The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-14

The Relief. with its first engine. was
located in Fairfax Street adjoining the
First Presbyterian Church, and remain
ed there until about 1910. when 1t re-
moved to a finer house, a two-story
frame, with a hall above and an engine
room below in Fairfax Street about 100
feet north of Duke Street. There it re-
manned until the period of new houses
in the SOS, when ii erected a fine three
story engine house with steepIe and bell
in Prince Street at the point now Oc-
cupied by the company as a hook and
ladder house. After the war for the
Union this house had become dilapi-
dated. the third story was breaking off
and it has since been very much i'm
proved
The city council has purchased for
the company a large lot on the east os
the present house, and there in the near
future will probably be erected the finest
hook and ladder house in the State Of
Virginia.
Columbia Fire Company.
The Columbia Fire Company is the
successor Of the former Star Fire Com
pany. which was organized by leading
citizens. many OF them members % the
ington Street at what is now the south
east corner Of Christ Church lot The
/ bricks of the pavement turned on edge
and differing from the other pavements
I Of the neighbOrhOOd still show the ex-
| act spot over which the Star engine
( passed in going out and returning from
1 fires.
The Star was removed during the SOS
! 2 he 81 - -
Asaph Street, about $50 feet south of
Prince Street. and there the Columbia
! Company was Installed with steam
fire engine and began the effective work
which it has continued until the pres
ent\ day. The company soon erected
/ nearly opposite its quarters a superb
/ fire engine house. which II now occu-
pies, and the old -house, which still
stands, Is given over TO business pur-
/ poses.
/ The new house, to which has been
added a handsome steeple. extending
over the side alley. and many other i'm
/ provements, Is now one of the points
from which Alexandria expects safety
I in case Of fire.
| The Reliance Fire Company which
succeeds the Hydraulion. was organized
in 1903, and its history may be written
in the few words. 1T has always done
its duty" 1t occupies the house figured
and described in this article.
In Early Days.
| Even before Alexandria was laid out
! or single house erected within its linn
its, some provision was made against
fire in the future town, for its charter
provided against such danger of fire
that might occur from the erection Of
! wooden chimneys, as was then custom
airy in small cabins in the country, where
even headless flour barrels were used
to carry off the smoke
Tie charter forbade the erection OF
wooden chimneys within the limits OF
the new town. Nearly all the buildings
were frame, but they had brick fire.
places and chimneys, and out of the
hundred or more houses which had been
built in Alexandria up t. f772 only about
ten were of brick or stone There is
no record of fires before the Revolu-
uonary war. but the flames must fave
done considerable damage. as in 1774
one fire company the Friendship, was
formed, and in ITO another. the Sun
was organized.
The first recorded fire of any import
Union and Duke Streets, the only
record Of this cOnfiagration extant being
an order for the payment OF money by
the mayor to several colored men who
had distinguished themselves in extin-
gushing the flames. In 17SS, as stated
elsewhere. the Relief was organized
and in 1879, just before Alexandria went
into the District OF Columbia, the Star
Fire Company was organized
King Street Company.
The first company established after
the town became part of the District
of Columbia was the King Street Fire
Company, afterward called the Ores
cent Fire Con pany, which grew out oil
the desire OF the residents of upper
King Street to have an engine in theil
neighborhood. Afterward the Friend
ship united with the Crescent and be.
came the up-street company.
Previous to that, in 1877, the city coun
Gil had purchased large fire hooks anC
, ladders, which were hung up in the
market square There We're truly gi
gantic implements. 1t took four meI
to carry one of the ladders and as many
TO carry one of the larger fire hooks.
This was the condition of the fire de
partment from the time Alexandria be
, came the District city on the 9th o.
= February 1901, to 1927.
/ In January of that year. a very cold
windy day, fire occurred in the real
Iof a furniture factory standing OF