Have you heard the term “Bucket Brigade?”
Before there were paid fire departments across America, when there was a fire that threatened a barn, a home, or a business, your neighbors would rush to the scene of the fire and line up to pass leather buckets from the nearest water source to extinguish the fire. Imagine how many people might be called on to rush to this type of endeavor. Soooo many!
Recognized as a concern for the community, in late 1736, the Pennsylvania Gazette published articles about the need for a more effective way to handle fires. Benjamin Franklin stepped up and is generally credited for establishing the first volunteer firehouse, the Union Fire Company.
In the History of Philadelphia written in 1884 by John Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott, a few responsibilities of the volunteers were described:
“Each member to furnish, at his own expense, six leather buckets marked with his name, which he was to bring to every fire.”
“Some were to superintend the use of the water, others were to stand at the doors of houses to protect property from theft.”
Thank you, Benjamin Franklin, for calling on those caring and dedicated individuals to commit their time and talents for the good of the community.
VOLUNTEERS REALLY DO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!
If you would like to volunteer at a historic site, visit ppfv.org/volunteer.