Raleigh Fire Department History

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]:

  • Jno. G. Maguire, Foreman
  • R. T. Boshier, Assistant Foreman
  • Geo. C. Upchurch, Secretary
  • Phil. Thiem, Treasurer
  • Pat Nolan, Hose Director
  • A. Moses, Engineer
  • John Ferrell, Assistant Engineer
  • C. Weigel
  • J. S. Fleishman
  • F. C. Christopher
  • Pat. Donahoe, Leading Hoseman
  • Robt. Simpson
  • D. Smith
  • W. Bell
  • A. Fraps
  • H. Harris
  • J. C. Brewster, Section Hoseman.

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

[AA]   Aircraft accident
[AI]   Apparatus incident
[EF]   Early fire
[HM]   Haz-mat incident
[MA]   Mutual Aid
[MF]   Major fire
[RA   Railway accident
[TF]   Tanker fire
[TR]   Technical rescue
[UD]   USAR deployment
[UF]   Unusual fire
[UI]   Unusual incident
[WE]   Weather event

Sources

ar   City of Raleigh Annual Report
bd   City of Raleigh budget documents
cvh   Cameron Village: A History 1949-1999, Nan Hutchins, Sprit Press, 2001
cad City of Raleigh Auditor's Office
ccm / cm   City Council Minutes / City Minutes
ccor   1792-1892, The Centennial Celebration of Raleigh, NC, Kemp D. Battle, Edwards and Broughton, 1893
cer   Chief Engineer's Report
dah   North Carolina Department of Archives and History
dahni   North Carolina Department of Archives and History News and Observer index
fp   City of Raleigh Fire Protection Study
hr   Historical Raleigh with Sketches of Wake County and its Important Towns, Moss N. Amis, 1912
oh   Oral History
mjlr   Mike Legeros records.
mp   Morning Post
nc   North Carolinian
no   News and Observer
noi   News and Observer Index
pb   Peter Brock
pph   Pullen Park History
rla   Raleigh Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary scrapbooks
rpu   Raleigh Fire Department Photo Unit records
rr   Raleigh Register
rt   Raleigh Times
ruh   Raleigh: An Unorthodox History
yb84   Raleigh Fire Department 1984, Raleigh Fire Department, Taylor Publishing, 1984
yb02+   Raleigh Fire and Rescue: 1984-2002, Raleigh Fire Department, Taylor Publishing, 2002, plus additional historical information also compiled by the Raleigh Fire Department around 2002.
wch   Wake: Capital County of North Carolina - Volume 1, Prehistory Through Centennial, Elizabeth Reid Murray, Capital County Publishing, 1983


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