An Early Fire Truck

This is another one I found, and luckily it was dated and most persons were identified. Plus, there was a date of April 15, 1915. I may get the names wrong, since the handwriting was very hard to read!

Left to right, back row:

1. Unknown – standing on ground.
2. Harry Roberts – on truck
3. Unknown – behind truck and in hat.
4. John Lamkin – no hat, sleeves rolled.
5. John Brothers – by siren.
6. Frank O’Neal – Far side with cap.
7. Barney Oakland – by spot light.
8. Ed Johnson’s son – boy with bike
   
   Front row:
9. Ed Johnson – on ground.
10. Leon Tullos – on truck, cap & shirt sleeves.
11. Floyd Ferrington – foot on truck, right boot on ground.
12. H.S. Tile (?) – Driver
13. Chief Roddy – sitting far side of driver.

Now, as to the date given on the photo, I don’t think that is accurate. I think it is much earlier. I f you zoom in on the building in the background, you can see there is a sign on the building which says, “Mrs. S.A. Johnson, Private Boarding”.

I found the following obituary in the Monroe News-Star, October 19, 1912 which states:

Mrs. S.A. Johnson Dead.

Mrs. S.A. Johnson died this morning at 12:15 o’clock at her home on Catalpa street after a several weeks’ illness. Funeral services were held this afternoon at 4 o’clock, interment being in the city cemetery. Mrs. Johnson conducted the Johnson House near the City Market for a number of years and was one of the best known residents of the city.

Sure enough, in the 1912 – 13 city directory was the following entry:

Johnson Susan A, wid Wilson, propr Johnson House, h 116 Catalpa

116 Catalpa is roughly right where the Ascent building is now, across the street from where the old City Market once stood.

HOWEVER… The News-Star on May 9, 1917, published the Monroe City Council meeting minutes. Included was an authorization for Mayor Apgar to “…sign and execute five promisery notes of eighteen hundred ($1,800.00) dollars, payable to the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company, Inc., representing the purchase price of Fire Engine, Type 12, Tripple Reg. No. 1391…” By November of that year, the Alexandria Fire Chief was coming up to see a demonstration of the new engine. When was this photo taken? All I can say for sure is, before 1920!