Museum (DUP) Personnel
Personnel
Grant, Edward (The General, 1877 – 1902)
One of the early firefighters was Edward Grant, a pump maker who owned the shop at the corner of Reeve and Peel Streets. He was affectionately known as the “General”. Born in 1846 in Hampshire, he immigrated directly to Woodstock at the age of 25 and served as a fire fighter for 25 years. He was the foreman in 1902 when he was one of the men asked to resign by city council. In 1906, he fell from a ladder while picking apples and died some 12 days later.
Johnston, George (1881 – 1911)
George Johnson served in the volunteer brigade when the men still used the hand pump to get water from any nearby source to fight the fire. He served under Captain James Sutherland in his early days. At the Hay Factory fire in 1881, George suffered burns to his face. He was one of 15 young men who were a part of the brigade in 1881 and under the first chief McKee. George Johnson replaced McKee as Fire Chief on April 11, 1884 when McKee resigned to become a provincial detective. April 15, 1892 was the happy occasion of the marriage of Fire Chief George Johnston to Kate Henderson at 18 Oxford Street. Johnson was paid $40 in 1907 for serving as chief before Borland arrived. He was Assistant Chief in 1907 under Borland.
On March 30, 1910 George fell from a ladder while fighting a roof fire at the J. B. McKay Blacksmith shop on Dundas Street. On April 7, 1911, George Johnston resigned from the department due to his poor eye sight. He had been on the brigade since the volunteer brigade. He was given a gift of $100. He died on January 6, 1916.
Murray, Edwin (Edward) (1921 – 1931) 
Edward Murray was born in North Oxford Township near Dickson’s Corners, but due to the early passing of his parents he moved west to live with his uncle Charles Lunn. At the age of 17, he was one of the first Canadians to enlist for the Boer War and served the entire campaign in South Africa. When he returned to Canada, he served on a ranch in the west and also worked on the railroads for some time. He joined the Edmonton Fire department where he remained for 18 years. In 1921 he left Edmonton to come to Woodstock as Fire Chief and soon became dearly loved by everyone in Woodstock. His excellent record of fire losses speak of the caliber of his leadership and firefighting abilities with an eye to prevention. He instituted regular fire inspections of factories and businesses. He brought the message of fire prevention to youth in the local schools and held fire prevention classes for Boy Scouts. He cared for the needy and worked diligently to improve the preparedness of the department to serve the city in both fire prevention and fighting fires efficiently. He was called “Santa” by the Sentinel-Review writers.
Hayes, Graham Stafford (1920 – 1946)
Graham Stafford Hayes was born in Kingswood near Bristol, and worked in the mining town Cwm in Wales for nine years before coming to Woodstock with his wife Louisa and their children in 1919. Louisa’s sister was already living in Woodstock. Graham worked for a little while with the Concrete Pipe Company and joined the fire department on April 20, 1920, when there were still horses in use and before the arrival of the first truck. In 1922, Hayes was injured in an accident when the fire truck was responding to a grass fire on Cedar Street and hit a curb, overturning the Combination Truck at the corner of Wilson and Peel Streets. Hayes was hospitalized with cuts and bruises. In December of 1931, he was promoted to captain after the death of Chief Murray.
Graham became deputy chief in 1940 and Fire Chief in 1946. He died in 1946, leaving his wife, six children — three boys and three girls — and several grandchildren. He was 60 years old when he died at the Woodstock Hospital on December 7, 1946, after several months of poor health. He was a member of the Sons of England Lodge and an adherent at All Saints Anglican Church, where the funeral service was held on December 10.
Smith, James P. (1938 – 1971)
James P. Smith was born in Woodstock and was involved in local sports, until he moved to Kenora to play right wing for the “Thistles.” In 1928, he played hockey for the Hamilton Tigers and scored his first professional goal against Niagara Falls. He had played a few games of pro hockey in the NHL with teams such as Hamilton, Buffalo, St. Paul and Chicago. In 1938, he retired from hockey and returned to Woodstock to join the Fire Department.
James had a love for film and operated a “Little Theatre” in the basement of his home, with a six-foot screen and projection equipment. He would often be involved in showing his films to young people or various kinds of events such as the Optimists sons and daughters banquet. James was also well known for his work at the arena, providing free skating for local children.
After 28 years of service in 1966, he was made a captain on the force. In 1969, he was given a 30 year service award and then retired in December 1971. Art Hardy, the acting chief at the time, said, “The Captain in my opinion has been a true and dedicated servant of the citizens of Woodstock through these years.” He died in Woodstock on May 3, 1983.
