-

Lord Rick Rowe | Create Your Badge
 





          
        


     

      

      

 



Coming In The Future!

History

In line with the exciting history of the county, the history of Storey County’s Fire Department is just as colorful and dates back to 1850 when gold was discovered by 3 Mormons in the ground around Mount Davidson. In 1857, the Grosch Brothers were the first to intelligently mine silver leading to the mining rush that was soon to follow. In the fall of 1859, Virginia City’s first street was laid out marking the start of the fastest growing city in the west.

The town was comprised of tents, dugouts, shanties and various other structures. By 1861, permanent brick structures were prevalent along the main street and wood structure suburbs were expanding outward. Many homes were thrown together with whatever could be found. Canvas covered walls, empty whiskey barrels for chimneys and so on. The threat of fire was great in Virginia City and would soon grow greater.

The Need for Fire Protection
One of the first fires to threaten Virginia City occurred around January 1861. A fire started in a wood cabin on A Street and with no organized fire brigade, citizens gathered around and threw snow balls at the fire. Needless to say, this course of action produced no results so the snow balls were turned on each other.

This incident, however, served as a wake up call as the citizens of Virginia City realized the need for an organized fire brigade. The founding fathers of the Fire Department were to be found in this group of people. Cisterns were built and a bucket brigade was formed. This bucket brigade was soon abandoned, and in February 1861 under the guidance of Thomas Peasly, Virginia Engine Company #1 was formed as the first engine company in Nevada.

At the same time, Peasly helped to form Nevada Hook and Ladder # 1 to work with the engine company. Between the 2, they were 65 men strong. Tom Peasly became Virginia City’s first engine foreman. He had come from New York and had knowledge of firefighting.

For Virginia Engine Company’s pumper, they ordered the most powerful 1 on the west coast. On March 17th, 1861, Young America Engine Company #2 was formed with Jacob Young as their foreman. In the spirit of rivalry, they ordered an even more powerful engine than Virginia # 1. 4 more engine companies were formed through 1866 as follows:
  • Eagle Engine Company #3 formed August 12th, 1863
  • Washoe Engine Company #4 formed in August 1863
  • Knickerbocker Engine Company #5 formed in the summer of 1864
  • Confidence Engine Company #6 formed October 19, 1864 (changed their name to Monumental # 6 in May of 1866)
Naming the First Engine Companies
The engine companies would sponsor hook and ladder companies as well as many hose companies. All pumpers and wagons were hand drawn. Some names were chosen to reflect a certain character of the company or were used because the name was already painted on the equipment when it was purchased from someone else such as Knickerbocker and Good Will. Knickerbocker purchased its pumper from Marysville, California, and kept the name.

Good Will purchased its hose wagon from Philadelphia and again used the name already in place. Names like Liberty, Young America or Eagle were patriotic while others such as Confidence, Monumental, Invincible or Neptune reflected dependability, bravery, strength or other such traits as they wished to convey to others. Still other names reflected places like Virginia, Washoe, Nevada and Divide while Yellow Jacket was also the name of a mine that the company served.

The Brave Men of Virginia City
These fire companies were comprised of volunteering men from all walks of life, from miners to mine owners, shop keepers to reporters. No matter what social status a person held, they were all equal when wearing their fire department uniforms and battling the flames that were a constant threat to the town. It was also a completely volunteer organization, men volunteering to place their own lives in danger for the good of the community.

These men answered to their individual foreman who in turn answered to the Virginia Fire Department Chief. This position was an elected 1, voted into office by the members of all companies. This Chief was guided by the Board of Alderman which is similar to our present day Board of Commissioners.

Healthy Competition
Distinguishing marks were in order for all of these companies. Uniforms, helmets shields, colors of apparatus, even company bells and all were symbols of pride. Almost all companies had alarm bells of different tones so that when 1 bell was rung, everyone knew who was on the way to a fire.

One such bell was ordered by Virginia Engine Company #1, the first fire bell in Nevada. It was cast in England and shipped to Virginia City especially for their use. This bell stayed with the Fire Department, moving from building to building, and is still in use to this day for special occasions at the current Fire Station # 1 in Virginia City.

Rivalries were common among the different companies, mostly friendly with contests and competitions at parades. The Fourth of July parade was one of the most anticipated events of the year when the individual companies would decorate their equipment with a manner of things including flowers and evergreen boughs, banners and glitter. It was common for many companies to have a young lady dressed as the Goddess of Liberty. Companies engaged in all manner of contests in the name of fun such as how far a company could get their pumper to shoot a stream of water. Occasionally, however, these rivalries turned much more serious, even a riot at 1 incident. In 1863, a fire broke out in a saloon owned by Pat Lynch at the corner of C and Taylor Streets.

