Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-06
EVENING CHAT

Twenty-nine years ago the last State
! llremens convention to be held in
| harrisburg began its business sessions
at the State Capitol. Harrisburg was
! then in the midst of the celebration
OF the centennial of the erection of
Dauphin county and the laying out of
the town that grew from Harris Ferry
INTO Harrisburg, the capital of Penn
sNlNania. Quite a few of the men who
VIII ne active in the conventions ses-
slons this week sat in the convention
| or 1885 and recall the manner in
whlch the tiremen Joined in making
thelr part of the week a great occa-
/ sion. The parade was one of the
series during the week and attracted
wide attention, being the largest of
the kind ever held in the State up to
that time. Harrisburg being a CEN
tral point, attracted many companies
TO the city for the demonstration. and
! II was long remembered. The parade
contained almost fifty companies and
the very last word in fire apparatus
was shown. Incidentally, il might be
remarked that the parade was held on
thursday. as has been done by the
nremen at each State convention.
There will he one fireman in the
great parade this week who will oc-
cupy the same position he held in
the big display on the occasion of the
Dauphin county centennial celebration
and meeting of the State Firemen's
association on September II. 1885.
Charles r. Meek, president of the
citizen Fire Company, No. s, will be
marshal of the third division, consist
ing of the Citizen company and its
guests. In 1885 President Neck mar
shaled the company and its visitors,
the DIVISION having half dozen good
companies, including the famous Sarah
zane or Winchester Va: the Wash
lngton, of Coatesville; the Montgom-
cry, OF Norristown, and the Washing
ton, OF Conshohocken. This year the
citizen Will entertain fourteen organ
izauons. three of which will march at
the head of the main column of the
procession-the keystone Fire Chiefs
State organization. and the Vigilant
and Good VIII companies, of York.
Two old hand engines will be in the
Sltlzen dtvision-one built in 1880,
brought by the Reading Veteran Fire
mems Association. and the other, made
IN ILso. oy the Hummelstown Chem
ical Company.
III Is an interesting coincidence that
George Graybill, of York was elected
president of the association here. The
present head is also a York man. Mr..
Graybil served the next year and
made many friends among the Harris
panies. The first president of the
association was also well known here.
lie was II. A. Derr. of Reading. who
was elected in 1881. Two Harris
burgers, the late A. T. Black and r.
Lew little, both members of the Hope
FIRE Company have been president
OF the State association. Gilbert
Greenburg, of Reading. who lived here
Tor time, was so a president, serv-
ing in 1889, or the year before Mr.
Slack Two Harrisburgers are also
lie members. They are City Commits
sioner William H., Lynch, long presi-
dent OF the Friendship. and Frank B.
6osch. Ihe late Governor Daniel II.
Hastings was one of the first honorary
members of the association. this being
a distinction rarely conferred.
People who see the decorations
along the streets to-day will recall
with interest those of 1885. In that
year each fire company tried to outdo
the others in elaborateness of deco
rauons and the arches erected in front
OF nrehouses or near by attracted
much attention. There were no cleo
trlcal decorations in those DAYS. but
gas nghtS were employed without re-
gard TO expense and as the weather
renamed good there were some excel
lent effects. The Friendship Fire Com
pany had some fountains in connec-
uon with its display and the Citizen
had and arch at Fourth and Walnut
with a fireman in uniform on ton.
IL had q very elaborate gas lighting
plan. The Good viii had a very
handsome arch. 1t was the only en-
slne company up town in those days.
so the people of the growing West
End came to its aid in style, The
Rely had Just started that year, but
made a display
Among the firemen registered to-
day was c. A. Wilhelm, the veteran
Democrat, who registered as a men,
per OF Independent Fire COMPANY
No. 80. of Philadelphia. 1t was one
or the companies that existed before
the establishment of the paid fire de-
partment in 1871 and was noted for
the speed with which it could get 10
hre. 1t had big piece of apparatus
and hustled it about Philadelphia at
racing speed. Most of the members of
this old company have passed away
and Mr.. Wilhelm is one of the few
survivors.
When the last State nremen's con-
vention was held here Harrisburg had
ten companies, the Reilly Hose having
oeen formed about two months before
the convention met in the hall of the
House of Representatives The Sus-
quehanna was another new COMPANY.
having been organized a short time
before. Both took part IN the parade.
Steelton. which now has six COM
panies. had but one in those days.
the citizen, and the members marched
from the borough. There were no
FIRE companies on the West Shore and
Mtddletown and Mechanicsburg had
less than they have now,