The sound of ringing fire bells terrified urban dwellers throughout the 1800s. Before the Civil War, huge fires destroyed more than $200 million worth of property in the nation's largest cities. Although Philadelphia did not suffer a devastating fire like those that nearly destroyed Boston and Chicago, the city often saw terrible blazes. In the era before the establishment of a professional city-wide fire department, protecting the city's residents was an important and highly-regarded act of public service. The Mercer Museum will tell the exciting story of Philadelphia's volunteer firefighters in a new exhibit, "To Save Our Fellow Citizens: Volunteer Firefighting, 1800-1875.” The show will run until Monday, Sept. 7.
"We are pleased to put our collection of Philadelphia's firefighting history on display to the public," said Mercer Museum executive director, Doug Dolan. "Many of the artifacts were donated to the museum in 1919 by the Volunteer Firemen's Association of Philadelphia, and some are on exhibit for the first time in several decades. The firefighting profession still captures the imagination today of the young and old," said Dolan.
Objects on view in “To Save Our Fellow Citizens” include an early hand-powered engine and a hose carriage, fire helmets and parade hats, tools, models, badges, speaking trumpets, original prints and paintings, manuscript materials, and numerous photographs. Visitors will learn about the evolution of firefighting in Philadelphia from a city of volunteers to the beginnings of a paid workforce. The exhibit will also explore the debate that raged over the merits of volunteer firefighting, how fire companies were formed and why fireman used such elaborate artwork to adorn their engines and parade regalia. In addition to audio and video stations, interactive exhibit experiences include "Sound the Alarm," which lets visitors try communicating the locations of fires using the firefighters' bell code system from the early 1800s, and the board game, "Race to the Fire," where players compete to see who can be the first on the scene of a fire. A children's play area lets kids try out firefighter clothing, climb on a play fire engine and use a modern fire hose and nozzle for pretend firefighting.
Throughout the spring and summer, the museum has scheduled a number of firefighting-related programs for visitors to enjoy, such as “From Horses to Horsepower-The Philadelphia Bureau of Fire 1871 to 1928” on Saturday, May 30, at 2 p.m.; “The Early Fire Companies of Kensington and Fishtown: An Archaeological Exploration” on Saturday, June 20, at 2 p.m.; “An Evening of Firefighting Memories” on Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.; “Working Hand in Hand: Philadelphia's Volunteer Fire Companies and the Insurance Industry” on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m.; and “Doylestown Walking Tour: Firefighting History” on Friday, Aug. 14, at 5:30 and 7 p.m., $11 adults/$6 youth.
The Mercer Museum will also host two special firefighting days on its grounds that are free and open to the public (regular admission applies to visits to the museum itself). A “Firefighting Day and Antique Equipment Muster” will take place on Sunday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a second “Firefighting Day and Modern Equipment Show” is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both events will feature engines and apparatus from area fire companies, special demonstrations, fire prevention information and fun, hands-on activities for all ages. The two programs will be presented in collaboration with the Bucks County Fire Chiefs' Association.
"To Save Our Fellow Citizens: Volunteer Firefighting, 1800-1875” is generously sponsored by Visit Bucks County, the Tilley Family and the Tilley Fire Equipment Company, In Memory of Don Tilley's commitment to volunteer firefighting, the Bucks County Foundation, William and Laurie Schutt, Susan E. Kane, Brian and Louise McLeod, Mission Appeal Donors-2014 Cocktails at the Castle Gala, and Adopt-An Artifact Campaign contributors.
The Mercer Museum is located at Pine and Ashland Streets in Doylestown, Pa., and is open for self-guided exploration seven days a week.
For more information, call 215-345-0210 or visit www.mercermuseum.org.