A confrontation erupted between 2 companies developing into a riot and resulted in a member of Young America Engine Company being shot and killed by an Assistant Chief of the Virginia City Fire Department. This was to be the first of 2 violent confrontations between these 2 companies. One of the most common competitions was the act of getting First Water. To hear this cry meant that 1 engine company was the first to put water on a fire.

The Fire of 1875
Virginia City was plagued by a number of devastating fires in 1875, but October of 1875 marked the end of company rivalries in Virginia City forever. At about 5:15 in the morning of October 26, a few miners in a boarding house on A Street became a little too rowdy and knocked over a lamp. The resulting fire was fanned by fierce winds known as the Washoe Zephyr and ultimately destroyed fully 2-thirds of this city-more than 2,000 structures.

A valiant effort was made by each and every company of the Virginia Fire Department but it was to no avail. The fire was too quick, too hot and too big. No sooner would a company get set up when the fire would swiftly pass them by. Water ran out, and explosives from the mines were used to blow up buildings in an effort to stop the flames. Sadly, this fire also spelled the end of the Virginia Fire Department as it existed.

During the firefighting efforts, virtually all of the fire equipment in the city was destroyed including several Gold Hill companies who responded to help. Many fire houses themselves were burned to the ground along with whatever equipment was in them. Of all of the fire companies in existence, only Young America #2 and Monumental #6 came out with their equipment intact.

Rebuilding the Fire Department
A new fire department was organized, this time a paid department, the first in Nevada. The equipment from the 2 surviving companies were combined with the purchase of 2 new horse drawn hose carts. These were the first horse drawn hose carts in Nevada. In addition, a sleigh was turned into a hose cart due to the vast amounts of snow that could accumulate during the winter.

A new fire house was built on B Street South of Taylor and was called the Corporation House. A watch tower was built into this new building and painted maroon. From the watch tower, a watchman could see smoke and sound the alarm getting equipment to the fire sooner. This system stayed in service for about sixty years until Virginia City received its first motorized fire truck in 1934.

The 60-year-old Corporation House was abandoned and the equipment was moved to an old saloon on C Street. In the 1940s, the old Corporation House was torn down because it was deemed a fire hazard. More equipment was added and in 1962, it was felt that the old saloon was inadequate so a new fire station was built on North C Street where it is still functioning as the Storey County Fire Department, Station # 1.

Today’s Fire Department
In the early to mid 1970s, volunteers built fire stations in the communities of Virginia City Highlands, Six Mile Canyon and Lagomarsino. These all-volunteer stations were supported by the Nevada Division of Forestry until 2001 when the Storey County Fire Department took over responsibility for all 4 stations.

All historical equipment is now housed in the Comstock Firemen’s Museum on South C Street. For more information, please call (775) 847-0717.

Written by Tracy Curtis, Captain, Storey County Fire Department in 1998.
Revised and added to in 2006, 2008.

*Thank you to Steve Frady for his many years of research and work while
authoring Red Shirts and Leather Helmets. Thanks also for his permission is
using his book as a reference while compiling this short history.








The audio that I recorded from our first investigation here was stolen you can read about it by clicking the above banner.


 

Custom Search

AngelOfThyNight On Twitter AngelOfThyNight's Personal Blog AngelOfThyNight On Youtube ParanormalGhostSociety At Yahoo

-



Payment Options

Although we do not require it we ask that each viewer donates leisurely or subscribes therefore we ask that you take the time to gift us even if its minimal. All proceeds go towards the cost to maintain our site, equipment, gear and other services. For years we have taken our donations and applied them towards many of the trips that you see visible on our site. We know that times are tough so we are not asking you to go broke donating to our cause therefore donate leisurely when you can. On an average PGS spends more then we ever receive from the volunteer work that we do. Our equipment does often break down due to the elements and more then often it needs dire replacement. Please use the donate button to gift The Paranormal & Ghost Society when its at your convenience or if you prefer to gift us yearly you can do so using the subscribe button. As a Gold or Platinum member YOU WILL recieve a copy of AngelOfThyNight Radio on disc which contains hours of stand up comedy, bloopers, entertainment and various paranormal topics. The more seasons we perform the more episodes you will recieve on disc. Since we are a nonprofit group there is no monetary gain even if you donate a dollar a month we thank you for your support and loyalty. I want our viewers to know the hardwork that comes with our explorations which go all the way from dangerous expeditions to being broken down in the desert. We have been a reputable Paranormal Group for over ten years and our work has been legendary. What promise will future years hold for us?  Find out and help support our cause united as one not because we are asking but because we need your friendship and love for what we do within our society to contineously improve our explorations and services. We THANK each and everyone one of you for your membership with us! 

