Stark County OhArchives Obituaries.....Mesnar, Robert O "Bob" June 4, 1944 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynne Moffitt lfmwvu@aol.com February 27, 2013, 11:18 pm The Canton Repository, Canton, Ohio. Monday, June 5, 1944; p 1 & 2. Bob Mesnar, Fire Chief 36 Years, Dies in Retirement At Age Of 86 Retired Leader Had Served City For 66 Years; Rites Will Be Wednesday Robert O. Mesnar, a member of the city fire department for 66 years and one of Canton’s most colorful figures, died quietly early Sunday morning in his home at 133 35th at NE. In his 87th year, Mr. Mesnar, fire chief for 36 years, had been in failing health for several months, death resulting from infirmities of advanced age. Since retiring in 1936 he spent the time quietly working in his garden and visiting with his friends who called. He enjoyed recalling his early fire fighting days and would recount in detail how he directed his men in fighting some of Canton’s worst fires. During his 66-year career with the fire department Mr. Mesnar saw many changes of administration and some brought stormy times. He never played politics, however, his one purpose being fire protection in Canton. There was probably no other individual in Canton, who was known to so many people as Mr. Mesnar, and he packed many exciting experiences in his stormy career. The former chief’s service as a fireman dated back to 1879 when he joined No. 7 hose company which was quartered in a barn now the site of the Baltimore & Ohio warehouse. He was only 16 years of age when he witnessed the Cassilly Building fire on the southeast corner of Market ave S and Tuscarawas st. He assisted the fighters and was thrilled with the thought of becoming a fireman. It was only a short time before Bob Mesnar was admitted to membership to the No. 7 hose company at a salary of $28 a year. The youthful fire fighter later joined the Dunbar Hook and Ladder Co. stationed at 3rd st and Court ave SW. It had a 65-foot ladder which was pulled to the various fires by hand. Mr. Mesnar frequently recalled how the rear of the ladder on one occasion crashed into a saloon at Rex ave and Tuscarawas st E when one of the boys lost control of the tiller. It was when First Methodist church was damaged considerably by fire that Bob Mesnar first attracted attention. He refused to listen to the warnings to come down from the 65-foot ladder from which he was pouring a stream of water onto the flaming steeple. He explained at the time that he knew from the way the steeple was burning it would topple away from him when it fell. During his years as a volunteer fireman he was employed either at the Canton Wrought Iron Bridge Co. at the C. Aultman Co. and Diebold Inc. His first job paid 13 cents an hour. As soon as his work for the day was finished Mr. Mesnar would go to Cherry ave NE where competitions were held in ladder races and other types of fire fighting work. When the Wertz Carriage Co. plant on Cherry ave NE caught fire Bob Mesnar and William Cameron were trapped in the building. It was necessary to dig through a brick wall to release them. After 14 years as a volunteer, Mr. Mesnar was placed on the paid fire department in 1894 at $45 a month. The appointment followed exceptional work at the fire which destroyed the Rennick Printing shop on Mulberry rd SE. Mr. Mesnar alternated with three other paid members in firing the two boilers providing heat for the fire house, old market house building, city hall and patrol building. In winter their morning duties consisted of removing 25 – 30 bushels of ashes from the basement. On Feb. 27, 1884, he was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Maser and answered a fire alarm just a short time before the ceremony and three additional that night. Early in 1900 Mr. Mesnar was named fire chief by Mayor James H. Robertson. As chief he went to fires either on horseback or in a buggy. On one occasion the buggy upset and a wheel ran over Chief Mesnar’s leg. Infection set in and he was bedfast for many weeks. This injury caused him considerable discomfort during the remainder of his life. In 1914 Chief Mesnar suffered a skull fracture when hit by a falling beam at a fire at the Royal Brick plant. Early in 1930 the chief slipped on the ice at Boyer-Buchman plant fire, suffering several cracked ribs. His chest was taped and he returned to duty with only a few of his associates aware of the injury. One of the hardest battles was in 1918 when the Klein-Heffelman building in Tuscarawas was destroyed by fire. In his early days Mr. Mesnar was an ardent athlete, especially at basketball and track. Interested in bettering the lot of firemen he started the first pension and burial funds which were the forerunners of the present pension fund. Mr. Mesnar was the oldest member of the Nimisilla Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the oldest Odd Fellow in Ohio. Three years ago Nimisilla Lodge presented him with a jewel in appreciation of his 61 years of membership in their organization. He was also a charter member of the Loyal Order of Moose. During his 66 years as a firefighter Mr. Mesnar missed exactly 223 alarms. He was a life resident of Canton and was born in the family home at 4th st. and Walnut ave. SE. His parents were Edward and Eliza Mesnar. Mr. Mesnar is survived by two daughters, Mrs. L. E. Dencer of Canton and Miss Rhea Mesnar of the home; two sisters, Miss Jennie Mesnar and Mrs. Kate Homer of Canton and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Seesholtz Memorial in charge of Rev. J. H. Satterfield. Burial will be in Westlawn cemetery. The Odd Fellows will hold services at 7 p.m. and the Moose at 7:30. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/stark/obits/m/mesnar1506nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ohfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb