Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-25
4 rErERAv FIRE COMPANY.
The 18TH Anniversary of the Friendship
Fire COmpnny--Its History,

4 IRE tbHhphily--its History.
A The Friendship Fire Company cele-
, DRAFTED its 10th anniversary Monday. II
, ended by banquet and speeches III the
engine house at night. The Friendship
company is No. | of the Wilminpbnfre
department. 1t was organized on Decem-
Der 22d, l775, and is therefore six months
older than the nation. Thirty years after,
IN 1903. it was incorporated. William
Hemphill was the company's first presi-
dent and its early members were the then
prominent citizens of the town.
Each member pledged himself to furnish
two leather buckets and large wicker
basket, for use during fire. The buckets
We're used to carry water to put out the fire
and the baskets TO carry articles saved to a
place OF safety, Each member was also
required to place lighted candle in the
'front.' window Of his house on the occasion
OF fire at night, to signify that he had
been notified and had gone to the scene of
the confiagration. If sach a light was not
displayed members passing the members
mouse were required to stopand give notice
The following citizens were the charter
members OF the company: Jacob Broome,
Israel Brown, Nicholas Way George
Harvey, John Thelwell, John White,
Patrick O'Flinn, Joshua Jackson, John
Marion, Daniel ]. Adams, John Moore,
Philip Bonsall, Francis Robinson, John
Mckinley, John Ferris David Brinton,
Henry. Troth, Benjamin Alricks, William
pluright, John Springer, John Betson,
David Park, Henry Paschall, Nathan
Miner, William Woodeock, John Tripp,
Robert Hamilton, Joseph Gilpin, Jona-
than Rumford, Jacob Frssll. Ban
croft Woodcock, Joseph Warner, Will
liam Cook, Obediah Dingee, Nathan
Mood, James Brobson. Ralph Walker,
Thomas Crow, Joseph Summell, Joseph
Townsend, Vincent Gilpin, Peter Bryn-
berg, Benjamin Mendinhall, Nicholas Sell
lers, John Clark, Joseph Lawson, Thomas
Wilson, James Robinson, Jr., Bczalel
Motley; George Speakman, Samuel Bush,
Henry Reynolds, William Robinson, lJoco2b
Sellers, Thomas Jefferis, John Bush,
Joseph Dawson, Joseph Poole, John Way
William Hemphill, John Fondray, James
Gilmore, James Lee. lr., Thomas May
James Gibbons, William Poole, John
White, Arthur Thomas BENJAMIN. Cook,
John Kendall, Jr., Timothy Hanson, viii
liam Wilson, James Jackson Peter Justice
The borough of Wilmington owned two
hand fre engines at the time the company
was organized. The following record
shows how they came into the possession
OF the new fire company:
WILMINGTON. DEL, Dec. 22d, 1T75, 8 O'clock
p. m.-Ihe burgesses and assistants met a
petition was presented by Elisha Jones ,Jona-
than Rumford and John Ferris, In behalf OF
the Friendship Fire Company, praying the
burgeases and assistants would grant tho come
pahy the care and possession OF the two fire
engines belonging 10 ths borough in order
thereby to exc else them and tho said COM
pnny to be Ia readiness to act in any part OF
, me town IN ease Of IRE his part OF the pet.-
tloh appearing reasonable IL granted.
These engines remained in the possession
OF the company until 1870 in which year
one was given to the Washington Fire
Company. In 1858 the other went to pieces
from long use, shortly after being iii SER
vice at a. fire in McCann's cotton mill,
Tenth and Orange streets.
In 1874 the first public meeting of the
company was held in Common Hall, over
the Second street market house. This hall
was also the meeting place Of the Town
Council. In 1857 the first building owned
by the company, which stood at Sixth and
Market streets was torn down. The COM
pany then petitioned the Town Council to
provide its engine place of shelter.
The record Of the Council meeting of
October Sth, 1887, show that the engine
house was then located on q lot of Joseph
Warmers, on Queen street (now Fiftf
corner of Market, where the Central Bank
now stands. Joseph Warner agreed not
to charge any rent for the ground, and the
Council paid the expenses Of the removal.
II was agreed that in case Joseph Warner
should want to erect building on The lot
the Council would remove the engine house
on ten days notice.
The house was built of frame one-storv
high; i was pulled down in 1900 and 4
new building, two-stories high, surmounted
by belfry, erected at the northeast
corner Of Sixth and Shipley streets. The
company's next move was in 1920 to Il new
house on the site Of the Smith Building
on Market street near Sixth. This was the |
home OF the company until 1916 when it |
removed to Ninth and King streets The |
next removal was to Orange street above
Tenth and from therei in 1859 to the present |
house on Tenth street.