If you have any questions you can email us at AngelOfThyNight@aol.com or if you prefer to donate using via postal mail contact us for our Po Box. If you wish  to donate using paypal you can can do so at  Their are no refunds so we ask that if you are a member of our society or you are gifting The Paranormal & Ghost Society that this is something you are serious about and want to do even if its a one red cent.  Once we recieve donations we apply them immediately towards the website cost, equipment and our budget immediately.  AngelOfThyNight and The Paranormal & Ghost Society is a volunteer service composed of our staff who continues to bring our viewers this free site and its services voluntarily. It is important for our viewers to play some involvement with our funding so that we can continue to do so for many more years to come.



"Over 10 Years Of Upstanding Paranormal Eloquence & Service"


Mib, conspiracy, time travel, spectres, Armageddon, prophets, prophecy, paranormal, ghosts, aliens, haunted houses, Cryptozoology, dimensions, apocalypse, Atlantis, curses, monsters, wild man, yeti, cemetery, stigmata, vampyre, vampires, angels, bizarre, metaphysics, Atlanta, Louisiana, Myrtle Beach, planet x, mothman, jersey devil, apparitions, werewolf, werewolves, devils, vortexes, Bermuda triangle, lycanthropes, mystery, ancient, spirits, cydonia, mythology, Charlotte, Atlanta ,Mobile, possession, possess, mailing list, parapsychology, poltergeist, evp, investigation, crop circles, Roswell, abduction, project blue book, living dinosaurs, religious miracles, NY, sightings, north Carolina, south, brown mountain, cleansing, shadowmen, beast, ogopogo, death, portals, spontaneous human combustion, zombies, Ouija boards, nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, art bell, George Nooray, Magick, Paganism, Wicca, Tennessee, Halloween, bigfoot, Sasquatch, ufo, grays, ufos, vortexes, alien, hybrids, Hauntings, demons, demonology, occult, Magick, mystics, lochness, chupacabras, equipment, Thermal, EMF, Cassadaga, energy, asteroid ,civil war, spooky, scary, adventure, ectoplasm, orbs, graveyards, demons, spirits, cults, buffalo, new York, ghost society, logo wear, equipment, books, videos, music, certification, Castles, Forts, fortean, phenomena, nonprofit ,business, investigations, SHC, EMF, ghost hunting, organization, conventions, hollow earth, paranormal & ghost Society, detector, posters, mailboxes, donate, Buffalo, X-files, Ectoplasm, Magick, spells, Wicca, paganism, holy, cross, Armageddon, NWO, Patriot, 911, September 11th, tours, Cryptid, ghost lights, dinosaurs, Florida, Fl, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, St. Augustine's, Debary, Miami, Tampa bay, Sarasota, Pensacola, NASA, Cape Canaveral, Space Coast, space shuttle, gulf breeze, key west, Sanford, port orange, Ormond beach, New Smyrna, Orlando, Disney world, Tallahassee, Stetson university, panama city, Alabama, Georgia, Savannah, New Orleans, Cocoa Beach, Ocala, plantations, Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Naples, Lake Wales, grim reaper, everglades, Seminoles, big cats, Fort Myers's. Petersburg, Lakeland, Gainesville, West Palm Beach, bike week, spring break, Deland, Deltona, Orange City, weird, strange, bizarre, mysterious, rituals, skunk ape, adventure, ships, Bermuda triangle, ghost pirates, ball lightening, Elves, Fairies, Faeries, Dwarves, Mystical, Mystify, Port Orange, Edgewater, Clear Water, FSU, Abandoned, Buildings, Stories, New Age, Occult, Paganism, Tours, Ghost walks, Cydonian, Pyramids, Ancient, Dead, Soul, Spiritual, Metaphysical, Aura, Tarot, Naples, Key West, Ever Glades, Kissimmee, Sanford, Orange City, Volusia County, WNY, Asylum, Entity, Entities, Comet, Space, Ponce Inlet, Dimensions, Mist, Fog, Horror, Radio, Television, Spontaneous Human