Record #:

23026

Author(s):

Kammerer, Roger

Abstract:

In 1884, Col. Isaac A. Sugg created the first fire company in Greenville known as “The Rough and Ready Fire Company.” It consisted of a volunteer group of 40 black men headed up by its first Captain Samuel O. Mason. The first fire truck was a hook and ladder wagon pulled around town by ropes. Kammerer gives a list of names of the Rough and Ready Fire Company. In 1886 a brass band was organized in connection with the fire company known as the “Aeolian Band.” It disbanded later and a new band, “Elmo Band,” formed in its place. In 1896, the Rough and Ready Fire Company merged with the Greenville Fire Company to form the “Hope Fire Company.” The 12 members of the Rough and Ready Fire hose reel unit of the Hope Fire Company became one of the outstanding black fire units in NC, winning many awards by the 1960s.

Source:

Greenville Times / Pitt's Past (NC Microforms), Vol. Issue , Mar 13-26 1996, p8

Subject(s):

Fire companies--Pitt County; Pitt County--Fire companies