The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-09
HISTORY LINKED
With that OF CITY
Old Quarters Of Manchester Fire
Department Used Tor Many
Purposes.
ONCE SERVED AS COUNTY JAIL
Big Fight for Consolidation Was
Finally Won i'll Famous
Building.

The old quarters of the Manchester
Fire Department. which have been or
dcrcd sold and demolished by the
Buildings. is closely identified with the
history Of crstwhile Manchester. 1t
has been used for nearly every pur-
pose imaginable-1ail. City Hall, lodge
hall, courthouse, engine house, etc
and now is to be destroyed to make
way for Washington Park, which Is to
be formed out OF tho old Courthouse
Square,
Little can be discovered in regard
TO the age OF the building but 1t was
certainly erected before tho time OF
the Oldest fnhabitant. It's age is gen.
one hundred years. 1t was built orig.
inaily by the county OF Chesterfield
before Manchester was incorpora ted
and dissolved her connection with this
county. tho ground floor being used ..
quarters for the Hope Volunteer Eirs
Company" and tTo second story as n
iail for the county court. which met
at that time in Manchester.
Once County Jail.
It was used by the county until 1874
when the county seat wns moved from
Manchester to Chesterfield Courthouse
Tho engine company continued to use
the ground floor. and in 1876. Win
Manchester became municipality.
the upper floor became a city jail.
There the first Mayor OF Manchester
held his court.
At the time OF the incorporation OF
Manchester, the two story addition on
Tenth Street was built. TO be used as
Auditors and Trcasurer's offices. but
81 g We ri aH Int I I,a(
Gil chamber
at the insugation of. the old lIcndcr-
son Lodge OF Odd Fellows in 1850. the
third story was used for years as a
lodge hall. The old building was
known as the Manchester City flall
from tho incorporation Of the city
until 1910, when Manchester became a
! chamber in this building the aunexa-
ton question was threshcd out and
the warm fight pressed to a victorious
end by the conSolida tioniStS
Now Part Of City.
With the passing Of the building.
which has served for so many years as
the quarters Of the Manchester Fire
Department, this department also loses
| its identity and is merged finally into
the Fire Department OF the city OF
| Richmond AS stated. the company
| was originally organized as the Hope
| Volunteers. This ilanfe was later
changed to the Alert Volunteers
and that in turn merged into the Man
| chester Volunteers" About fifteen
Years ago the company was taken of
| tho basis of volunteers and regular
paid company organized, OF which w
7. Smith and w II. Smith arc still IL
active service in Engine Company No
~.
Five cx-chicfs of the Manchesto,
| Fire Department. are still living, and
recently posed for tho interesting pic
tlre. In company with the newly or
ganizcd Company No Is. which appears
on this page to-day. These men and
the years Of their service follow 4. j
Gallagher, lSS0lS95: James r. Brad
ley so5lSaT; II. r, Owen, 1S97-19OO
Il. Gala CHER. loo0-laol: w, Is Crooks
! 1910 On tho day this picture wa:
taken. I2N-Chicf Owen, who was also
he captain Of Engine Company No. IL
until April /, 1911, was presented with
handsome gold medal commemorat
ing his faithful service. by the sub
scriptlon OF the men WHO had served
in the company under his leadership.