1860-1869

1861

Civil War starts with shots fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. (April 12, 1861)

North Carolina joined the Confederacy. (May 20, 1861)

1865

Philip Thiem's machine shop in southeast Raleigh burned. The night blaze destroyed an engine, machinery, and tools, "together with a grist mill adjacent, either by design or by accident." (April 13, 1865)^wch

Union general Sherman occupied Raleigh. (April 14, 1865)

North Carolina surrendered. (April 26, 1865)

Several buildings on Fayetteville Street burned. Late evening blaze was described by R. H. Battle Jr. in a letter to his absent father. The merchants, he reported, "got most of their goods out of the store but lost some by theft." Adjacent buildings were "saved with much difficulty" because the fire engine was "out of order." Battle added he learned "what was saved was saved through the efficiency of Yankee soldiers on the ground rather than by the energy of our citizens." (November 5, 1865)^erm

1866

City re-charted and governing body increased from three commissioners to nine, with enlargement of their powers.^no26apr42

Two fire companies organized by "some of the younger men who had served in the Confederate Army." They operated the city's two hand engines, with Company No. 1 having the larger of the two. The two companies developed "great rivalry" between them. The officers of Fire Company No. 1 include:

• Foreman, Dr. Jas. McKee, a medical student
• Asst. Foreman, W. C. Stronach.

The officers of Fire Company No. 2:

• Captain B. B. Green
• 1st. Lieut. W.L. Pomeroy
• 1st Lieutenant Wm. Simpson
• 2nd Lieutenant, J. B. Franklin III
• Secretary and Treasurer, W. J. Palmer. (by March 1, 1866)^{sent(d)04mar66, no23jul05}

1867

Mayor invited citizens to volunteer for fire companies in newspaper advertisement. Notice included additional information that citizens would be drafted if too few volunteered. (January 25, 1867)^{sent(d)25jan67}

Three fire companies organized:

• Fire Company No. 1, organized February 9
• Fire Company No. 2, organized by February 11
• Hook and Ladder Company, organized by February 11.

Officers of Fire Company No. 2:

• Captain John Maguire,
• Asst. Foreman W. S. Sparks
• Secretary J. B. Jordan
• Treasurer Phil Thiem. (February 11, 1867)^{sent(d)11feb67}

Exchange Hotel burned. The prominent building was destroyed and an adjoining building was damaged. Fire companies and assisting citizens prevented the spread of fire to nearby buildings and dwellings. (March 2, 1867)^{sent(d)02mar67}

Commissioners adopt a new code of ordinances concerning fire companies. The Mayor was charged with organizing three fire companies each year, two engine companies of forty men each, and a hook and ladder company of twenty men. (April 24, 1867)^{City Charter, pp52-53}

Old North State Iron Works burned. Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2 were quick to respond to the evening fire at the foundry and machine shops. The loss was between $8,000 and $10,000. (July 18, 1867)^{republican, 20jul67, sent(d)19jul67}

Bucket Company organized. (by November 19, 1867)^{sent(d)19nov67}

The four fire companies parade [on Fayetteville Street?]. The parade started at 3:00 p.m. (November 28, 1867)^{sent(d)28nov67, sent(d)30nov67}

1868

Commissioners adopted new code of ordinances concerning Superintendent of Fire Department. The position was elected by a majority of fire company members at the annual January meeting of the fire companies. The person was empowered to superintend the engines, hooks and ladders, buckets, and all other materials belonging to the fire department of the city. The person reported quarterly to the Mayor and Commissioners on the condition of that equipment. The person was also responsible for enforcing a new ordinance regarding new stove construction. (by January 15, 1868)^{sent(d)15jan68}

Joseph Backalan elected Chief of Department. (January 16, 1868)^{sent(d)16jan68, reg17jan68}

Protection Fire Company No. 2 reorganized [for the present year]:

They met at the Mayor's office. (February 14, 1868)^{sent (d)17feb68}

Fire Company No. 1 organized for present year and elected officers:

• C. M. McKimmon, Foreman
• C. D. Heartt, Asst. Foreman
• N. B. Broughton, Hose Director
• Z. T. Broughton, Sec. and Treas.
• W. T. Dancy, Engineer
• B. B. Betts, Asst. Engineer.

The Foreman, Asst. Foreman, and Hose Director were appointed as a committee to solicit members for the company. Chief Engineer of the Fire Department Backalan had ordered 1,000 feet of hose and hoped there will be no lack of members for either company. Those wishing to join Company No. 1 were instructed to call L. E. Heartt's store and give their names. (February 20, 1868)^{sent (d)22feb68}

Fire Company No. 1 and No. 2 [ and others? ] participated in the Democratic Convention parade. (August 13, 1868)^{sent(d)11aug68, sent(d)17aug68}

