Engine4History

The first fire in Baltimore City was recorded on March 16, 1749 but it was not until September 22, 1763 that a group of citizens
met together in Melchier Keener's cigar store and established a fire company.

That Fire Co. was to be named the Mechanical Fire Company No.1 as it's members was composed mainly of tradesmen and
artisans. From 1763 to 1782 for nearly twenty years they were the only volunteer fire fighting society that protected Baltimore City.

Engine Company 4's history goes all the way back to the Volunteer Fire Service days in Baltimore City in 1763.

From 1763 to 1769 the Fire Company did not have any firefighting equipment to suppress fires of the day, most companies
supplied man power, it was the responsibility of the shop keepers and residents to keep and maintain leather buckets and wooden
ladders in various locations in their neighborhoods so that the fire company could utilize the equipment in the event of a fire.

In 1769 "The Mechanical Fire Company" began assembling fire equipment in their station at Fayette Street near Gay Street
adjoining the old court house. Equipment like leather buckets, axes, ladders and hooks were now stored in their station.

Also in 1769 "The Mechanical Fire Company" Purchased their first Fire Engine it was acquired aboard a dutch ship that was in the
Port of Baltimore. The engine was built in Holland and was nicked named the "Dutchman" and later became Engine #4. The engine
was purchased at a cost of ninety nine pounds or $264.00 dollars.

In 1782 & 1785 Two more Volunteer Fire Companies were added one was the "Union Fire Company No. 2" & the other was the
"Friendship Fire Company No. 3"
In 1792 a Volunteer Company named "Deptford No 4" was established at Canton Ave. and Market Street later named Broadway.
Deptford Fire Company later moved to Gough and Dallas Street. That company was only a Hose Tender Company with a rotary type
hand pump.
In 1794 a Volunteer Company named "Liberty No. 5" was established at Fayette and Liberty Street.
In 1799 a Volunteer Company named "Independent No.6" was established at Gay and Ensor Street which stands today as the
Baltimore Fire Museum.
1804 a Volunteer Company named "Vigilant No. 7" was established at Lombard and High Street.
1805 a Volunteer Company named "New Market No. 8" was established at Eutaw and High Street.
1805 a Volunteer Company named "Columbian No. 9" was established at Ann and Gough Street.

In 1821 The Mechanical Fire Company purchased a Tub Pumper, the pumper was built in Philadelphia, Pa. for the Mechanical Fire
Company of Baltimore City in 1821. The pumper was rebuilt by the Rodgers Company of Baltimore in 1847. The “Old Lady” was
purchased by The United Fire Company of Fredrick County Maryland in 1859 after the Mechanical Fire Company received one of
the first steam pumpers in Baltimore City. Along with the sale of the "Old Lady" a second Suction Engine and two Hose Carriages
along with 1,500 feet of fire hose was sold to the United Fire Company in April 1860.

1832 The Mechanical Fire Company became No. 4 and was Located in the 5th fire district at that time and replaced the Deptford
No. 4 The Mechanical Fire Company also purchased the tub type hand pumper and sold it to the City of Fredrick Volunteers.

To better organize the Volunteer Companies "The Baltimore United Fire Department" was established
January 20,1834 to 1859.

In 1858 The Mechanical Fire Company No. 4 obtained private money to purchase a "Alpha" Steam Engine built by Poole & Hunt
of Woodberry Maryland the steamer was named " The Maryland" which was pulled by 15 men. They took possession of the new
engine on February 12, 1859. and only enjoyed it for three days.

