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Title: Decatur Steam Fire Co. membership certificate
Description: Membership certificate containing a vignette of a steam engine in a rural setting, presumably Frankford. Also contains filigree and cornice details, including American eagles holding shields, and the letter "D" ornamented with anchor details. The fire company stationed in Frankford was instituted in 1803 and incorporated in 1842. The company was named after the Naval hero Stephen Decatur whose father purportedly resided in Frankford., Not in Wainwright., Issued to Edward Deal on February 19, 1867. Signed George Burns, Presidentand Rufus T. Corson, Secretary., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 178, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Firefighting Album Am 3989 Decatur
Date: [ca. 1860]
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Firefighting Album Am 3989 Decatur

Title: Empire Hook & Ladder Company, no. 1. Instituted February 6, 1851
Description: Street view of the red, yellow, and black hook and ladder truck, probably in front of the Empire Fire House at Franklin Street above Wood Street in Kensington. A company volunteer, wearing his helmet, stands at the harness end of the truck on which two trumpets hang. Lanterns adorn the vehicle., Not in Wainwright., Manuscript note on recto: Presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by Geo. S. Bethell, architect., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 208, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 832 E 55
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date: [ca. 1851]
Location: Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 832 E 55

Title: No. 1 The Empire Hook & Ladder polka
Description: Sheet music cover showing two fire fighters with the company hook and ladder truck in front of the Empire Fire House at Franklin Street above Wood Street in Kensington. The volunteers, attired in uniforms, stand near the rear of the vehicle on which at the harness end of the truck two trumpets hang. The volunteer fire company was instituted February 6, 1851., Copyrighted by A. Fiot., Not in Wainwright., pdcp00021, Manuscript note on recto: Philada Franklin above Wood, Price printed on recto: 37 1/2 Cts net., Dedication: Dedicated with esteem to Wm F. Smith esq. President. By his friend Ozeas H. Ramborger., Philadelphia on Stone, Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphiana - Fire Companies
Date: c1852
Location: Free Library of Philadelphia. | Print and Photograph Collection. FLP Philadelphiana - Fire Companies

Title: The White Turtle & the Red Crab of Philadelphia
Description: Showing the Northern Liberties Hose Company (White Turtle) and the Lafayette Hose Company (Red Crab) racing to a bonfire near Eastern State Penitentiary on July 25, 1852 during a weekend of fires throughout the city. Men from each company run side-by-side and pull the ropes hooked to their companies' hose carriages. One man from each company stands at the front of their crew and plays a bugle or yells at the team to push forward. Dogs and pigs run beside the companies, flee the scene, and get caught under the wheel of the hose carriage. Includes a view of the buildings along the street, showing people running in the distance and a sign reading "coal." The "winning" Northern Liberties Hose Company (White Turtle) had a fire house at New Market Street above Coates Street, just a few blocks from the "losing" Lafayette Hose Company (Red Crab) at Fourth Street above Brown Street. The hose companies often fought each other including at this "race" where a Northern Liberties member was stabbed., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Not in Wainwright., "Jonas" and "Priff" are pseudonyms., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 836
Date: [ca. 1852]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *BW – Fires & Firefighting [P.2008.34.17]

Title: The United States Polka
Description: Sheet music cover containing two views related to the United States Fire Company, the volunteer fire company instituted in 1811. Upper view shows the company fire station at Wood Street above Fourth. Two men stand in front of the firehouse and neighboring buildings are visible. Lower view shows volunteer firefighters, most in uniform, including an African American man, standing around their Philadelphia-style hand-pumper engine. The men wear capelets and hats. Two hold horns and another two rest their hands on the harness of the engine. Also contains a border containing ivy, ribbon, and fire fighting iconography including ladders, hydrants, hoses, and bells., Not in Wainwright., pdcp00020, Philadelphia on Stone, Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphiana - Fire Companies
Date: [ca. 1865]
Location: Free Library of Philadelphia. | Print and Photograph Collection. FLP Philadelphiana - Fire Companies

Title: Fairmount Fire Engine Co. No. 32, of Philadelphia [membership certificate]
Description: Honorary membership certificate containing firefighting vignettes, scenes, and pictorial elements. Shows the company horse-drawn steam engine, manned by two volunteers, racing down a street; several firefighters drawing the hose carriage while a man runs in the street beside them; and an exterior view of the station house at Ridge Avenue above Wood Street in Spring Garden. The company engine is parked in front. Also contains, at the top of the certificate, a bust portrait of the “Chief Engineer D.M.L” attired in his fire fighter’s hat and coat. Pictorial elements depict bundles of fire fighting equipment, including hats, horns, ladders, and a rope designed as side borders; eagles holding the American flag in their beaks, and swans gliding on water. Fairmount Company, organized in 1823 and incorporated in 1850, was established after the dissolution of the Whale Fire Company. Butchers comprised much of the early membership., pdcp00030, Not in Wainwright., Manuscript note on recto: Presented by Joseph W. Montgomery 529 York Ave., Issued to William McCormick on March 29, 1852. Signed Joseph S. Baker, President and Henry F. Dibbs, Secretary., Philadelphia on Stone, Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphiana - Fire Companies
Creator: Kurtz, Henry, ca. 1822, artist
Date: [ca. 1850]
Location: Free Library of Philadelphia. | Print and Photograph Collection. FLP Philadelphiana - Fire Companies

Title: Certificate of Honorary Membership of the Weccacoe Fire Company. Philadelphia
Description: Honorary membership certificate containing vignettes of Weccacoe Fire Company engine houses and firefighting equipment between 1840 and 1860 within a decorative border adorned with filigree, bugles, and axes. American flags, laurel wreaths, and an eagle with a shield surmounts the text in the central portion of the certificate, below which is an 1860 view of the fire company’s engine house on the 100 block of Queen Street in Southwark. Fire fighters and wagons loaded with equipment congest the street in the foreground. A large American flag flies atop the roof of the engine house. Left and right panels contain smaller views of the 1840 firehouse and its hand-pumper fire engine and the three-story, enlarged engine house and a steam fire engine from 1850. All scenes include fire fighters dressed in the red and blue Weccacoe uniform., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 98, Library of Congress: PGA - Duval - - Certificate of honorary membership (C size), Atwater Kent Museum: 88.98.685. AKM copy issued to William Schlag. Signed by the [illegible] president and Wm. B. Landon, Secretary.
Creator: Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date: [ca. 1860]
Location: Library of Congress | Prints and Photographs Division PGA - Duval - - Certificate of honorary membership (C size)

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