This page contains a chronological listing of information on Boston Fire Department activity, across all types of categories, from 1890 to 1899. The listings contained within this page will be updated on a continual basis, as new information becomes available. Information on some ‘Fires’ and ‘Line of Duty Deaths’ will be found in the Chronology. Use the link to Fires and Line of Duty Deaths to see more complete listings.
YEAR | DATE | Activity |
---|---|---|
1900 | January 8 | 1900, William L. Clark and Company was awarded the contract for the construction of the new firehouse on Warren Ave in the South End which would house Engine Co. 22 and Ladder Co. 13. The price was $34,900 which was the lowest bid. The building is still extant. |
1900 | April 3 | The term ‘Permanent Substitute’ was changed to ‘Man on Probation’, referring to new members of the department. |
1900 | April 23 | Combination Ladder Co. 9 was organized at the quarters of Engine Company 30 at 1940 Centre Street, West Roxbury. |
1900 | June 16 | For actions they performed at the fire, Box 414 at 47 Leverett Street, the names of Capt. Peter Callahan of Engine 4, Lieut. Joseph A. Kelley of Chemical 1, Hoseman Timothy A. Heffron of Engine 4 and Hoseman James E. Downey of Engine 6 were placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for their actions at Box 414. They were also awarded medals issued by the Massachusetts Humane Society. |
1901 | January 29 | Fire Commissioner Henry S. Russell ordered the names of Ladderman Frederick F. Leary of Ladder 12 and Ladderman Florence Donaghue of Combination 8 be placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for meritorious conduct in saving life at a fire at 57 Auburn St, Box 414 on January 28, 1901, and he recommended them be recognized by the Massachusetts Human Society. |
1901 | February 7 | The names of Captain James J. O’Connor of Engine Co. 7; Lieutenant James F. McMahon of Combination Ladder. 8, Hosemen Martin A. Kenealy, Denis Driscoll of Engine Co. 7 and Ladderman William Magner of Ladder Co. 8 were placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for meritorious conduct in saving lives at the fire, 15 & 17 State St., Box 36 on Feb 5, 1901 and recommended recognition by the Massachusetts Humane Society. |
1901 | February 21 | Order of Fire Commissioner Henry S. Russell, the name of Hoseman Thomas J. Muldoon of Chemical Co. 8 was placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for saving the life of Elizabeth Green at great personal risk, at Box 129 on February 21, 1901. |
1901 | March 22 | District Chief William Thompson Cheswell was promoted to Chief of Department. He replaced Lewis Phillip Webber who retired after 38 years of service. |
1901 | August 1 | Engine Company 22 moved into new quarters at 70 Warren Avenue, South End, a 3-story firehouse. |
1901 | August 19 | Ladder Company 13 moved into the new firehouse at 70 Warren Avenue, South End, from their quarters at 1171 Washington Street, South End. |
1901 | October 4 | Combination Ladder Company 10 was organized at the quarters of Engine Company 37 and Chemical Engine Co. 3 at 352 Longwood Avenue, Fenway. |
1901 | November 15 | Combination Ladder Co. 11 was organized and placed in service at the quarters of Engine Co. 20 at 32 Walnut Street, Neponset. |
1902 | January 16 | The name of Hoseman Dennis McGee, Combination Co. 5, was placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for meritorious conduct in saving the life of Edwin Moore from drowning in Sunapee Harbor, New Hampshire on August 28, 1901. |
1902 | February 12 | The names of Laddermen Joseph P. Hanton and Michael Teehan, Ladder Co. 17, were placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for saving the life of Mrs. Phillip Hook at 373 Tremont St, Box 85, on February 8, 1902. |
1902 | November 7 | Ladder Company 18 was organized and placed in service in a new 3-story firehouse at 9 Pittsburgh Street in the Wool District of South Boston. The company was equipped with a new 85ft aerial ladder truck built by the International Fire Engine Company, with ‘Dederick’ aerial ladder. |
1903 | November 2 | Water Tower Co. 3 was organized and placed in service at 1000 hours at the quarters of Ladder Co. 18 at 9 Pittsburgh Street, South Boston. The company was equipped with a new 65ft Water Tower built by the International Fire Engine Company at cost of $6,650.00. |
