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Here is great artical found about Wheeling Va early fire depts. It has great descriptions of their uniforms. Some of these Fire houses were part of Wheeling's local militia system. One can only speculate the nature of the uniforms of these firemen/militia units.
Enjoy
Shawn Stern
WV Independence Hall Board member
Wheeling Fire History ProjectA History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documentsresearched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writingthe history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.A History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documents researched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writing the history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.
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The Volunteer Years
The Wheeling Fire Department wasn’t organized into a paid department until 1869. Before that time, fire protection in Wheeling was maintained by Seven Independent Volunteer Fire Companies. From 1807 until 1863, Wheeling was located in the state of Virginia. In 1863, West Virginia became a state of its own. The beginning of fire protection in Wheeling occurred on April 21, 1807, when the town council of Wheeling, Virginia passed several resolutions concerning fire accidents. On November 13, 1819, a by-law was passed by the town council and signed by the mayor that made $700 available from a tax levy to purchase a land-engine, and hooks and ladders. The by-law also called for every male citizen over the age of 16 years old to enroll his name with the city recorder on January 13, 1820. Later that week, the men met to organize a fire company and elect officers. By March of 1820, council made an order to build a suitable structure on the west end of the Market House to store the fire equipment. The equipment included a land-engine, hooks and ladders and heavy black leather buckets capable of holding 2 1/2 gallons of water each.
In 1830, the first of the seven independent volunteer fire companies was established. It was called the “Wheeling Hose Company” and consisted of approximately 40 or 50 prominent businessmen of Wheeling. The firehouse was erected on the corner of Market Street between 12th and 14th streets. The firehouse had a pretentious tower with a large open second floor where elaborate socials took place. One small pumping engine and one hose reel was purchased used from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firemens’ uniforms consisted of black pants and red shirts and regulation fire helmets. Their red shirts lent to their nickname, the “old reds.” The Old Reds went out of service in 1860.
On March 16, 1835, the second volunteer fire company was established. It was called the “Hope Fire Company.” Two-hundred fourteen prominent and professional businessmen signed up on its roster for duty. The Hope Fire Company firehouse was located on the western side of Market Street between 11th and 12th streets. The first order of business for the Hope Fire Company was to purchase seven speaking trumpets. The Hope’s began with a single hose reel and then purchased a 2nd class engine from Philadelphia which was built by Merrick, Tyler and Anew. It required 24 capable men to operate and could throw a stream of water 120 feet. The Hopes were the most elaborate company by far, dressed in dark gray mixed cloth, double-breasted frock coats with large black military collars and Cape of Prussia Duck to the elbows. Although they were known all over for their frequent balls, colorful parades and numerous social events, they performed impressively when summoned for a fire. In 1837, the Hope’s moved to a new firehouse at 51 on 11th Street.
In 1839, the third volunteer fire company known as the “Guards Fire Company” was established. It was organized by 100 men, mostly iron-workers and other metal tradesmen. Their firehouse was located on 21st Street. They had one hose reel with 600 feet of hose and a small hand engine operated from the gallery.
On April 22, 1843, the fourth volunteer company known as the “First Ward Hose Company” was organized by 102 men and was housed in a rough looking shed on Main Street in North Wheeling. A year after it was established, council appropriated $1,250 to purchase a hose reel and some other equipment. By 1849, council donated a parcel of ground at 650 Main Street and allocated funds to construct a substantial brick firehouse for the company. This building replaced their rough looking shed. In 1853, the First Ward Company’s first engine went into service. It was a rowboat type engine and required 32 strong men to operate. But even the strongest and most determined men needed relief after 10 to 15 minutes of operating. The company had several other nicknames including, “76 Hose Company,” the “Independence Hose Company,” and in 1869 they became the “Vigilant Steam Fire Co. No. 3.”
In April of 1846, the “Rough and Ready Fire Company” was organized by a hardy bunch of mostly tradesmen. Their firehouse was located in a 2-story brick building on Jacob Street between 16th and 17th streets. They began with one hose reel but by 1850 had purchased a Hand Engine built in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1869 they were known as the “Atlantic Steam Fire Co. No. 2.”
In 1859, the “United Fire Company” came into existence just prior to the Civil War. The members that established this company were mostly B & O Railroad employees. Their firehouse was located on 24th Street, on the alley corner between Main and Market streets. In 1862, the first Steam Fire Engine came to Wheeling and was used by the United Fire Company. The engine was built by Poole and Hunt of Baltimore, Maryland. The second Steam Engine came to Wheeling shortly after the “United” Steamer Engine. This engine was built in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
During these early years the fire service experienced the transition from manpower to steam-power. Earlier hand operated pumpers required as many as forty strong men working vigorously to maintain a single water stream directed on the flames. The early hand operated pumpers were usually pulled to the fires by the firemen. Powerful horse teams pulled the heavy steam operated pumpers, billowing smoke from their stacks, as they built up steam on their way to the fire. Steamers could flow several streams of water with only a fireman and an engineer. During this era of firefighting, cities were growing in size and complexity and the steam engines were requiring more skills to operate. It soon became necessary to establish an organized professional fire service.
