Gulfport Voluntary Fire Department

Photograph

Gulfport History Museum

Front

Name/Title

Gulfport Voluntary Fire Department

Entry/Object ID

GFD.1

Description

A black and white photograph of 14 men (including Lester Wintersgill, Jerome Girard, John "Frenchy" LaJoie) standing on and around two cars. They are in front of a white building with a sign reading "GULFPORT FIRE DEPT."

Photograph Details

Subject

Fire departments--Florida--Gulfport--1920-1940, Fire departments--Equipment and supplies, Automobiles--1920-1940, Fashion--1920-1940

Subject Person or Organization

Gulfport Fire Department

Subject Place

City

Gulfport, FL

Collection

Photographs, Gulfport Fire Department

Cataloged By

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Unknown

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Dimensions

Height

3-5/16 in

Width

5-1/2 in

Web Links and URLs

Email us regarding this entry

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

"Records indicate that the Gulfport Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1925. However, some men who became members between 1926 and 1933 maintain that the organization is much older than this. In 1925, a brand new custom-built American La France Model 75 pumper (pictured) was purchased. It was purchased by means of bond issue which was retired but a few years before the apparatus itself was retired. This model apparatus became the standard of craftsmanship, performance, and endurance in the United States for many years. The pumper served the town of Gulfport as its first line apparatus until 1956 and is still in our possession, being retired from active duty in 1968. The City is in the process of restoring this pumper to its original condition."