In February of 1874, citizens meeting held with the purpose of “securing a fire apparatus for fighting fires”. By March, the group had decided upon purchasing a hand-pump style fire engine at a cost of $1,600 from the L.M. Rumsey & Co. of St. Louis. On May 15, Mr. Rumsey himself visited Perryville to give a trial demonstration on how to properly work the machine.
Though the new fire truck had arrived, the town was still without an official fire department, but by the following day, a crew of about 10 men was appointed the safekeeping of the city.
The men, though new to the job, began practicing immediately. The first recorded practice was published in The Union newspaper on May 15, 1874. The men were reportedly “out with the machine” at 6 p.m. for practice by order of the foreman, and again were out practicing the middle of June. Soon after that, the first fire engine house was ordered built on the northwest corner of the courthouse lawn, near to where the Republic-Monitor office sits today.