The transition from horse-drawn fire engines to motorized trucks at Station No. 11 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Ottawa’s firefighting history, marked by technological ambition, financial debates, and a bittersweet farewell to the era of fire horses. This shift began in earnest in 1911, when Chief John Graham, a forward-thinking leader determined to modernize Ottawa’s fire department, championed the purchase of the city’s first motorized fire engine. Pressure from insurance companies, which threatened to raise premiums unless Ottawa adopted modern equipment, accelerated the change. Chief Graham’s advocacy culminated in the acquisition of a Seagrave combination chemical and hose truck from Walkerville, Ontario, for $7,850—a decision that prioritized cost efficiency over his initial recommendation of a more expensive Webb Motor Fire Apparatus model from Missouri.

The Seagrave truck, a four-ton behemoth with an 80-horsepower engine, represented a technological leap. It could carry ten firefighters, 1,000 feet of hose, two 35-gallon chemical tanks, and a 12-foot extension ladder, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph on flat terrain. Public demonstrations in May 1911 showcased its capabilities: crowds gathered as Chief Graham, two deputy chiefs, and a crew rode the truck through Ottawa’s streets, its shrieking siren heralding a new era. Fireman James Donaldson of Station No. 9 was trained to operate the vehicle by Seagrave instructor C.E. Fern, mastering its novel controls and pneumatic brakes. Yet the transition was gradual. Horses like Bob remained indispensable for heavy loads and icy winters, coexisting with motorized trucks for over a decade.

By the 1920s, the financial and operational advantages of motorization became undeniable. Maintaining 46 fire horses cost the city $4,600 annually in feed alone, not including stabling, veterinary care, or harness repairs. Motorized trucks, while pricier upfront (7,850 vs. $5,000 for a horse-drawn steamer), required only gasoline and occasional maintenance. The final blow to horse-drawn firefighting came in April 1928, when Station No. 11’s team responded to the catastrophic Russell Hotel fire, the last major incident requiring horsepower. By year’s end, the Ottawa Fire Department retired its final horse team, selling all but Bob, who was pensioned in a gesture of respect. City Controller Tulley’s opposition to funding Bob’s retirement ignited public outrage, with a labor delegate famously quipping at a 1928 meeting: “Should old employees be shot too?”

This quote is documented in the September 25, 1929, edition of the Ottawa Evening Journal, which reported Bob’s death and retrospectively covered the 1928 debate. It reflects broader labor movements of the time, where workers’ rights (and by extension, animal welfare) were increasingly debated. 

Bob’s death in 1929, front-page news in The Ottawa Evening Journal, symbolized the end of a 55-year chapter. His story, intertwined with Station No. 11’s shift to motorization, reflects broader societal changes: the rise of industrialization, the decline of animal labor, and the relentless pursuit of efficiency. Today, the Seagrave truck’s legacy lives on in Ottawa’s fleet of 45 modern stations, but Station No. 11’s preserved architecture—its horse-friendly bays and hose tower—stands as a silent tribute to Bob and the equine partners who once galloped through Hintonburg’s streets.