In the beginning of the twentieth century Putnam's fire department was without parallel in this section, having the latest horse drawn apparatus available. When Mr. W. R. Barber was elected May, he lauded the department for their high degree of efficiency and commented favorable upon the yearly fire loss which was less than $1,000. The annual appropriation for the department in that year was $4,800. Attempts were directed to reduce it to $4,000, but they were unsuccessful. Under the mayoralty of Mr. F. W. Perry, who succeeded Mr. Barber, the firemen held their fourth annual ball. It is interesting to note that the men spared no chances in case of fire, as they decorated the hall with chemical appliances and laid hose conveniently about.

There were four units in the department at that time, General Putnam Hook and Ladder, Protector Hose No. 1, Eagle Hose No. 2, and Mansfield Hose No. 3. The first assistant was Mr. P. M. LeClair, who was the first foreman of the Eagle Hose company, which is now Hose Company No. 2 and located at the North End. He held that post for four years when he was succeeded by Mr. Frederick Dumas, who in turn was followed by Mr. J. A. P. Gagne. Mr. Joseph Dussault was the next foreman, until Mr. Dumas became active again and was foreman for two years. When he retired, Mr. Philias Clouthier filled the position. Later Mr. Clouthier resigned, paving the way for the election of Mr. Dumas, who held that post until the summer of 1937, when he resigned. Mr. Dumas was one of the oldest men in the department and enjoys the distinction of having been a charter member.

About that time the following persons were members of the department: General Putnam Hook and Ladder Company, Archibald Macdonald, foreman and treasurer; Martin Welsh, assistant foreman; James Ryan, secretary; John D. Campbell, Grant Hopkins, A. S. Potter, Henry Welsh, William P. Murray, John McGuire, John O'Brien, Joseph Gagne, Richard Cotter, Mark Wilson, Frank Monahan, Michael Conners, Frank Murray, Thomas P. Ryan, Leander Wardell, Louis Whitney and Frank Sherlock. Protector Hose Company No. 1, C. D. Sharpe, foreman; Waldo Hopkins, assistant foreman; J. Richard Carpenter, secretary and treasurer; F. G. Letters, Irwin M. Tourtellotte, Fremont N. Bruce, Nelson LeClair, John Bird, Harry Sharpe, George Egan, Luther M. Keith, Walter Atwood, Reuben Sykes, Frank Brown and John Brennan.

Eagle Hose Company No. 2, Joseph Dusseault, foreman; Philias Clouthier, assistant foreman; Godfois Chaput, secretary and treasurer; Joseph Daigle, Joseph Gagne, Joseph Page, Henry LaFlamme, Fredrick Dumas, Joseph Lachance, Alfred Dumas, Alfred Bibeault, Eugene Paradis, Clovis Paradis, Narcisse Auger and George Benoit.

Mansfield Hose Company No. 3, A. P. Levitt, foreman; J. A. P. Gagne, assistant foreman; Philip Kingburger, secretary and treasurer; Michael Joy, driver; Joseph H. Maynard, John F. Carpenter, Napoleon Lucier, George P. Miner, Alphonse Bourcier, William fuller, Cortland Arnold, Joseph Tetreault, Onesime Montville, Fred Lizotte, Silas M. Wheelock, J. H. Sullivan, H. E. Levitt, Barrack K. Smith, Arthur Cockell, Dennis Cady, Michael Murphy, Theodore Boullay and William Murray.