Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12

lhe engine after ten years OF service needed
repairing. and $40 was appropriated for the
purpose and a new reel carriage and / 900 feet
OF hose were purchased at an ex pense of 81 900.
The company soon came to the conclusion that
the old house was not suitable for the new ap-
paratus and petitioned the corporate author
tiles for new building. in which effort they
we're successful September 16 1S43 the
mayor was authorized to have the frame build
ing then occupied by the vigilant Fire Com
psny sold at public auction and the proceeds
of sale paid to the order of the president Of the
company, to be applied toward the erection of
better accommodation OF the apparatus
Of the company. The house was pur-
chased by George ". Halter and moved across
the street to the site formerly occupied by the
Georgetown Advocate printing Office. which was
destroyed by fire. and converted into a dwell
ing, now known as No. 1919 32d street, owned
and occupied by the family of j. W.
Gross The engine was temporarily quartered
in the drive way of Lang's II otei adjoining and
east OF the present No. engine house on NJ
street. The driveway has since been inclosed
and is now occupied as a barber shop. The
1874, and occupied by the companv-Henry
King as president and Ohio Muncaster vice
president. January 29, 1S4S, resolution was
passed that John Meyers, Vim. II. Edes, Jos. Libbey
Levi Davis, Henry King, O. 2. Muncaster and
p. II. Donelan be a committee to form new
company for the vigilant fire engine and when
In their judgment a sufficient NUM- Der Of names
are enrolled they are hereby authorized to
organize and take charge of the said apparatus
under the laws regulating the fire companies of
the town. The company was recognized in
due season and the engine house received q
general overhauling. July "A, 1862, the
hydraulion engine was disposed of and 81 200
appropriated to purchase a sporting and sue
ton engine and February Is, 1860, $500 was
appropriated to purchase a new hose. carriage
and connections.
ORGANIZING THE NEW DEPARTMENT..
July "a, 1856, an ordinance was passed ap-
pointing William T. Duvall, Francis Wheatley,
Anthony Rodier and John Fowler fire commits
sioners to serve four years and reorganize the
fire department, which should consist of one
steam fire engine, engineer, hostler, foreman
and SIX paid extra men and ten men without
nay and chief OF the fire department The
steam fire engine arrived in March, 1867, and
after several trials was accepted and named
the Henry Addison. The Vigilant companv
was succeeded by the new company on April i.
1867, and known as fire company No. l.
Monday afternoon, April IA, 1867. at the first
alarm Of fire citizens from all parts of the city
collected to witness the working of the new
steam engine. The fire was on Analostan
Island and originated in the house originally
built of stone in 1907 by Gen. John Mason of
Virginia. When the new engine reached the
river the fire commissioners fearing the ferry
scow was not strong enough to convey the engine
across abandoned the trip, much to the disgust
OF the citizens and hremen. They, however, did
not wait long to see the new engine work.
Early Sunday morning, April 20, 1867, fire was
discovered in the Butchers Market and Lang Q
stable near the engine house. The loss was
about 81 500, and a reward Of $500 was
offered for the incendiary. In the spring
of 1871, when the corporation Of Georgetown
was succeeded by the new form Of government
for the District Of Columbia, the fire depart
ment was recognized ard the &c georgetown COM
pany was then designated as fire company No.
), which continued to occupy the Vigllant en-
CINE house until November II, 1888, when they
moved to their new quarters in the
old Town Hall The Town Hall, which
the corporation, was purchased April
i, 1916, and in 1883 converted into an engine
| house, which il one of the most complete in
the District. 1t is of brick three stories high
| and contains eight spacious rooms. The equip
ment consists of one Clapp d Jones engine
iourth class; one hose carriage, six horses
known as Nos II, 81. 80, 81, 81 and l03. The
nfe marshars carriage is also stationed here
| Inc company il composed of John ID. Kurtz
| foreman; John T. Young, assistant foreman; J.
y. Angel. engineer; j. II. Dean, fireman; ]. H
nahorney, hostler; r. r. Allen, ]. 7. Reynolds
| c. E. Harper, W. J. Mahorney and ID. OCon.
| nell, privstes
FIRE ALARM BELLS.
In the year 1924 the advisability of purchss.
ing . dre alarm bell to warn citizen, and mem.
bers Of the fire department was considered nv
the corporate authorities, and after negotiat.
ing with several firms . cast steal he'll vas npr.
| chased and the contract for purchasinQ the
necessary fixtures and placing 10 ON the house
then occupied BY the corporation was Awarded
| September 1. lass, Ssoo vss spurour,.s.d ia,
i ~ DngohAao Il Nm ILL vS{oh -. is~.~S