Evening journal., 1896-12-23
4 JOYOUS CELEBRATION
Pleasant Gathering of Viii
mington's Fire Ladies'.
THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY
THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWEEN
TY-FlRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FRIENDSHIP FIRE COMPANY
OBSERVED AT THE COMPANY's
HOUSE LAST NIGHT.

HOUSE LAST NIGHT.
The one hundred and twenty first
anniversary OF the Friendship Fire
Engine Company was observed last
night In the cOmpany's house. at
Tenth and Shipley streets. The even
ing's exercises began with an address
by Charles c. Evans. president of the
company. After this Hamilton Lloyd
and L. E. Thompson rendered several
songs and selections on the banjo.
President Evans then invited those
present to the fourth floor, where am
excellent spread was set.
The banquet was served to more than
200 members and guests. The pretty
hall was enhanced with magnificent
floral decorations. Behind each table
was a splendid screen of plants and
flowers. and the gridiron Of the three
tables showed a varied color effect. An
orchestra added to the enjoyment Of
the occasion.
w. S. Hilles was to have made an ad-
dress, but he was called to New York
on legal business. After the feast the
diners sought the coy parlor, where
there was an exhibition of clog and
skirt dancing by A. p. Lohnor and d.
w Maloney.
Charles c. Evans read history OF
the company from its Incorporation. In
part it was as follows;
THE COAlPANY's HISTORY.
The Friendship Fire Company was
instituted on December %. 1775. On
that date a number OF citizens of the
town met and formed themselves into
an association known as the Friend
ship Fire Company, No. j, the object OF
which was the protection of their own
and their neighbors' property from de-
struction by IRE. They chose William
! Hemphill as their president. There
were sixty-three charter members
/ Each member was TO furnish two
/ leather buckets and one large wicker
basket for use during fire. Each mem
| ber was required TO place a lighted
candle in the front room Of his house
on the occasion of a fire at night to sig
Nifty that he had been notified and had
gone to the scene of the conaagration
If such light was not displayed mem
bers passing this members house were
required to stop and notify him of the
fire. At this time the borough of vii.
mington had in it's possession two
hand fire engines and the company pc
titioned for and was granted the use O.
| them. These two engines remained il
! the possession Of the Friendship Com
pany until 1910, when one was giyeI
to the Washington Company upon lt'
institution The other went to piece!
shortly after the fire at McIane's cot
ton mill at the southwest corner q
! Tenth and Orange streets Durins
that period running through the revo
lutiOnary war, fire matters came to ;
standstill Peace being declared, thu
company got down to business again
The company in 1884 petitioned for TIN
use of the Town Hall, at the corner @
Second and Market streets, for meeting
purposes.
The company met for the first timi
in public place there in October 1884
The meeting was presided over by Ban
croft Woodcoek The first house owne'
by the company stood on Sixth stree
near Market. It was removed in tn
year 1887 to a lot on Queen street (noy
Fifth between Market and Shipley
: The company occupied these quarter
, until 1S00 when they built a hous
on the northeast corner of Sixth an
| Shipley streets. The c0mpany's mex
move was in 1920 to a site now occu
j pied by the Smith Building on Marke
street between Sixth and Seventh. i
1886 it removed to Ninth and Shiple
streets, and in l849 TO Orange abov
, Tenth In 1859 the company made thei
= last move to their present quarters.
The exercises concluded with tn
, singing Of the hymn God Save tn
/, Dutch" under the direction Of Je
q Blakely.