1903 | December 8 | The names of Lieutenant Charles W. Conway and Ladderman Michael J. Dacey of Ladder Company 13 were placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for saving a life at a fire at 23 Harwich St, Box 94 on December 8, 1903. They were also awarded medals by the Humane Society of Massachusetts. |
1903 | December 24 | The name of District Chief Patrick E. Keyes of District 1 was placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for meritorious conduct in saving a life at a fire in a building at 355 Maverick St, East Boston, Box 614, on December 15, 1903. |
1903 | December 29 | All 3 Water Towers operated at a fire in the building at 5-7 Federal Court, 4 alarms, 3rd alarm skipped, Box 52, the first time all 3 towers operated at the same fire. The damage was $65,768.00, Assistant Chiefs John Mullen and Nathan Hussey were present along with Chief of Department William Cheswell. |
1904 | January 11 | The first 4-digit fire alarm box was installed, Box 2787, at the Farragut School, 10 Fenwood Road, Mission Hill. The nearest box in the area was Box 787. Thus a 2 was added to box number and code wheel. |
1904 | July 5 | The first of only two instances where a 4th alarm was sounded immediately after the first alarm, skipping both the 2nd and 3rd alarms. The alarm was for a fire at Mystic Wharf in Charlestown, Box 429 at 1713 hours, 4th alarm at 1724 hours. Damage was over $405,772. |
1904 | July 30 | Three water towers operated at a fire at Berkeley and Chandler Streets, South End, in a vacant 7-story grain elevator. Four alarms on Box 85. |
1905 | February 16 | Fire Commissioner Colonel Henry Sturgis Russell died. |
1905 | February 17 | Patrick J. Kennedy was appointed Fire Commissioner. |
1905 | March 20 | Mayor Collins appointed Mr. Benjamin W. Wells Fire Commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden death of Colonel Henry Sturgis Russell, for the term ending April 30, 1907, replacing Acting Fire Commissioner Patrick J. Kennedy. |
1905 | April 21 | (G.O. 602) The designations of Combination-Ladder and Combination-Wagon units was changed: Combination Wagon 2 became Ladder Company 19 Combination Ladder 3 became Ladder Company 20 Combination Ladder 4 became Ladder Company 21 Combination Ladder 5 became Ladder Company 22 Combination Ladder 6 became Ladder Company 23 Combination Wagon 7 was changed to Combination Wagon 2 Combination Ladder 8 became Ladder Company 24 Combination Ladder 9 became Ladder Company 25 Combination Ladder 10 became Ladder Company 26 Combination Ladder 11 became Ladder Company 27 |
1905 | May 31 | A prize ribbon was presented to the men of Engine 4 for the performance and upkeep of the horses in that company. The competition was part of the Work Horse Parade, a similar ribbon was also presented to the men of Ladder 4 for the appearance of their horses in the Work Horse Parade. |
1905 | June 7 | Fire Commissioner Benjamin Wells issued an order to members of the department who had not had their photograph taken for the files, “please report to Mr. Fred Green, 140 Court St, and have one taken, no charge, unless they wished to purchase copies of the photos”. |
1905 | November 3 | John Stanhope Damrell, Chief Engineer of the Boston Fire Department at the time of the ‘Great Boston Fire of 1872’ passed away at age 77. He was buried in the family plot in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, adjacent to the ‘Fireman’s Lot’. Newspaper story |
1905 | November 16 | Scaling (Pompier) ladders were used to rescue several workers during a noon-time fire at Box 21, 77 Sudbury St, Downtown. Members of Ladder Co. 1 under Capt. Edward Shallow accomplished the rescues of the several workers. The newspapers covered this story in great detail. |
1905 | December 8 | Effective at 0800 hours, the ‘1 Day Off in 5’ work schedule replaced the ‘1 Day Off in 8’ work schedule. This required 30 probationary men assigned to the department as temporary appointments. |
1905 | December 31 | A large fire occurred in city of Brockton. Engine Company 15 was sent via railroad. They operated for several hours on the fire from an adjacent building. |