On March 30, 1859 The Baltimore City Fire Department was to be a paid department and was to consist of a Chief Engineer,
appointed by the Mayor for a term of Five years, two Assistant Chiefs Engineers, one Fire Inspector, six Engine Companies,
(increased to seven) to consist of one foreman (Officer), one engineer (Driver), and nine callmen (Firefighters), one Steam Engine,
one Hose Carriage or Reel, and one thousand feet of hose. One Ladder Truck with hooks, wooden ladders, and buckets ect. and 27
horses.
                                                                          Engine Company No. 4
                                                                                March 30, 1859
Was placed in to the quarters of the Old Monumental Hose Company which was established in 1851 on the east side of North Street
at Orange Alley . It was a 2 story brick building originally built in 1825 by the Mechanical Fire Company (Chief Officer) Foreman
Henery Spilman of the (Mechanical Fire Co.). In 1859 Baltimore City Fire Department bought all the remaining apparatus from
the Mechanical Fire Company, along with the new Steam Engine a 2 wheeled hose cart and a 4 wheeled hose carriage for $3,750.
The new department used the Steam Engine "Maryland" built in 1859 by Pool & Hunt of Woodberry, Maryland. The "Maryland"
was re-named "The John Cushing" by the board in honor of the first President of the City Fire Board.

The Mechanical Fire Company use to stand where the current City Hall now sits Orange Alley and North Street. The Fire
Company which sat on the NW corner of the City Hall Building was moved on April 1, 1873 Engine Company No 4 was relocated to
new quarters at 26 North Street. A former dwelling was improved to meet the requirements of a Steam Fire Engine company, the
new City Hall was to be built on the site of the old quarters.

                                                                           Engine Company No 4
                                                                                  1882 to 2009
February 15, 1882 A handsome and elegant new quarters were occupied by Engine Company No 4 it was located at: 210 East
Lexington Street as seen in the 7th picture from the top left of this page. The building was a two story brick building on a lot 120
feet deep 21 feet 9 inches wide costing $13,000.00 the lot cost was $2,000.00. An innovation of the time was that the ground floor
was slanted towards the from of the station 15 inches in order to give the horse drawn engine a faster start.

1st Engine was a Engine made in Holland In 1769 "The Dutchman"

2nd Engine was a Tub Pumper built in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1821 The pumper was rebuilt by the Rodgers Company of Baltimore in
1847 and sold to the United Fire Company of Fredrick County Maryland in 1859.

1824 The first riveted fire hose was bought & used and placed in-service on E-4.

3nd Engine was a "Alpha" "Maryland" and later renamed as "The John Cushing" In 1858 (pulled by 15 men)

The first Line of Duty Death in Baltimore City was on October 29, 1866 Mr. Charles Bertram of Engine Company # 2 on Box # 3 at
Baltimore and Hanover Street at the Marston Building

The first Multiple Line of Duty Deaths in Baltimore City was with Engine Company No 4 Box #3 14 McClellan Alley; April 17,
1869. at 9:01 PM. Pipeman James W. Summers & Pipeman John McBride were killed and the Foreman John P Cosgrove was badly
injured but survived.

4th Engine was a "Steamer" Placed in-service On January 25, 1873 Built by J.A. Ives & Brothers of Baltimore
In 1873 named "The John Cushing" and was later sent to Engine Company No. 3 in 1892

Engine 4 was the first In 1875 to have in house steam heaters which were used to keep the water hot in the Steam Engines while
the steamer was in station.

In 1880 Horses & Seats were added horses were added in late 1881 and in early 1882

5th Engine 1882 1st Horse drawn steamer which was still the "Steamer" built by Ives & Brothers "The John Cushing"

Sometime around this era a devastating explosion occurred at Engine No. 4 as seen in the news paper clipping on the left hand side
12th picture from the top of the page.

February 19, 1883 The 1st Double sets of swinging harnesses were placed in-service for horses at Engine Co. 4
This would give horses an instant start when the gong sounded, two sets of Berry patent harnesses were installed in Engine House
No. 4 They were suspended from the ceiling; The spider was tripped, the harness fell in place and they were off. They were so
successful that all the fire houses were afterwards equipped.

In 1884 The first brass sliding poles for the rapid transit of the firemen upstairs to the apparatus floor was installed in the house
of Engine 4 and became an instant success. This type of system was later installed in all fire stations.

