The "Hand Tub" "was the second hand pump used for fighting fires in Houlton.

The first one was much smaller but carried a barrel of water on it from which the pump drew its supply. When the barrel was being emptied, more was poured into it from anybody's pump near by.

With this "Hand Tub" and a bucket line from the reservoir in the square, citizens fought a fire which burned all the south side of Main Street including the Nickerson or Fishman Block to Kellerman Street. This was before any organized fire department was in the town. (Descriptive note in the Berry scrapbook.)