1906 | February 13 | A Premier automobile was loaned to the department for use. It was assigned to District 7 at 70 Warren Ave., South End. Also furnished with the automobile was a chauffeur, Mr. S. H. Baker. The auto responded to 30 alarms during its stay which was ended on February 24, 1906. |
1906 | February 15 | William Thompson Cheswell, 63, of Headquarters, died from heart failure while directing operations at Box 15, (Richmond & Commercial Streets) for a fire in a wholesale grocery house at 72 Commercial Street, North End. (The Chief of Department responded to all alarms downtown and the mercantile area 24 hours a day, except on his day off at that time.) (On December 20, 1905, he was thrown from his wagon at Albany and Bristol Streets while responding to an alarm from Box 48 and he received a fractured skull, broken rib and other injuries. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he stayed until December 31, when he went home. He reported back for duty on January 22, 1906. On February 15, 1906, at 0501 hours he was taken suddenly ill at the fire at 72 Commercial Street and was taken to the Relief Station of the City Hospital where he died at 0526 hours. (The Doctor in charge, Dr. George H. M. Rowe, diagnosed the cause as cardiac). He had 43 years service.) |
1906 | February 23 | Assistant Chief John A. Mullen was promoted to Chief of Department |
1906 | March 2 | A Columbia automobile was purchased for the use of the Chief of Department, the price was $1,542.50, a discount from the regular price of $1,750.00. A professional chauffeur, Frank Shea, was the chief’s driver. |
1906 | July 21 | Hoseman Martin Anthony Kenealy, Engine 7, on East Street, received notice that he had passed the bar and had become a lawyer. He studied at home, and with the little extra time he had he took a course which helped him. Fire Commissioner Wells, Chief Mullen and District Chief Sennott all were very pleased and congratulated him. He said he would remain on his first love, the Fire Department. |
1906 | August 9 | Fire Commissioner Benjamin Wells adopted a plan to have his car and Chief of Department Mullen’s car each equipped with a red lantern. |
1906 | August 10 | The titles of First Assistant Chief and Second Assistant Chief were changed to First Deputy Chief and Second Deputy Chief. John Grady was the 1st Deputy Chief and Peter McDonough was the 2nd Deputy Chief. |
1906 | September 10 | Daniel J. O’Brien was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was appointed Drillmaster, assigned to Water Tower Co. 2 at Fire Headquarters at 60 Bristol Street, South End. |
1906 | September 24 | The American La France Fire Engine Co. loaned an automobile chemical to the department for trial. This unit was first placed in the quarters of Engine 26/35 on Mason St and then to the quarters of Engine 22 and Ladder 13 on Warren Ave where it remained the longest. It was equipped with two (2) 35-gallon chemical tanks, 250 feet of hose and other necessary tools. The unit was built on a Packard chassis and was equipped with a gasoline 30 horse power engine, which could speed up to 30 miles per hour. |
1906 | October 2 | The Trustees of the Boston Fireman’s Relief Fund voted that the sum of $200.00 be sent annually to the Carney Hospital for the establishment of free beds for members of the Boston Fire and Boston Protective Departments. |
1906 | November 17 | At 1829 hours, while responding down Castle Street, the American La France automobile chemical unit was in an collision. Part of one of the rear wheels collapsed and in the process the car ran into an elevated railroad upright. District Chief Ryder was thrown over the bell and landed on the hood, fortunately raising his hand in a manor preventing being thrown against the post. The apparatus was removed to the shop and later sent back to American LaFrance for repairs. |
1907 | January 10 | Engine Co. 46 was organized and placed in service at the quarters of Combination Wagon 1 at 1884 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester. Combination Co. 1 was designated Chemical Engine Co. 11 and relocated to Carlos Street, Dorchester. Combination Wagon 2 at 34 Winthrop St, Charlestown was designated Chemical Engine Co. 3.
