The destruction of two houses in Sanford village in 1873 led to the organization of a fire company. This building on the west side of Mechanic Street was Sanford's first fire station. Equipment in the early days was pulled to the scene of a fire by the firemen themselves. It was not until 1906 that the town finally purchased a horse to do the job. The following year the town authorized the Sanford fire company to have two horses. This photograph was taken in 1907 when the second horse was acquired. In 1911 this wooden fire house was replaced by a brick building on the east side of Mechanic Street.