Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25
OLD-TlME FIRE COMPANIES
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS BY MIR. JOHN
j. PEABODY.
when District Was Divided Into Fire
wards-The Early Or
ganizRtiOns.

At the recent monthly meeting of the
Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association
at the old Union engine house. 10Th and H
streets, Mr.. John J. Peabody read a chap
ter relating to the early history of fire
companies in the District. He promised LIS
address by stating that most of the data
had been procured from the corporation
records and files of the National Intelli-
gencer
' Prior to the year 1900, he explained. Alex
andria which was one of the District cities
till 1876 had four fire companies-the
Friendship, of which General Washington
was a member, organized in 11I4, and
still in existence an association: the
Sun. organized In ITS; the Relief organ
lied in 1885, and in existence hook ana
Nladder company since 1866, and the Star,
organized In 1899.
In 1889 the citizens OF Georgetown, by
subscription. purchased a fire engine. but
1t does not appear that there was an or
ganiZed company. October 4, 1893 the
Georgetown corporation passed an act re-
citing that the engine had been offered to
the town with a provso that the engine
and buckets be kept in repair and some
competent person should be placed m
. charge and formally accepting the prop
CSition.
The first fire engines in Washington of
which there is record were those purchased
by the government under the act of May
Z. 1900, for the Treasury Department, for
whicE-the sum of $52141 was paid.
The first fire recorded here was in the
building occupied by the War Department.
on the avenue near 21st street. The struH-
ture entirely destroyed. Among those
who distinguished themselves, and Whom
the Intelligencer names, was Oliver Wo.-
colt. then Secretary of the Treasury. The
nexr fire was in the new east executive
building, occupied by the treasury, January
"a. 1901. in the rooms of the accountant.
Some of the offices were entirely burned
out. At this fire engine was used prob
ably one of those referred to as having been
purchased. and 1t is recorded that 1t uld
efficient service.
Two days after this fire a communication
in the Intellgencer referring to 1t suggest
Ned the establishment of a police force; that
the citizens be required TO provide fire
buckets: that fire engines be procured, and
the pumps be fitted with screws to the
pipes of fire engines, and the writer re-
queSted citizens Ito always have pound OF
birthstone ready to throw on their fires
whenever their chimneys are in flames. as
the vapor will smother the blaze and ex-
tinguiSh it,
Provision for Wards.
The act of incorporation of May 3, 1902,
adopts the division of the Levy Court as
to wards as follows: All south Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and west of 9th street west. the
first ward; all north of Pennsylvania ave
nue. and west of 9th street the second, and
all east Of 9th street the third ward. The
market Pennsylvania avenue between
9TH and 9th streets was established october
g. 1892, and the same act provides for one
west of the Presidents house. There was
Y market on New Jersey avenue south of
the Capitol. and authority was given. when
a majority of citizens south of street
and east of Delaware avenue should petit
ton, to establish another. This, it appears
was not done till 1906 when the act to erect
a market on Market House Square near the
navy yard was passed This fronted on *
Iafu erh 01I = STR h.
east and was called the Eastern Branch
market.
= January TO- 1893. the first act relating to
fires was passed. This required occupants
% houses to provide buckets, with penalty
for default; authorized the mayor to pro
cure ladders and fire hooks and required
the inspector of weights and measures to
see that the law was observed by visiting
each house twice every year.
The act Of June 10, 1903, directed the
mayor TO procure a fire engine for each of
.he marktts-the- Center, east and west.
July "a. 1Si the councils enacted a law
dividing the city into four wards, as fol-
lows: The city west OF 10th street. the first;
that portion perth of G. street between Sd
vest and 10Th street, the second, that por-
ton south of G. street south, the third, and
the rest Of the city least of Sd street west
3 anu north OF g street SOUTH, the fourth
fire ward The mayor was directed to APP
point citizen in each to call meeting
and organize q company. and these four
with one member elected by each company,
intendence. These directors were appointed
by Mayor Brent as follows: Thomas II.
ellis. James Hoban, Nicholas Noss and
Griffith COumbe.
the West market, August IL, with Joseph
Streck chairman. and Mr.. ellis serving
as secretary. Messrs. Streck, ellis and
John Woodside We're appointed to draft
rules. etc. An adjournment was had till
the 18th.
In the second fire ward a meeting was
called for the 2Oth of August at Rhodes
Hotel, at which James Davidson presided,
with John Hewitt secretary. Similar
action to that in the first ward was taken
and the name of Union was adopted. Sub
September s the following officers were
elected: James Hoban. president: Andrew
Way. IT., vice president: Washington Boyd,
treasurer, and James II. Kearney, secre-
tary.
The Personnel.
The engineers We're C!otworthy Stephen
son, Peter Lenox, Lewis Merlin and II
Langtry; firemen, John Hurst, Thomas
Thorpe, Thos. Carpenter, Henry HEREFORD,
John 2. Van Ness, and Joseph Calvert;
ladder men, John Akin, Orlando Cook,
George Moore. Hugh Boyd Thos Given.
John Dobbyn and Charles McNantz; senti-
nels Richard Forrest, John MCGOWAN Geo
Way, l.. Clephane and Thos Hertz; furni-
ture men, f. Fusby, 3. l.. Mccormick Ezra
Warden, Alex. Cochran, Robt. Tilley, VIM.
James and VIM. Thornton. John Hurst was
elected to the board Of superintendent.
A meeting was called by Mr.. Griffith
Coumbe, director OF the fourth fire ward
least of Sd street west and north of G.
street SOUTH TO meet at Stelle's Hotel in
September and preliminary action was
taken to form company. About this time
several communications appeare in the In
telligencer urging action by the citizens of
the third and fourth wards. At the meet
ing at Stelles Hotel John Coyle Henry
Ingle and Daniel Rapine were APPOINTED To
draft rules.
In the third fire ward (south of G street
SOUTH a meeting was held December 49,
1904 at w. r. Kings tavern near the
navy yard. Mr.. Peabody explained that he
finds but little in the files about company
in that section. and says that probably
most Of the able-bodied men OF that sec
ton were employed in the navy yard No
tices Of meetings were posted on the flag
staff
From the Intelligencer of August 49, 1908
1t is learned that on the 18th of that month
q fire broke out at Mr.. Wilson'S on E
street, which destroyed his and two ad-
Joining houses and communicated to the
house of McDermot Roe; but the fire was
soon got under by the splendid exertions