OKO'S HALL

Rumored to be a schoolhouse dating back to the 1790s, the Okos Hall, in more or less its present configuration, has been at the corner of Washington and Middle Streets since 1850. It was then the home of the Washington Hook, Ladder and Sail Company, commonly known as Marblehead Sail, and its hand-drawn wagon. In 1862, the Marblehead Sails hand-drawn carriage became the first Marblehead Fire Company to be appropriated horses.
They earned a footnote in fire fighting history for their practice of draping old sails on the roofs of buildings near a fire. When wet down, the sails helped to extinguish flying embers. In 1890-1891 the Marblehead Fire Department was reorganized. The Gerry & Pickett hand engines were retired and the hook and ladder of Marblehead Sail was reassigned to the new School Street fire station leaving the building vacant.
In 1894 former hand engine volunteers formed a Veteran Firemens Association, and negotiated a lease on the former ladder house with the Selectmen. They purchased and refurbished the hand engine Phoenix #2 (an 1856 single dome Button) and entered the growing sport of Muster Competition as the Phoenix VFA. The Phoenix #2 was a dud and in less than a year the organization replaced it with the Okommakamesit #2, which showed great promise. In 1896, the Phoenix VFA joined the New England States Veteran Firemans League and won their first muster, along with a $350 prize. With the Okommakamesit, they would win league championships in 1903 and 1922. Today, the Okommakamesits remain the oldest continually active organization and engine in the New England States Veteran Firemans League. In 1908 the Phoenix VFA changed its name to the Okommakamesit Veteran Firemens Association. Housed in the same building for over 104 years, both the engine and the organization have come to be known simply as the Okos.

The Button & Blake Company of Waterford, New York built the Okommakamesit #2 in 1861. The engine was originally shipped to the Good Will Fire Company of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where it saw active duty. In 1869 it was traded back to Button & Company for a new steamer. The machine was refurbished and sold to Marlborough, Massachusetts where it was named the OKOMMAKAMESIT #2. From the Nipmuc Indian Tribe, the name means, planting area of many hills, and described what is known today as Marlborough. Decommissioned in 1886, the pumper attended few musters until acquired by Marblehead.

The engine is Button (serial) # 551. Using two ten-inch pistons, the Oko is capable of pumping over 200 gallons per minute. The brakes (pump handles) are 24 feet long and can accommodate sixty men. In its present competition configuration, it weighs 4,500 pounds. Its record stream is 254 8-1/4. The Okos Hose Reel was built by John Rumsey & Company of Seneca Falls, New York in the 1880s.