Evening journal., 1920-07-12
ONLY FRIENDSHIP
TOQUITCITY
Other Eleven Fire Compan-
les Will Continue in Vol
unteer Service
SAY PAID SERVICE
MAY COST MILLION

Referring 10 the proposed suspen-
hon OF the Friendship Fire Company
lfter the last OF next month. a mem
ler OF the local flre department yes
krday said t would cost the city
between $4,000 and siO0000O to in
mcurate a paid fire department for
ne city. While The Friendship Com
lany. the Oldest in the State. will be
INT Of business, none OF the other
lleven flre companies have as yet de-
aded TO take similar action.
Ieorge II. Taylor, president OF the
Delaware Fire Company, said today
nat while his company favored a
laid fire department they would con-
inue 10 volunteer their services until
be city takes over the department.
Harvey TazoWen. secretary OF the
Friendship company and first assist
int IRE chief, has prepared a his
pry Of the Friendship company.
Which Is Of timely interest. The com
lany IS the oldest in The city and
he third oldest flre-fghtng organi-
alton no America.
In his history Mr. Tazewcll says:
'rnhe Friendship Fire Company was
nStituto December %, i715 William
famphill was the first president He
las born In Wilmington In i7i3 and
lied here In 1923. aged 80 years.
~rhe company started with 5s char
pr members. Each member furnished
NO leather buckets and one wicker
basket 10 be used at an fires and
In 1884 The company was granted
property guards. Each member placed
fghted candle In his window as a
lotice that he had gone 90 answer
b alarm, and n such candles were
Tot displayed the passng member
tould stop and get him out Two
land engines, obtained by the city
rom a French frigate lying Off New
lasilc. were granted 20 Elisha Jones,
nn3than RumfOrd and John Ferris
h behalf OF the Friendship Fire Com
lany 90 be used In any part Of the
hUn on the occasion Of a FIRE. The
ompany kept these engines until
$40 when one OF them was given "a
he Washington Fire COmpanf upon
docos shortly after The fire at Nc.
,ane's cotton mill, Tenth and Orange
treets During the Revolutionary
Var, flro matters came TO a standstlll
ut, with the advent Of peace, thl
bmpany got down to business aeain
In 1854 the COmnlny was grantee
he use 81 ihc town hall Second ant
aarkct streets. as "a meeting place
NE FIRST engine house of the com
amy was on Sixth street, west O
larket, and WAS removed In 1887 C
site on Queen street. now Flftl
treet, near Shipley. These quarters
kero occupied until 1900 when the
Dmpany built a new house on IN,
orlhVcst corner of Sixth and ship.
W. two stories high, with a bell tow.
r. The next move was In 1920 To tn,
he now occupied by the BraunstoI
lore on Market street between SIKH
nd seventh This was the home o
De company until 1916 when 1t move'
b Ninth and King, and from ther'
4 1919 % Orange street, above Tenth
I'd in 1859 90 Tenth and Shiplel
lrects. 10 remained there until 400
t1cn 10 moved from their new quar-
krs on Tainall street between Tent
nd Eleventh
'Thc officers Of the company arr
hmes Keenan,, president; Joseph II
miih, president; Harvo. laze
veil. secretary; William p. McCon
,en. treasurer: Edward B. Abbott
lnancial secretary; William Green
brennan. William II. White and JohI
Wiley trustees The compan,
DIV has ilfly-toNo members.