The above picture is quite rare in that it shows firemen pulling their fire truck by hand. This is the Eddystone Fire Co. about 1905 at 12th St. and Saville Ave. The Delco Fire Cos. years ago always showed pictures of their wagons pulled by horses.
NOTE: The history of early fire cos. in Delco is interesting. Originally except for Radnor and Chester all fire companies pulled their trucks aka wagons by hand. Those two fire companies had stables for their horses. Horses were borrowed for parades and special occasions from local businesses by other companies and on some occasions when the fire was far away from the firehouse. Even with horses usually only two men rode on the wagon, the man controlling the horses and the brakeman. Brakes were applied by hand by the strongest man of the fire co. The rest of the men ran along side. All men in each town were expected to be members of the fire company whether they were active or not, just for the money support. Even when motorized fire trucks first came into existence in 1918 the engines were so small that only a few men in the fire co. got to ride, the rest just ran along. Junior Firemen were very important 100 plus years ago. With many local towns having a population of only a few thousand and most of the men worked in Philadelphia. When a major fire broke out fire companies would call the local schools and ask that the junior firemen at school be dismissed to help fight the fire. Several towns had problems with their first fire company and others were formed. I do not want to embarass any local fire co. and then one below will remain anonymous. In the article below it talks about men sitting outside their fire house on Sunday. What had this town upset was the men sitting outside would "ogle" and chat up girls on their Sunday stroll a real NO NO 100 plus years ago.
NEW FIRE COMPANY FOR ???
Members Dissatisfied
With Edict Closing Engine House on Sunday to Build Their Own Home
It
has been reported in the borough that there will be a split in the at the next meeting to be held in July. It was found to be impossible to verify this,
however, both officers and other members of the company refusing to verify the
reports. From what can be gathered it
appears that there has been some troubles since the new house was erected,
about the members lounging about the building, some of the members declaring
that they had a right to sit in the house or in front of it on Sundays.
At a
meeting held recently it was decided that the members should not be allowed
this privilege and the building is kept closed on the Sabbath. Two or three of the members are apparently
not satisfied with this decision and have started a rumor that there will be a
new fire company organized in the near future.
But as one of the officers of the company said yesterday to a Times
reporter: It takes money to run a fire
company and this trouble will prove to be nothing but talk.
HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY
Movement Looking Toward
Organization Meeting With Success Twenty-Six on Charter Roll
A
movement has been started for the formation of a hook and ladder company in the
borough. Plans for the new company’s
proposed fire house, which will be of modern design, have been prepared by
James Tillingham, a Philadelphia architect, and a sketch of the proposed
building is on exhibition in the display window of George Mower’s provision
store. The projectors of the new company will hold a meeting tomorrow evening. The charter roll has
already been signed by twenty-six persons, who have pledged themselves to stand
by the new movement. It is contended by
those at the head of the enterprise that the new company will not conflict with Company, No. 1 as it is a hose company, while the new
organization will be equipped with a hook and ladder.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment