In 1869 the cotton mill formerly located here purchased a steam pump capable of drawing 600 gallons of water per minute from the river for fire suppression. The company offered its use to fight town fires on the condition that the community provide the hose. This was before water was brought from Berry Pond and made available through fire hydrants by the Pittsfield Aqueduct Company. Sometime after 1916, this steam pump was purchased for use exclusively by the mill. Manufactured by the Worthington Pump and Machinery Cooperation of East Cambridge, Massachusetts, it could throw 750 gallons of water per minute.