Four Generations of Firefighters

The O'Neill's have a long tradition of firefighting and much of the information on this site is directly because of the writings and research of Deputy Chief Jim O'Neill (ret).

Jim O'Neill retired from the Fredericton Fire Department at age 56 with 8 years as a call firefighter and 30 years as a full time member. He also spent much time as a boy watching his father fight the many fires of the early 1900's.

1940 Auxiliary Firefighter: Note- It was necessary for a Call Fireman to supply a replacement; if he was out of town or unavailable to answer a general alarm.
1942 Joined Call Fire Dept. No 1 Hose Company.
1948 Appointed Captain of No I Company.
1950 Permanent Fire Department. No 1 Platoon, Central
1954 Captain of Platoon 3 at Central Station
1972 Deputy Fire Chief.
1977 Acting Fire Chief for several months after Chief Doherty retired.
1979 Retirement, November 1

Hood and Bill, 1938 Jim's father, Hugh 'Hood' O'Neill was a fireman most of his life. Born on February 13, 1888 and died March 20, 1966

From a very early age, Hugh was called Hoodie or Hood, possibly by his brothers, Frank and John. He carried this name all his life, in fact many people in Fredericton never knew his correct name was Hugh.

After leaving High School, Hood worked around his father's bakery on Regent Street, driving the bakery wagon; he hated working inside in the shop. One of his great joys was to be caretaker for horses owned by his father. This put him in contact with other horseman around the Fredericton Race Track.

He First entered the fire service as a call fireman on No 2 Hose Company in February 1909. His Fire service was interrupted in 1912 when he worked in Western Canada on bridge construction until 1915 when he joined the Canadian Army at Winnipeg and served overseas until the end of the war. While in the army he was with the artillery, where many horses were used to haul guns and ammunition, this kept him in contact with his great love, horses.

Hugh returned to Fredericton in 1919, was married to Gertrude Barry in 1920 and returned to the Fredericton Fire Department Call Force again with No. 2 Hose Company. In September 1929, when Under Fire Chief Roy W. Smith he was appointed to the permanent staff as driver of the horse drawn ladder wagon.

Hugh O'Neill was always very pleased to remember, seeing as a boy, the first fire horses used in the City of Fredericton and to be the driver of the last team in the City in the winter of 1938. From 1938 until the mid 1940's he was driver of the motorized ladder truck, but it is quite safe to record that driving the truck did not hold the same thrill as being up on the wagon holding the reins behind Bill and Doll the last fire horses.

On the death of Deputy Fire Chief Peter Finnegan, Hood was appointed Deputy Fire Chief a position he held until his retirement in, September 1956.


Jim's Grandfather, Hugh, was a member of the Irish Brigade, the Silsby Engine crew for many years, Fredericton's second steam operated fire engine. When this photo was taken, he was Assistant Foreman of Hose

Jim' Great Grandfather, Hugh, was at one time a member of the fire company in the west end of the city.

Jim's sons decided to break from tradition and pursued careers in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.