Fire Somewhere In Monroe

To go along with yesterday's post, this is another one from the library's Monroe Jaycees Collection. Now what in the world a fire has to do with the City Planning Commission, I don't know. I wish I knew where this happened!

A Little Fire Department History

Earlier this week someone asked me about the history of the local Fire Department. I found way back in February of 1867, a man named A.W. Norcross donated $100 to buy a fire engine for the city. He was the Federal IRS Assessor at the time! Monroe citizens ran with it and within weeks, $2000 … Continue reading A Little Fire Department History →

Monroe Fire Department’s First Fire Truck

I love this one! If I had to guess, this was Monroe's first gas fire truck! At least, the vehicle is very old, so it is one of the first. We don't know who the man behind the wheel is. You can see the photo on the Louisiana Digital Library here: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A535 .

The “Fire Horses” of the Ouachita Parish Fire Department

Back in the late 1800's, after the large 1871 fire, it was decided that Monroe needed a fire department. There were no motorized fire trucks back then, so horses were often commandeered from Endom's livery to pull the hose wagon and water pump. Ouachita got their own horses finally and horses were used up until … Continue reading The “Fire Horses” of the Ouachita Parish Fire Department →

Monroe Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1

The driver is identified as John Rigsby, who was also Captain of the Company and Ed Johnson is in the white shirt next to the driver. No one else is identified. There is a date attached to the photo of May 13, 1913. The only problem with this is that if the man driving the … Continue reading Monroe Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1 →

An Early Steam Fire Engine

This is a very interesting photo. The only thing we know about it is it shows an early steam fire engine in Monroe in the nineteenth century. This would have been pulled by two horses and had to be filled using local cisterns scattered around the city.

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: Unknown - standing on ground.Harry Roberts - on truckUnknown - behind … Continue reading An Early Fire Truck →

First African-American Firefighters in Monroe – 1874

Did you know that Monroe had an all-black Fire Company crew during Reconstruction? They organized in early 1874 and since the Ouachita Fire Company, No 1 had just gotten a new steam fire engine, the new crew were given the old hand engine called Creole, No. 9. They called themselves "the Aetnas" (Aetna Fire Co., … Continue reading First African-American Firefighters in Monroe – 1874 →

Monroe Firemen’s Pension Fund

This little plaque was found by a colleague in our files. It shows the Fire Station on Hudson lane in 1960. Neat little treasure!

Monroe Fire Department Circa 1915

This is a photo from the Ouachita Parish Public Library's photo files (photo No. 1155). It shows the Monroe Fire Department outside Station Number one on St. John Street (between Grammont and Wood Streets). The photographer would have been standing about where First Baptist Church's Education and Church Office building is now! Pictured is the … Continue reading Monroe Fire Department Circa 1915 →