Location: Founders Hall created in 1917, Clarion Pennsylvania
From left to right: Brandi, Megan, Tatiana, Clancy, and Sarah
Who We Are:
As students of Clarion University these young women are working towards their futures. Sarah, a junior, is working toward a bachelor’s degree in history. She plans to work at Harbor Creek Historical Society over the summer to gain job experience. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta. Tatiana, a senior, is working toward her bachelor’s degree in English and History. She has recently gained her American citizenship and plans to present at the PTA Conference this spring. Brandi, a senior, is working toward a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. Megan, a senior, is working toward her bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Anthropology. She previously worked as a curatorial intern at Drake Well Museum and Park and is currently working as an intern at the Jefferson County History Center. Clancy, a senior, is working toward her bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in political science. She has recently been accepted into the Public History Masters Program at West Virginia University and is a member of Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Sigma Alpha.
Stop, Drop, N' Roll:
What will we be up to?
Identifying historical origins of Fire Department badges designed in the late 1800s, previously donated to Drake Wells in c.a. 1979. After locating the historical origins, further research will be done into the Fire Departments origins and significance of the badges. With this information, locating and visiting the Fire Departments is a high priority. This information will be posted on the CU Public History website with images in a interactive, discussion provoking format. Our research is significant towards publicizing local history and helping communities learn how to interact with their local history.
History of Fire Departments
Fire departments have been around since Roman times. The first volunteer fire department in the United States was located in Philadelphia and was created in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. Both George Washington and Ben Franklin were volunteer firefighters, Washington in Virginia and Franklin in Philadelphia. Molly Williams was the first female firefighter in 1818. The American government took ownership of fire departments beginning from the Civil War. Until that point, fire departments were completely volunteer based and paid by private companies to stop fires. The first fire department standards were not established until 1830, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Harrisburg
During the Period of 1836-1841 there were a lot of Volunteer Fire Fighters in this area. Throughout this time there dramatic changes from buying the first water pump to having the first steam fire engine. Harrisburg became a popular railroad and industrial town. With all of the new technology that evolved throughout the time period it helped to enhanced the fire equipment. Many of their badges with in the city are similar to those that we found at Drake Well Historical Society.
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Pittsburgh
The first volunteer fire department appeared with the creation of four ‘hose companies’ located within different counties of Pittsburgh in 1840. The four departments were hose carriage and hand engine based.
By the late 1940s, the Fire Committee was established to maintain order over the departments and provide the necessary supplies for all of them. To do this, the committee worked with the city council. The council decided which funds went to which departments based on the Fire Committee’s requests. However, some departments received more money for new equipment than others causing several arguments to arise, such as the Foremen Riot of 1849.At the on set of the Civil War, volunteer fire departments greatly depleted and those who remained in Pittsburgh formed partially paid fire department regiments known as the “fire ladies” in 1864. The first paid fire departments are believed to have been formed in 1869 because the first formally written regular reports by an authoritative figure of the city council were date in that year.
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Bradford
The Bourogh of Bradford began its first fire department in August of 1877. It began as the F