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Photograph
Officers of last Volunteer Fire Department, circa 1889
Order an ImageThe creation of the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) can be traced back to July 6th, 1876, when the all-volunteer Seattle Engine Company No.1 was organized. In 1883, the City Charter was amended to create and fund equipment, but not staff, for a centralized municipal fire department. The volunteer-based system persisted until pressure from the insurance industry and citizens after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 forced the city council to reform Seattle's seven volunteer companies into a paid, professional unit of 32 men organized into five district fire stations.
In this photo collage, each of the officers of the last volunteer fire department of Seattle is pictured, in uniform and holding their helmets, and identified by name and position. In the center is Fire Chief Joseph Collins (1864-1949), a lawyer who was born in North Carolina and moved to Seattle about 1885.
Printed on image: Officers of the last volunteer fire department of Seattle, Washington, LaRoche & Co. Photo's.
Identification printed on image: Wm. Murphy, Foreman, Engine Co. No. 1; W. H. Clark, Foreman, Washington Eng. No. 2; M. W. Hand, Foreman, Union Eng. No. 3; A. D. McKnight, Foreman, Deluge Eng. No. 7; Jas. Murph, 1st. Asst. Chief; Josiah Collins, Jr., Chief of last Volunteer Department; Jas. McIntyre, 2nd Asst. Chief; W. H. Lake, Foreman of Engine Co. No. 4; Jack McDonald, Chief of first Regular Department; T. E. Nunan, Foreman, Hook & Ladder Co.
Handwritten on verso: H. Clark, Compliments of Josiah Collins, Jr.
In this photo collage, each of the officers of the last volunteer fire department of Seattle is pictured, in uniform and holding their helmets, and identified by name and position. In the center is Fire Chief Joseph Collins (1864-1949), a lawyer who was born in North Carolina and moved to Seattle about 1885.
Printed on image: Officers of the last volunteer fire department of Seattle, Washington, LaRoche & Co. Photo's.
Identification printed on image: Wm. Murphy, Foreman, Engine Co. No. 1; W. H. Clark, Foreman, Washington Eng. No. 2; M. W. Hand, Foreman, Union Eng. No. 3; A. D. McKnight, Foreman, Deluge Eng. No. 7; Jas. Murph, 1st. Asst. Chief; Josiah Collins, Jr., Chief of last Volunteer Department; Jas. McIntyre, 2nd Asst. Chief; W. H. Lake, Foreman of Engine Co. No. 4; Jack McDonald, Chief of first Regular Department; T. E. Nunan, Foreman, Hook & Ladder Co.
Handwritten on verso: H. Clark, Compliments of Josiah Collins, Jr.
ID Number: SHS17710
Date: Circa 1889
Creator(s):
La Roche & Co. Photographs, Owner
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 15.25 x 13.25 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
Credit: MOHAI, SHS17710
Copyright: No Known Copyright