the engine did when it arrived was to help the Phoenix VFA celebrate it's first anniversary. In June of 1896 the organization joined the New England States Veteran Fireman's League. On September 7th, 1896 the Phoenix VFA got it's first muster win with their new engine, beating out 11 other engines at a muster held in Essex, MA with a stream of 216' 11 3/4". In 1903 the Phoenix VFA won the New England League Championship at a muster in Salem, MA at which 51 engines attended. On August 20, 1908 the Okommakamesit #2 participated in the largest hand fire engine muster ever held in Lowell, Ma where 63 engines competed. The Oko's finished well in 13th position with a stream of 205'11".
In 1909 the organization voted to change it's name from the Phoenix VFA to the Okommakamesit Veteran Fireman's Association. The 1920's proved fruitful for the organization including winning 3 musters in 1920 and 6 in 1922' winning thousands of dollars in the process. By the end of the 1920's, the country was plunged into a depression, and the number of musters each year dwindled. In 1933 no muster were held at all and in 1934 and 1935 very few contests were held to due the countries economic problems. Just as musters started pick up again in the later part of the decade, however, the United States of America entered World War 2 and the hand engine muster would take a backseat. A muster was held in Boston, Ma on August 16, 1941 and they would not gather again for almost 5 years.
In 1946 the soldiers returned from war to man their engines and musters once again became a frequent occurrence throughout the northeast and the Oko's were a big part of it. A new era was dawning for musters in 1946 for the muster game. For the first time the league split the engines into 2 classes with Class A having cylinders over 7" and Class B cylinders under 7".
During the 1950's, 60's and 70's the Oko's were a regular at musters all over New England. The 1960 were good to the Oko's winning close to $1700 in 1962 and 1962 and the now famous Oko's Bagpipe Band was formed. On June 6, 1961 the Oko's won a muster at Salem which was overshadowed by the death of Foreman Albert April of the Essex handtub when the dome on his machine exploded. As the 1960's came to a close, the Oko's organization was on the decline. The interest in the Oko's was waning and it reached near extinction by the mid 1980's. By 1985, the organization was bottoming and almost lost it building when it fell in such disrepair that the Town of Marblehead almost had it torn down. Through the diligent efforts of a few good men the build and machine was saved and started a revival. On July 28, 1990 the Oko's were back, winning the League's Centennial Celebration Muster at Newburyport and bringing home $1000 in gold, one of the largest prizes in modern day musters. Since that win, the Oko's have been been to just about every league contest and recently won their first muster since 1990 at a muster in Georgetown MA. on September 19, 1998. The longest stream for the engine is 254' 8 1/4" and it has won $36,106.25 in muster competition placing it 3rd on the all time list of money winners.
Patty Pederson, Second VP of the Marblehead Museum, Marblehead, Massachusetts, recently had the opportunity to watch the Okos League practice their sport down at Redd's Pond and had the honor of interviewing some of its members.
Q. What makes this league so special and unique to Marblehead?
A. Bill Ward: What makes this special is the bond of these guys
competing and carrying on the proud tradition for Marblehead. We hope to keep this tradition going for many generations to come. We hope that new members will care enough about this to pass on this tradition to their children and grandchildren.
Q. What is the mission statement of the oko button #155?
A. Earl Doliber, Club Secretary and original Marblehead family member: To promote harmony, establish order, secure success, and continue that friendly feeling with each other that has existed for many years.
Q. Who are the executive board members?
A. Harold Hansen, President, Earl Doliber, Secretary, along with Richard Bartlett, Paul Bartlett, T. Forman, and Bill Ward, delegate. Tommy Blackler whose relative is related to John Glover.
Patty noted that each participant in the League are proud to be a member of the Okos and to compete and carry on this rich tradition for Marblehead. Patty wants to emphasize to the newcomers to this beautiful town that may not have heard of this group, or even know what a muster is, that she hopes to change all this by getting the word out about this League. She feels lucky to be a part of this town and its history and honored to know this outstanding group of men.
The Oko V.F.A. would like to extend an invitation to all to attend a muster this year. It's a great sport the oldest in the country and a fun time for all young and old, pack up a lunch bring the kids and enjoy the show. They are always looking for new members, to win championships takes horse power and they can use all the help they can get. They invite you to take a look around their website: www.okos.org to learn more about them, their organization and their fine hand-engine.
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