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Then and Now #11: Southeast Central Fire Departments
Chowan, Edgecombe, Martin, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, and
Washington counties
Welcome to a feature where
historian Mike Legeros
presents early twentieth-century summaries of North Carolina fire
departments as recorded by the Sanborn Map Company for their fire
insurance maps. In addition to detailed information about streets,
buildings, and water supplies, the cartographers also recorded fire
protection information including personnel, apparatus, and alarm
systems.
Steam fire engines were acquired around the state between the
1860s and 1900s. The majority were delivered in the 1880s or later. Over
35 steamers were built by companies including American LaFrance, Button,
Clapp & Jones, Gould, and Silsby.
Municipalities operating the
steam-powered pumping engines included Charlotte, Durham, Elizabeth
City, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Greenville, Kinston, Monroe,
New Bern, Raleigh, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, Salem, Salisbury,
Statesville, Washington, Wilmington, Wilson, Winston, and Winston-Salem. Though many were destroyed during the scrap metal drives of World War
II, at least nine steam engines have survived around the state.
Ayden, Pitt County
June 1919
Volunteer, 40 members. Three hose houses. Hose house
behind City Hall and Market House at 30 West Avenue: One hose reel
with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Hose house at 137 2nd Street: One hose reel with
500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Hose house at 209 3rd Street: One hose reel with
500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Reels drawn by hand and private automobiles.
2,000 feet 2 1/2-inch standard hose total. Fire alarm by siren and steam
whistle at pumping station. Population 3,000.
Today
One fire station, eight pieces of fire apparatus, and 33 volunteer
members protecting at least 2.3 square miles. Population 4,661. |
Edenton Hose Wagon, courtesy North Carolina State Archives
Edenton, Chowan County
August 1920
Volunteer, three companies of eight men each, and colored hook and ladder
company. Hose house at 312 Court Street: One
hose reel cart with 300 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. One supply cart with 250
feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Hose house beside 109 West
Eden Street:
One hose reel cart with 300 feet 2 1/2-inch hose.
Hose house in 100 block of North Broad Street: One hose reel cart
with 300 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Chemical engine house
in 100 block of North Broad Street: One 40-gallon chemical
extinguisher.
Hook and ladder house behind County Jail at 306
Court Street: Hook and ladder with truck and 60 feet of ladders.
Fire alarm by bell at Court House and whistle at waterworks. Population
3,000.
Today
One fire station, six pieces of fire apparatus, eight career members,
and 18 volunteer members protecting five square miles. Population
5,059. |
Elizabeth City's 1927 pumper in present day. Courtesy Elizabeth City Fire
Department
Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County
March 1914
Volunteer. One engine and hose company of 14 members, and one colored hook
and ladder company of 40 members. One hostler on constant duty. Seven
horses used for street work, one horse in constant readiness.
Fire station at City Hall, 200 East Matthews
Street. One Silsby first-class steam fire engine and one Silsby
second-class steam fire engine. One two-horse hose wagon with 900 feet 2
1/2-inch hose. One one-horse hose wagon with 600 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. One
hook and ladder truck with 70 feet of ladders. The following apparatus has
been ordered: One American LaFrance 72 HP automobile combination chemical
engine and hose wagon with 40-gallon chemical tank, 200-feet 1-inch
chemical hose, 30-foot ladder, 1,000-feet 2 1/2-inch hose, and two
five-gallon chemical extinguishers. One man to be in constant charge of
automobile. Total hose in good condition: 2,500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose and
1,000 feet 2 1/2-inch hose in poor condition. Gamewell fire alarm system,
14 boxes. Automatic fire alarm connection with pumping station. Population
10,000.
Today
Two fire stations, seven pieces of fire apparatus, 42 career members,
and no current volunteer members protecting 8.9 square miles.
Population 18,249. |
Farmville 1928 municipal building and fire department. Courtesy
Farmville Enterprise.
Farmville, Pitt County
September 1915
Volunteer, three hose companies with a total of 15 white and 12 Negro men.
Fire station #1 beneath water tank behind 64 Wilson Street: One
reel with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Captain and eight men. One hand-drawn
hook and ladder wagon. Captain and four men. Fire
station #2 in rear of 29 Wilson Street: One reel with 500 feet 2
1/2-inch hose. Captain and eight men. Fire station
#3 behind 120 Main Street: One reel
with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Twelve men (Negro). Fire alarm bell.
Population 1,200.