Effective this date, in accordance with General Order 624, a new assignment book was placed in effect, which provided, for the first time, 5th alarm assignments for boxes where this was considered necessary. Company running cards previously made up by each company for its own use, were now to be furnished by Fire Headquarters. |
1907 | April 8 | The auto chemical unit that the American LaFrance Fire Engine Co. had let the department use since September 25, 1906, was returned. In his letter, Fire Commissioner Wells stated that he “thought that the apparatus performed very well and he was sorry, but he did not have the money to purchase it. |
1907 | July 13 | For only the second time, the first alarm was followed immediately by the 4th alarm, Box 148 at Congress and A Streets, South Boston, at 1337 ½ hours followed by the 4th alarm at 1342 ½ hours fire at 347 Congress Street. A 6-story brick warehouse building, the fire originated on the 6th floor and the cause was unknown, Deputy Chief John Grady was the boss, damage was $44,844. |
1907 | August 24 | Retired District Chief Samuel Abbott died at his home, 5 Irwin Ave, Roxbury. He was age 84 and his son, with the same name, was Superintendent of the Boston Protective. Chief Abbott was Foreman of old “Eagle Three” in the days of the Call Men and help pull the steam engine to the Great Boston Fire in November 1872. He transferred to Engine Company 28 when the Permanent Companies were established. He was a member of several of the Veteran Firemen’s groups. |
1907 | December 5 | The ‘Russell Club’ was established by members of the Boston Fire Department, with 608 BFD members joining. Only 56 BFD members did not join. The Russell Club was established to advocate for the rank and file members of the BFD. |
1907 | December 6 | The Boston Protective Department placed in service a new Knox motor driven wagon with a special squad body. It was equipped with a 35 HP gasoline engine, carried a large amount of equipment and was assigned to Company 3 in Roxbury, located at Roxbury and Gay Streets and was designated Wagon 3A. The company made long runs to Dorchester, West Roxbury and Brighton. |
1908 | January 27 | A major fire occurred in Portland, Maine. Requests for help was transmitted at 0210 hours. Commissioner Wells and Chief Mullen ordered Engines 6, 10 and 15 to respond to the Rutherford Avenue Rail Yards in Charlestown to board a special train to Portland. Just as the train was ready to pull out a message was received that help was not needed, but the mayor of Portland offered heartfelt thanks. The apparatus was unloaded, horses retrieved and the companies returned to quarters. |
1908 | February 1 | Brigadier General Samuel D. Parker of the Governor’s staff replaced Benjamin Wells as Fire Commissioner. Mr. Parker stated he would not respond to fires but would spend that time working on administrative duties at Fire Headquarters. Newspaper story |
1908 | September 14 | A contract was awarded to Bertlesen and Petersen of East Boston for the construction of a new fireboat for the sum of $66,500.00. After the large fire at the Cunard Docks in E. Boston it was easy to see the need for another fireboat. A contract was awarded to the Blake & Knowles Steam Pump Works for fire pumps for the new fireboat at a price of $11,990. The fireboat was later named the MV ‘John P. Dowd’. |
1909 | March 20 | The new fireboat was launched on at 1014 hours at the Atlantic Works Yard on Border Street, East Boston, after Miss Adelaide Hibbard, daughter of the Mayor broke a bottle of champagne and christened her “Engine 47.” The vessel was the ‘John P. Dowd’. |
1909 | May 14 | Eugene Melrose Byington, in addition to his regular duties as Supervisor of Engines, was appointed Superintendent of Repair Shop and Captain William M. Lynch of Water Tower 2 was detailed as Assistant Superintendent until further notice. Eugene Byington was an expert on steam fire engines. |
1909 | June 9 | (GO 655) The department was organized into two fire fighting divisions, each in charge of a Deputy Chief, effective at 1000 hours, with the titles of First and Second Deputy Chief to be abolished. The new titles were to be known as Senior and Junior Deputy Chiefs. The Senior Deputy Chief was John Grady, assigned to Division 1 and the Junior Deputy Chief assigned to Division 2 was Peter McDonough. |
1909 | June 13 | A new monument was dedicated on Firemen’s Sunday, at the Fireman’s Lot in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain. The new monument was a very handsome tribute, built by J. M. White of Quincy, of Quincy granite. Mr. John Wilson was the sculptor of the bronze statue, the monument as 26 feet high, with a 12 foot base. Four bronze plaques representing action of a steamer, hook and ladder, protective wagon and the old time hand tub. The cost was over $10,000. |
1909 | July 22 | The name of Hoseman Thomas H. Downey, Engine Company 8 had his name placed on the ‘Roll of Merit’ for meritorious act in rescuing a man at a fire at 19 Morton Street, Box 17, on July 19, 1909, at 0125 hours. |
1909 | August 23 | Engine Company 47 (Fireboat) was organized with a new fireboat and firehouse, located at the Foot of Lewis Street, East Boston. The fireboat was the MV ‘John P. Dowd’. |
1909 | October 5 | Fire struck the residence of Governor Eben S.Draper, 150 Beacon St, Box 63, 0348 hours, 2 alarms. All escaped but damage was $301,529. The Governor was out of town with his family and Chief of Department John A. Mullen in charge. |
1909 | October 14 | District 13 (Marine District) was established at the quarters of Fireboat Engine 47 at the Foot of Lewis Street, East Boston. Captain Robert Ritchie of Engine Co. 44 was promoted to District Chief and assigned to District 13 on the same day. He was the only Chief ever assigned to the Marine District. |
1909 | October 15 | All ‘Call’ members of the department were dismissed from service. All Public Bells, except for the bell at Faneuil Hall, were disconnected. |