Market House and two other buildings destroyed by fire. Awakened by the alarm of fire and led by the "glaring illumination that lit up the skies," hundreds found a restaurant and adjoining store ablaze. Despite the efforts of "gallant firemen" and their "insufficient apparatus," the flames soon spread to the Market House. All three buildings were consumed, leaving only "smoking ashes and desolate walls." Firefighters and citizens were successful, however, in preventing the fire from spreading up Fayetteville and toward Wilmington streets. Later a newspaper reporter noted that "the engines refused to work, and there was not enough force in the machines to throw water 20 feet from the mouth of the pipe.” Another newspaper editorial noted "The firemen deserve all the praise, and above all, deserve and should at once have the best and most effective apparatus…Raleigh ought to have at least one Steam Fire Engine." (December 15, 1868)^{sent(d)16dec68, stan(d)15dec68}

Jeff Fisher's store on Market Square caught fire. The fire was extinguished with only goods damaged and without the loss of any building. The cause was a defective flue. (December 25, 1868)^{stan(d)29dec68, sent(d)29dec68}

C. W. Lambert residence on Hargett Street caught fire, but flames were extinguished without any loss. (December 25, 1868)^{stan(d)29dec68}

Matilda Weddon's residence near the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad caught fire, but the fire was discovered in time to prevent damage. (December 25, 1868)^{stan(d)29dec68}

The kitchen of the North Carolina Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind caught fire, but was not seriously damaged. (December 25, 1868)^{stan(d)29dec68}

1869

City Commissioners authorized colored citizens to form a fire company. (January 8, 1869)^{stan(d)11jan69}

City Commissioners recommended rebuilding of the Market House and that the replacement structure included an engine house and a hall above on Wilmington Street. (January 27, 1869)^{sent(d)30jan69}

Fire company of color citizens formed. Name of Fire Company No. 1 found in citation on May 10. (by January 27, 1869)^{sent(d)30jan69, p3c1; sent(d)10may69}

Fire Company No. 2 met at Mayor's Office for reorganization. (February 2, 1869)^{stan(d)02feb69}

African Methodist Church in northwestern portion of city caught fire. The 4 a.m. blaze was discovered and extinguished by citizens. Damage was about $100. (February 27, 1869)^{stan(d)01mar69}

A. W. Fraps residence and ice house burned. Fire was reported between 1 and 2 a.m. Firefighters prevented flames from spreading farther. Total loss was $1,200. (March 27, 1869)^{stan(d)29mar69}

Merchants Independent Fire Company formed. J. C. Brewster was Foreman, and Junius Ferrell was Secretary. (by April 29, 1869)^{sent(d)29apr69}

Moses A. Bledsoe residence in southeast Raleigh burned. The building was destroyed by the 2:00 a.m. fire. (May 13, 1869)^{sent(d)13may69}

Fire companies participated in Fourth of July parade. (July 5, 1869)^{stan(d)07jul69}

Engine Company No. 2 placed in service. The company numbered about sixty men. (by August 5, 1869)^{stan(d)05aug69, stan(d)12aug69}

Confectionary store on Fayetteville Street caught fire. Smoke was observed in the back part of the building about 6:30 a.m. by two policemen. A small fire was discovered and extinguished by citizens. (August 22, 1869)^{sent(d)23aug69}

Apparatus note: Merchants Fire Company held meeting to adopt a plan and take the necessary steps to procure a steam fire engine. (August 27, 1869)^{sent(d)28aug69}

Grocery store of Jordan Womble on Hargett Street burned. His entire stock was lost, despite the best efforts of all four fire companies. The hand engine of Fire Company No. 1 failed soon after being started, when its suction pip broke. The fire company members immediately assisted the Merchant Fire Company members with their hand engine. (November 3, 1869)^{stan(d)04nov69, sent(d)05nov69}

M. E. Church caught fire. The alarm was reported at 8:30 a.m. and the fire in the lecture room was extinguished before any material damage was done. (November 9, 1869)^{stan(d)09nov69}

Wood shed on the old State Bank site burned. Hook and Ladder Company members used their hooks to tear down the building, while Bucket Company members protected the Episcopal School room and other buildings that could have been damaged. (December 31, 1869)^{sent(d)01jan70}

Joseph D. Backalan was Chief of Department.^{branson's ncbd}

Volunteer fire company officers in 1869:
 

Merchants Fire Company	Hook and Ladder Company	Bucket Company	Fire Company No. 1 (colored)	Fire Company No. 2
J. C. Brewster Foreman J. B. Jordan, Asst. Foreman James Ferrell, Secretary Frank O' Donnell, Engineer A. Moses, Asst. Engineer E. H. Love, Treasurer A. Betts and D. T. Bunch, Section Hoseman	E. H. Ray, Foreman R. F. Laswell, Asst. Foreman Thomas Hampson, Secretary J. G. Burt, Treasurer ______, Engineer	W. T. Stronach Foreman S. C. White, Asst. Foreman B. F. King, Secretary Vitrvius Royster, Treasurer	James H. Jones Foreman. Samuel Stewart, Asst. Foreman Geo. Perry, Hose Directory John E. Williams, Secretary N. Dunston, Treasurer Thomas Hall, Engineer Richard Stewart, Asst. Engineer	?

Source: Branson's North Carolina Business Directory, 1869, p152.

Abbreviations

Sources