Today
One fire station, six pieces of fire apparatus, and 40 volunteer
members protecting 28.1 square miles. Population 4,626. |
Greenville's Hope Fire Company in 1921
Greenville, Pitt County
May 1916
Volunteer, 50 men. One paid man on duty day and night. Six horses. One
fire station and four hose houses. Fire station at
515 East 5th Street: One American LaFrance automobile truck with
1,500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. One horse-drawn hose wagon with 500 feet 2
1/2-inch hose. One hook and ladder truck. One LaFrance steam fire engine,
capacity 500 gallons per minute. Hose house at Clark
and West 9th Streets: One hose reel with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose.
Hose house at West 10th Street west of Evans Street: One hose reel
with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Hose house at Ward
Street west of Elizabeth Street: One hose reel with 500 feet 2
1/2-inch hose. Hose house at Green Street and West
4th Street: One hose reel with 500 feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Fire
alarm: 18 Gamewell fire alarm boxes blowing whistle at waterworks, and
ringing gong at fire station. Population 5,000.
Today
Six fire stations, nine pieces of fire apparatus, 145 career members,
and three volunteer members protecting 26 square miles. Population
67,499. |
Hertford, Perquimans County
June 1916
Fire department not organized. One 60-gallon chemical wagon and one hose
reel with 600 feet hose
behind 314 Grubb Street. One 60-gallon chemical wagon at
308 1/3 Front Street. One hand hook and
ladder truck at 233 King Street. Fire alarm
system: mill whistle. Population 2,500.
Today
One fire station, five pieces of fire apparatus, and 29 volunteer
members protecting about 12 square miles. Population 2,083. |
Plymouth, Washington County
Fire department not organized. Fire station on
Washington Street at the waterfront. One Waterous gasoline fire
engine, 40 HP. Two hose carts with 600-feet 2 1/2-inch hose. Fire alarm by
bell. Population 3,500.
Today
One fire station, five pieces of fire apparatus, and 48 volunteer
members protecting at least 3.9 square miles. Population 3,992. |
Tarboro Fire Department in 1915
Tarboro, Edgecombe County
October 1913
Volunteer except one fully-paid driver. One chief, 69 volunteers, 44 white
and 25 Negro members. Fire station at City Hall, 100
West Church Street. One LaFrance 70 HP automobile combination
engine and hose wagon with 50-gallon chemical tank, 200 feet chemical
hose, and 1,250 feet 2 1/2-inch cotton rubber-lined hose. One Nott
chemical engine with 60-gallon tank and 125 feet chemical hose. One
horse-drawn hose wagon. Three hose reels each with 300 feet 2 1/2-inch
cotton rubber-lined hose. One hand-drawn hook and ladder wagon operated by
Negro company. 2,500 feet good 2 1/2-inch cotton rubber-lined hose total.
350 feet ordinary 2 1/2-inch hose total. Two five-gallon extinguishers.
Six three-gallon chemical extinguishers. Population 6,000.
Today
Two fire stations, five pieces of fire apparatus, 22 career members,
and four volunteer members protecting about 13 square miles.
Population 10,841. |
Williamston Town Hall and Fire Station, circa 1910
Williamston, Martin County
September 1921
Volunteer company. Chief, assistant
chief, and 45 men. Fire station at City Hall at
106-108 East Main Street. Two hand hose reels with 250 feet 2
1/2-inch hose each. One hand chemical cart, 60 gallons. One hand pumper.
2,000 feet 2 1/2-inch hose in reserve. One American LaFrance-equipped Ford
truck pending with two 35-gallon chemical tanks and one small ladder.
Truck to carry 1,000 feet of hose. Alarm bell at City Hall and whistle at
light and water plant. Population 2,200.
Today
One fire station, 13 pieces of fire apparatus, 18 career members, and
42 volunteer members protecting 57 square miles. Population 5,816. |
More Photos
Tarboro's new ladder truck, 1925. Courtesy North Carolina State Archives
Tarboro's Fulton Hook and Ladder Company, 1926. Courtesy North Carolina
State Archives
Tarboro Municipal Building and Fire Station, circa 1930s
Williamston 1940s Mack pumper in magazine advertisement
Map
Why Isn't Your City or Town Listed?
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps are available online from NC LIVE for 162
communities in 83 of North Carolina's 100 counties. Most cities and towns
were surveyed several times over several decades between the 1880s and the
1950s. Of those maps in the public domain, copyright 1922 or earlier, only
100-some communities in 64 counties had fire equipment or fire
departments. See the link below to view later-era maps including the towns
of Bethel (Pitt) and Robersonville (Martin).
References
Guide to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
North Carolina State
Demographics
Sanborn Fire Insurance
Maps via NC LIVE
Requires password available from many local libraries. After logging
into NC LIVE, click Browse Resources and select Maps
Related Links
Elizabeth City Fire Department
Farmville
Fire Department
Greenville Fire Department
Tarboro Fire Department
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Then and
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Then and
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Then and
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Harnett, Moore, Richmond, and Scotland counties |
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