Fire Department History

Early History

Organization

The realization for the need of fire protection in the city of Petersburg, VA dates back to the time when Petersburg was very first established.  The colonial town was established by law in 1748.  People made use of fire and under the right conditions it was very good to them, but when something happened and the fire got out of control it destroyed everything in its path.  When this happened there was a need for a certain amount of manpower to try and stop the raging fire.  Thus a fire company was organized.

The men that made up these companies were members of the town.  They volunteered their services so they were not of a paid organization; they were what we call today volunteers.  The first evidence of a volunteer fire company in Petersburg was in 1773 though the tragedy of fire struck much earlier.  This is evident because in 1748, the same year that Petersburg became a town by law, there was a law passed that forbid wooden chimneys to be used.  Those that still existed were either to be pulled down by the owner or by the sheriff.

The Old Street Fire Company was established in 1788 and is regarded as the oldest establishment of its kind in Petersburg.  There was another fire company organized in 1793.  It was called the Bollingbrook Fire Company.  In 1854, the Old Street Mutual Aid Fire Association was formed.  It consisted of four volunteer companies, the South Ward company, the Old Street Company, the Bollingbrook Company and the Virginia Company.  There were approximately 150 men.  These companies continued thru the War Between the States and reorganized in 1866.

When the department was reorganized, there were still four companies.  These were all volunteer companies except the chief who was paid $50.00 every three months.

In the 1800’s the members of the fire department were elected to their position.  The key factor in deciding if they were elected was the political party in control.  When a political party lost their control, new members were elected.  Also, the name of a fire company was often changed when a new officer was elected.

W. H. Jarvis was elected as chief on July 1, 1867.  He had four companies under his command.  The Bollingbrook Street Company had 96 men, the Old Street Company had 51 men, the Virginia Fire Company had 42 men and the South Ward Protection company had 40 men.  The uniforms of most of the companies consisted of red shirts, leather belts and any color pants.

On January 7, 1868 the Petersburg Hook and Ladder Company was organized.  It was later named the Cockade Hook and Ladder Company.  On October 1, 1868 the company received a ladder truck which arrived at City Point.  The approximate cost of the truck was $1,150.00.  Even though these were volunteer organizations, part of the cost for the truck was paid for by the city.  The truck was painted and decorated by W. H. Jarvis, who was the chief of the department at that time and the truck was put on duty November 9, 1868.

There was a parade held for the occasion of the new truck and the fifty-seven members of the Cockade Hook and Ladder Company were there.  Their uniform consisted of grey caps, grey shirt and black suit.

On September 1, 1869 the city appropriated $2,145.00 for a lost and to build a house (fire station) for the Old Street Fire Company on Old Street.  They also appropriated $200.00 for a new bell for the company.  The bell weighed approximately 400 pounds.

On June 27, 1870 the South Ward Protection Company changed its name to the Stonewall Fire Company.  On the first of July of the same year the city got their first assistant chief, R. A. Orr.

The Virginia Fire Company dissolved and reorganized as the Johnson Hose Company on May 1, 1871.  When the Virginia Fire Company dissolved the chief of the department gave the newly developed company the truck that belonged to the Virginia Fire Company.  This company dissolved on July the first of the same year and reorganized as the Joe Scott Hose Company.

On May 2, 1871 the Bollingbrook Street Company reorganized.  They now had 32 men and one new hose carriage.  They were then known as the Bollingbrook Hose Company.

Both the Johnson Hose Company and the Stonewall Fire Company dissolved on July 1, 1871.  This was due to the fact that they refused to serve under the newly appointed chief, William P. Lacy.

This did not last long though because sometime between the third and the fifth of that same month a group of Negroes tried to organize a colored fire company.  In order to prevent this from happening, the members of the old, dissolved companies were called together for a meeting and decided to reorganize.  On July 7, 1871 the Stonewall Fire Company was organized once again, thus eliminating the black fire company.

After the city purchased a couple of steamers and a few hose carriages some of the companies changed their names again.  The Old Street Fire Company was renamed to the Old Street Steamer and Hose Company.  The Joe Scott Hose Company became the Joe Scott Steamer and Hose Company.

On July 1, 1873 the Old Street Steamer and Hose Company changed their name again to the Old Street Resolution Steamer and Hose Company.  The Joe Scott Steamer and Hose Company later resolved to the Mahone Hook and Ladder Company.   The Bollingbrook Street Hose Company was dissolved on July 21, 1874.

The ending of the year 1875 paved the road towards a paid fire department in the city of Petersburg.  On December 7, 1875 the all-volunteer fire companies were dissolved.  This made way for the part paid and the part call men theory.  This was initiated on December 14, 1875.