Combustion, Telepathy, Telekinesis, Magic, pubs, castles, churches, bars, tracks, exorcism, October, Books, Posters, Lake Helen, Fort Lauderdale, Psychic, Gargoyles, Crystal Skulls, Champ, Mutation, Miracles, Virgin Mary, Prehistoric, Historical, Being, Men In Black, Visitors, Mailing List, Mounds, Astronauts, Beam, Reptilian, Dolce, Specters, Bell Witch, Warlock, Shadowman, Palm Beach, Tallahassee, Holly Hill, Miami, Winter Park, Global Warming, Contrails, Chemtrails, Flagler, Homestead, Emerald Coast, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Naples, Punta Gorda, Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Columbus, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Sumter, Athens, Raleigh Durham, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, Bossier City, Greenville, Onslow, Piedmont Triad, Hampton Roads, Huntington - Ashland Area, Huntsville Area, Idaho Falls - Pocatello Area, Indianapolis, Iowa City, Jackson, MI, Jackson, MS, Jackson, TN, Jacksonville, Jefferson County, Johnstown - Altoona, Johnstown, Jonesboro, Joplin, Joplin - Pittsburg, Juneau, Kansas City, Knoxville, La Crosse, Lafayette Area, Lafayette, IN, Lafayette, LA, Lake Charles, Lansing - East Lansing, Lansing Metro, Laredo, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Lawton, Lehigh Valley, Lewiston - Auburn, Lexington, Lima, Lincoln, Little Rock, Little Rock - Pine Bluff Area, Long Island, Longview, Los Angeles, Louisville, Lubbock, Lynchburg Area, Madison, Madison Metro, Mankato Area, Marquette, Memphis, Merced, Meridian, Michiana, Milwaukee, Missoula, Mobile, Mobile Pensacola Area, Monroe, Monterey Bay Area, Montgomery, Myrtle Beach Area, Naples, Nashville, National, New Orleans, New York, North Central Ohio, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northeastern South Carolina, Northern Alabama, North Jersey, North Platte Area, Northwest Alabama, Northwest Arkansas Area, Northwest Arkansas, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Onslow County, Opelika Auburn, Orange County, Orlando, Ottumwa - Kirksville, Owensboro, Palm Springs Area, Pensacola, Peoria - Pekin, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Piedmont Triad, Pine Bluff, Pittsburgh, Portland, OR, Portland, Portsmouth Rochester, Presque Isle Area, Providence, Pueblo, Punta Gorda, Quad Cities, Quincy - Hannibal - Keokuk, Raleigh Durham, Rapid City, Redding - Chico, Redding, Red River Valley, Reno, Richland - Kennewick Area, Richmond, Rio Grande Valley Area, Roanoke, Rochester, MN, Rochester, NY, Rock County, Rockford, Sacramento, Saginaw - Bay City - Midland, Salt Lake City, San Angelo, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Savannah Area, Scranton Wilkes Barre, Seattle, Sharon, Shenandoah Valley, Sherman - Denison, Shreveport - Bossier City, Shreveport, LA Area, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Southeastern North Carolina, Southern Colorado, Southern Maine, Southern Oregon, Southern Washington Area, Southern West Virginia, South Florida, Southwestern Indiana, Southwest Florida, Southwest Georgia, Spokane, Springfield Area, Springfield - Decatur - Danville, Springfield, MO, Springfield, State College, Steubenville - Weirton, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Sumter, Syracuse, Tallahassee Area, Tampa Bay, Terre Haute, Texarkana, Toledo - Findlay Metro, Toledo, Topeka Area, Tri - Cities, Tri - State Area: KY - IL - MO, Tucson - Sierra Vista, Tulare County, Tulsa, Tuscaloosa, Twin Cities, Twin Falls Area, Tyler Area, Tyler, Utica - Rome, Victoria, Waco, Washington, DC, Waterloo Cedar Falls, Watertown Area, Wausau - Rhinelander Area, West Central Ohio, West Central Wisconsin, Western Carolina - NW Georgia, Western North Carolina, West Palm Beach, West Texas, Wheeling - Steubenville Metro, Wheeling, Wichita Falls & Lawton, Wichita Falls, Wichita & Western Kansas, Williamsport, Yakima, Youngstown - Warren, Yuma, Zanesville, Altamonte