Enjoy
Shawn Stern
WV Independence Hall Board member
Wheeling Fire History ProjectA History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documentsresearched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writingthe history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.A History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documents researched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writing the history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Volunteer Years
The Wheeling Fire Department wasn’t organized into a paid department until 1869. Before that time, fire protection in Wheeling was maintained by Seven Independent Volunteer Fire Companies. From 1807 until 1863, Wheeling was located in the state of Virginia. In 1863, West Virginia became a state of its own. The beginning of fire protection in Wheeling occurred on April 21, 1807, when the town council of Wheeling, Virginia passed several resolutions concerning fire accidents. On November 13, 1819, a by-law was passed by the town council and signed by the mayor that made $700 available from a tax levy to purchase a land-engine, and hooks and ladders. The by-law also called for every male citizen over the age of 16 years old to enroll his name with the city recorder on January 13, 1820. Later that week, the men met to organize a fire company and elect officers. By March of 1820, council made an order to build a suitable structure on the west end of the Market House to store the fire equipment. The equipment included a land-engine, hooks and ladders and heavy black leather buckets capable of holding 2 1/2 gallons of water each.
In 1830, the first of the seven independent volunteer fire companies was established. It was called the “Wheeling Hose Company” and consisted of approximately 40 or 50 prominent businessmen of Wheeling. The firehouse was erected on the corner of Market Street between 12th and 14th streets. The firehouse had a pretentious tower with a large open second floor where elaborate socials took place. One small pumping engine and one hose reel was purchased used from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firemens’ uniforms consisted of black pants and red shirts and regulation fire helmets. Their red shirts lent to their nickname, the “old reds.” The Old Reds went out of service in 1860.
On March 16, 1835, the second volunteer fire company was established. It was called the “Hope Fire Company.” Two-hundred fourteen prominent and professional businessmen signed up on its roster for duty. The Hope Fire Company firehouse was located on the western side of Market Street between 11th and 12th streets. The first order of business for the Hope Fire Company was to purchase seven speaking trumpets. The Hope’s began with a single hose reel and then purchased a 2nd class engine from Philadelphia which was built by Merrick, Tyler and Anew. It required 24 capable men to operate and could throw a stream of water 120 feet. The Hopes were the most elaborate company by far, dressed in dark gray mixed cloth, double-breasted frock coats with large black military collars and Cape of Prussia Duck to the elbows. Although they were known all over for their frequent balls, colorful parades and numerous social events, they performed impressively when summoned for a fire. In 1837, the Hope’s moved to a new firehouse at 51 on 11th Street.
In 1839, the third volunteer fire company known as the “Guards Fire Company” was established. It was organized by 100 men, mostly iron-workers and other metal tradesmen. Their firehouse was located on 21st Street. They had one hose reel with 600 feet of hose and a small hand engine operated from the gallery.
On April 22, 1843, the fourth volunteer company known as the “First Ward Hose Company” was organized by 102 men and was housed in a rough looking shed on Main Street in North Wheeling. A year after it was established, council appropriated $1,250 to purchase a hose reel and some other equipment. By 1849, council donated a parcel of ground at 650 Main Street and allocated funds to construct a substantial brick firehouse for the company. This building replaced their rough looking shed. In 1853, the First Ward Company’s first engine went into service. It was a rowboat type engine and required 32 strong men to operate. But even the strongest and most determined men needed relief after 10 to 15 minutes of operating. The company had several other nicknames including, “76 Hose Company,” the “Independence Hose Company,” and in 1869 they became the “Vigilant Steam Fire Co. No. 3.”
In April of 1846, the “Rough and Ready Fire Company” was organized by a hardy bunch of mostly tradesmen. Their firehouse was located in a 2-story brick building on Jacob Street between 16th and 17th streets. They began with one hose reel but by 1850 had purchased a Hand Engine built in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1869 they were known as the “Atlantic Steam Fire Co. No. 2.”
In 1859, the “United Fire Company” came into existence just prior to the Civil War. The members that established this company were mostly B & O Railroad employees. Their firehouse was located on 24th Street, on the alley corner between Main and Market streets. In 1862, the first Steam Fire Engine came to Wheeling and was used by the United Fire Company. The engine was built by Poole and Hunt of Baltimore, Maryland. The second Steam Engine came to Wheeling shortly after the “United” Steamer Engine. This engine was built in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
During these early years the fire service experienced the transition from manpower to steam-power. Earlier hand operated pumpers required as many as forty strong men working vigorously to maintain a single water stream directed on the flames. The early hand operated pumpers were usually pulled to the fires by the firemen. Powerful horse teams pulled the heavy steam operated pumpers, billowing smoke from their stacks, as they built up steam on their way to the fire. Steamers could flow several streams of water with only a fireman and an engineer. During this era of firefighting, cities were growing in size and complexity and the steam engines were requiring more skills to operate. It soon became necessary to establish an organized professional fire service.