Miles N. Mason

January 17, 1942

Aide to District Chief Earl Vanderford was injured when the Chief's car struck a train while responding to an alarm at 1:30 p.m. on January 17, 1942. The accident occurred at the intersection of Chelsea Avenue and Payne Street. They were responding from Station 4 at 285 North Main Street to a shed fire at Shannon and Hyde Park. Railroad officials were charged in the incident with failing to have a flagman at the crossing. Mason was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he died about an hour after the accident. He had been with the department for three years. Miles Mason was 38 years old, married, and the stepfather of three children.