Springs, Crescent City, Eustis, Hollywood, Leesburg, Jupiter, Neptune Beach, New Port Richey, Lake Wales, Lake Mary, Titusville, St Cloud, Santa Rosa, Palmetto, Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, Baton Rouge, Meridian, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Gulfport, Seminole, Bordin Booger, Panama City, Goblyn, Ghouls, Loch Ness, Nessie, Bessie, Selkies, Mermaids, Sirens, Kraken, Dragons, Plesiosaur, Loveland Frog, Sprites, Seljord serpent, Exmoor Beast, Big Cats, Lake Normon, Lake Bala, Cressie, Alkali, Illiamna Lake Monster, Cressie, Nyami Nyami, Masbate, Ponik, Chessie, Selma, Tacoma Sea Serpent, Storsie, Cadborsaurus, Lake Utopia, Gloucester, Lake Tianchi Monster, Tessie, Mokele-Mbembe, Mongolian Death Worm, Impakta,Orang-Pendek,Owlman, Easter Island, Olifiau Monster of Flatwoods, Big Bird, Tatzelwurm, GOATMAN OF MARYLAND , BEAST OF BODMIN MOOR, Kaptar, Biabin-guli, Grendel, Ferla Mohir, Brenin Ilwyd, Ngoloko, Kikomba, Gin-sung, Yeti, Mirygdy ,Mecheny, Chinese Wildman, Nguoi Rung, SPRING HEELED JACK, Pressie, Hardin, White River, Parapsychology, Elves, Bennington Triangle, Marfa Lights, OBE, Astral, Enigma, Urban Exploration, Tunnels, Caves, Gaia, earth, healing, new age, runes, goddess, covens, Asatru, Asatruar, Druid, Druidism, Druidry, Druids, Odian, Odianism, Odians, Odin, Odinism, Odinist, Odinists, Santeria, Santerian, Santerians, Setian, Setianism, Setians, Strega, Stregheria, Wicca, Wiccans, Witch, Witchcraft, Witches, Pagan, Paganism, Neo-Pagan, Neo-Paganism,Neo-Pagans, poetry, cats, faerie, fairy, faeries, elements, occult, metaphysics, reiki, alchemy, shaman, Shaman, Shamanism, Celtic, Native American, Norse, tarot, divination, circle, fellowship, Samhain, Yule, Imbolic, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnassah, Mabon, crystals, nature, moon, mythology, sabbat, chants, dragons, tantra, singles, dating, willow, fire, Isis, gothic, renaissance, numerology, astrology, Rite, Rites, altar, Mysticism, brews, Deity, Talisman, Voodoo, charms, Bos, Diana, Hecate, Astarte, Kali, Fey, Pan, Loki, Totems, Spirit Guide, psychic, Angels, white, Sacred, Green, Aura, Elementals, mage, magic, Solstice, Equinox, Palm Reading, Charms, Deity, Invocations, Thermal Detector, Radiological, Ion, Video Cameras, Micro cassette Player, Centaurs, Cerebral Anoxia, Clairoleofactor, Clairvoyance, Cosmology, Cryptomnesia, Abductee, Aigypan, Alchemy, Animism, Automatic Writing, ESP, Daemon, Deja Vu, Dematerialization, Demonology, Discarnate Spirits, Disembodied, Doppelganger, Dowsing, EEG or Electro-encephalography, Empathy, Gaus, Banshee, Basilisk, Body Snatcher, Bunyip, CA, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, Chico, Lake Tahoe, Jackson, California, Research, Myspace, Bands, Music, Electronics, Suvival Gear, Protection, Adult, Amazson, EBAY, MYSPACE, Gothic, Rock, New Age, Alternative, Punk, Amibent, Electronic, England, France, Paris, Australia, Trains, Mine, Radio, AngelOfThyNight, Dark, Cursed, Sin City, Canyon, Desert, Mojave, Adsense, Google, Best Buy, Flashlight, EMF, Energy, Cult, Church, Nightfall Radio, Tagged, Yahoo, Messenger, Prophet, God, Godlike, Dark Matter, Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada's, Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville, Markleeville, Woodfords, Carson City, Carson Valley, Indian Hills, Sparks, Reno, Fernley, Dayton, Truckee, Fredericksberg, Ranchos, Genoa, Kingsbury,Fallon, Washoe, Pleasant Valley,Silver Springs, Silver City, Gold Hill, Virginia City, Moundhouse, Empire, Dresslerville, Smith Valley, Yerington, Wellington, Sacramento,Stockton, Sonora, Angels Camp, Placerville, Folsom Lake, Topaz Lake,Forest Hill, Alpine, Douglas County, Philips, Nebelhorn, Wadsworth, Patrick, Meyers, Columbia, Jamestown, Churchhill, Lyon County, El Dorado County, Amador County,Placer County and Storey County