Palmetto Fire Engine Company, ca. 1870

Photograph

Historic Charleston Foundation

Palmetto Fire Engine Company

Origsize: ~11x15; Origformat: Print-Photographic

Name/Title

Palmetto Fire Engine Company, ca. 1870

Entry/Object ID

2005.021.001

Description

Charleston, circa 1870, depicting a fire engine carriage emblazoned with palmetto tree insignia, taken at the Palmetto Fire Engine Station House at 27 Anson Street. At left of photo, four men lean against the building; two men stand behind the carriage; and what looks like a uniformed man stands against the building behind the carriage.

Context

The old Palmetto Fire Engine Station House still stands today at 27 Anson Street and is now a private residence.

Collection

HCF Image Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.021.

Source or Donor

Charleton Hall Galleries, Inc.

Acquisition Method

Purchased

Made/Created

Artist

Unattributed

Date made

1870

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Verso

Transcription

Palmetto Fire Engine Charleston 1870.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Photograph

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Graphic Documents

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

Anson Street, Palmetto Fire Engine Company (Charleston, S.C.), Fire stations--South Carolina--Charleston, Fire engines--South Carolina--Charleston

Dimensions

Height

15-1/4 in

Width

11-1/4 in

Dimension Notes

Photo measures H11¼" x W15¼"; matted to H11" x W15"; framed to a dimension of H18" x W22".

Location

Building

Missroon Library

Date

February 7, 2023

Missroon/Archives

Location

Building

Missroon/Library

Condition

Notes

Within contemporary frame. Photograph is encapsulated in mylar, which rests on a balsa(?) wood spacer between the glass and the backing.

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

ANSON.027.001, ANSON.027.002, ANSON.027.003, ANSON.027.004

Provenance

Notes

Purchased at auction, Charlton Hall Galleries, in Oct. 2005. Purchase price $2,200.

Copyright

Copyright Details

Public domain.

General Notes

Note Type

In-House Note

Note

Notes: Photo will be hung in the Missroon Library. Reprint to be made for current owner of 27 Anson Street, Roy Owen. Image on catalog record is from the Charlon Hall Galleries website. Per Fielding Freed, may not an original print but an enlargement (old). Historic information, provided by Librarian at SC Room, CCPL: The firefighting company for the City of Charleston in the 1870s. Charleston City Directories indicate that the Palmetto Fire Company was instituted in 1840 and incorporated in 1841. It is listed as being on Anson Street, near the corner of Hasell Street. In 1867, the president of the company was Hugh Ferguson and the company consisted of 63 men, 1 steam engine, and 1 boiler. In the 1869-70 directory, Ferguson is still listed as President; Joseph Reddock was Vice President, Alex Duncan, Secretary; and W.T. Ruger, Treasurer. Officers met on the first Monday of each month. The Palmetto Company was one of five companies in charge of putting out fires in District No. 1, which encompassed all of Charleston south of Calhoun Street and east of Meeting Street. Along with the Palmetto Company, District No. 1 was served by the Young America Fire Engine Company, the Phoenix Fire Engine Company, the Vigilant Fire Engine Company, and the German Fire Engine Company.

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

October 26, 2005

Updated By

sferguson@historiccharleston.org

Update Date

July 3, 2023