6th Engine 1892 Horse Drawn LaFrance Steamer later changed to a motorized steamer
7th Engine 1913 White HW
8th Engine 1926 A C Mack
9th Engine 1939 Valiant American LaFrance
10th Engine 1953 Ward LaFrance
February 26, 1954 Engine 4 was moved into the quarters of Truck 29 at 1201 E. Coldspring
11th Engine 1974 Seagrave
12th Engine 1993 Peirce Saber
13th Engine 2006 Peirce Enforcer

Ironically today, a reserve engine numbered as Reserve Engine 69 which is housed at Engine Company 4 has been placed in-
service from time to time when the department has an over abundance of member's working on shift. This particular engine when
used, is placed in-service as Engine No. 1 and is moved to the Old Town Station. In 1763 The Mechanical Fire Company was No. 1
later changed to Engine Company No. 4.

Note: During the research of the history of Engine Company 4 and Truck 29 it was discovered that the Mechanical Fire Company
is still very much active today, all though the member's do not fight fires or have firefighting capabilities they do however meet
once a year for dinner and pass on the history of the Baltimore City Fire Department to their new members.

Engine Company 4 is currently located at 1201 East Cold Spring Lane in Northeast Baltimore since 1954.

1763 - 2009

Historical Research

The history of both Engine 4 & Truck 29 was researched using the past records that are on
file with the Baltimore City Historical Society located on 201 West Monument Street
Baltimore City, The Baltimore City Fire Museum at 414 Gay Street Baltimore, MD. The Book
of Unherald Hero's by William A. Murry, The Firemans Record by Robert J. Cassedy 1925,
The book " The Official History Of The Baltimore City Fire Department 1898 by; Clarence H.
Forrest" and The Maryland Fire Museum 1301York Road Luthervill, Maryland. Baltimore
County. The Oldest Active Civic Organization In The USA "The Mechanical Fire Company
No. 1"
Speacial Thanks to Firefighter Joe Cole retired as a Fire Inspector, Firefighter Steve
Dahlem and Aux. Firefighter, active member of Box 414 Dave Henson, all of them are retired
member's of Truck Company 29 who have maintained historical pictures and records of the
Baltimore City Fire Department and both fire Companies.

The Mechanical Fire Company's
Station in 1773

1773
Firefighting uniform
of the day.

The Mechanical Fire Company purchased
this hand tub pumper in 1821 and was
nicked name the "Old Lady" it can been
seen today at the Fredrick County Fire
Museum in Emmitesburg, Maryland.

The Mechanical Fire Company purchased
a hose cart from the
Deptford Fire Company

1858 Alfa Steam Engine
"The Maryland" & "John Cushing"

1882 "The Mechanical Fire
Company" &
Engine Company 4
210 E. Lexington Street

1880 1st set of Harnesses for
horses

1892 American LaFrance
Horse drawn Steamer

Boiler Explosion & Fire at Engine 4

1913 New Engine 4 Model T
replacing the Lafrance Steamer

1913 Model T

1926 A C Mack

1939 Valiant
AmericanLaFrance

1939 Valiant American
LaFrance
Spec. drawing

1882 - 1952 The last week in the
old station on Lexington Street

On September 24, 1977 Engine 4 along with E1, E2, E3 would make department
history again, by order of the Chief; Engine 4 would respond to Fire Box 13, for a fire
in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington D.C. Engine 4 was sent to assist the
Washington D.C. Fire Department. Engine Companies 1,2,3, and 4 were all sent on
this fire. The first two Fire Companies, E-1, E-2 prevented the fire from spreading
farther. When E-3 & E-4 arrived the fire was soon placed under control.

Secretary Mr. Carl Schurz requested that all the member's working on those
engines to come to his office so he could thank each man personally for a job well
done. A lot of very important documents/records were saved due to the quick efforts
of those companies!

A Famous Note In U.S. History

1952 to Present the Station
of Engine 4