Present and original Appearance

The David Crockett Fire Company Gould #31 Pumper is a fifth class, copper, brass and steel fire engine which was manufactured by the R. Gould Company of Newark, New Jersey in 1876. It is located in its original setting, Crockett’s Fire Hall, and remains remarkably intact. The fire hall (1859) fs being nominated as the historic setting for the pumper.

The Gould #31 Pumper was the smallest and cheapest of five models offered by the R. Gould Company. Weighing approximately 3,000 pounds, it was first propelled by teams of firemen. Later a frontal driver seat was installed and the
engine was horse-drawn.

The engine rests upon four wooden wagon wheels with spiral spring mountings. The largest feature of the engine is a brass and copper cylinder set at the rear which consists of a tapering firebox, a vertical tube boiler, and a smokestack. In front of this massive cylinder is the steam piston and cylinder, When it is in operation, the steam piston and cylinder discharges expended steam under pressure through the smokestack. This causes a tremendous updraft through the boiler which fans the flames in the firebox below. The steam piston turns a small flywheel, which in turn powers the single cylinder water pump. The water pump forces water into the water leg, which in turn discharges it into a hose for use in fighting fires. The water leg is surmounted by a large globular air chamber with a lamp and finial top. The function of the water leg is to absorb the shock of the pulsating flow of water from the pump so that the flow of water to the fire hose is constant rather than pulsating. The top of the air chamber has an elaborate multicolor lantern surmounted by a silver plated eagle. A large hose rests on each side of the fire
engine.

The pumping capacity of the engine is 250 pounds per minute. It could easily propel a hard, constant stream of water over a five-story building.

For the past few years the engine has been fixed to a movable trailer for purposes of display. It could be detached easily,

The David Crockett Fire Pumper is extremely unusual becauslocated in its original setting. Most other historic fire pumpers have been moved into museums which are remote from the places where they were used and the communities which they served. This is why Crockett’s Hall is being nominated to the National Register as the historic setting for the Crockett engine.

The Crockett Fire Hall (1859) is a two-story frame structure with a stall for the pumper on the ground floor and a meeting hall upstairs. The facade has an elliptical arch entrance flanked by doors. The upper story has a three part central arched window flanked by a pair of secondary arched windows. The facade is surmounted by a pediment with a high occulus. The fire hall itself is surmounted by an open octagonal cupola with a bell cast roof.

Since 1859 the following changes have occurred in the building:

1. In c.l900 the two story mass of the building was extended 20 feet to the rear.
2. In 1917 a front porch was added with two cast-iron Doric columns, a balcony, and a balustrade.
3. In 1972 the building was damaged by fire, after which the following features remained:
a) the cupola
b) the structure
c) the facade
d) most of the window openings

The following features were replaced after the fire:
a) the windows
b) the siding on the sides and rear of the building (Much of the old siding was only partially burned and is still under the current masonite shingle siding.)

Overall, about 75% of the original architectural fabric remains.

The present metal garage door is of course modern, as is the single story rear wing.

The fire hall is being nominated as the setting for the pumper because it contributes much to one’s appreciation of the pumper’s historic role. This is analogousto the relationship, for example, between a historic train and the train shed under which it is preserved for display. However, the case for the fire hall is even stronger. A train would have occupied many different sheds during its years of service, whereas the Crockett Fire Hall was the only building ever occupied by the pumper during its entire historic period.

Statement of Significance

The David Crockett Fire Engine is nationally significant in the social/humanitarian area because of its rarity and importance as a cultural resource representing the history of organized fire fighting in the United States during the second .half of the nineteenth century. As explained in Item 7, the Crockett Fire Hall is being nominated as the historic setting for the pumper.

Clearly a nineteenth century fire company’s engine was the most evocative part of the material culture surrounding the fire fighting operation. It was the primary piece of equipment involved in fighting the fires. It was also the primary source of pride to fire company members. Often company members would lavishly embellish their company engine with thousands of dollars worth of silver and gold ornamentation. Finally, the development of the steam driven fire engine in the midnineteenth century was a boon to the effectiveness of Victorian era fire fighting. Of course, fire halls were also a part of the material culture of fire fighting, but they did not improve the effectiveness of fire fighting the way the steam fire engine did. Also, the fire house was not the object of adoration the way the fire engine was. Finally, the fire hall was not as directly involved in fire fighting as the fire engine.

Steam pumper fire engines were in use in American fire fighting from the midnineteenth century to the early twentieth century. As has been previously explained, they should be considered the primary cultural resource associated with American fire fighting of this period, It is within this context that the David Crockett Fire Engine takes on national significance. Most every major town in the country had a steam pumper fire engine during this period. According to a leading fire fighting historian, J. J. Robrecht, there are fewer than fifty of these fire engines left in the country. In addition, there are less than twelve remaining which were manufactured prior to 1880, as the Crockett engine was. Finally, the Crockett engine is one of very few which remains in its original setting in the city that it served.

History (Pumper)

The David Crockett Fire Company #1 purchased the hand-drawn fire engine in question from the R, J. Gould Company of Newark, New Jersey in 1876, The pumper was christened on December 21, 1884 and named for Dona Iver, who was chosen to be its “godmother.” She was a daughter of one of the fire company’s organizers, Captain Michael Iver, For some years the company had no horses to pull the engine, so fires were responded to by members pulling the engine from the fire hall to the scene of the fire. This was often difficult following rains because the streets were muddy, dark and deeply rutted. In the 1880’s horses were purchased and the engine was fitted with a front seat for the driver. Finally, in 1918, the company raised about $1,800 to purchase a secondhand White motor passenger car and had it built into a hose wagon onto which a trailer hitch was added to attach and pull the pumper to and from fires. The old pumper was actively used until about 1928, when the company purchased new equipment.

History (David Crockett Fire Company #1)

In July, 1841, several prominent citizens of Mechanickham (now the City of Gretna) gathered immediately following a fire to organize a group to fight future fires. On May 7, 1844, the group incorporated as the Gretna Fire Company, which consisted of only a bucket brigade. On May 12, 1874, the name of the company was changed to the David Crockett Fire Company No. 1. The David Crockett Fire Company has an impressive record of dedication in the history of fire fighting in the United States. Company records document that members of the David Crockett Fire Company #1 have met monthly for the last 141 years. As of February 1982, the members had logged a total of 1,676 consecutive meetings. The company’s operations were never interrupted by wars, epidemics or other disasters which have occurred since the company’s organization in 1841. The company has also maintained its volunteer status for its 141 year history. It is believed to be the oldest continuously active volunteer fire company in the United States.

Bibliography

Gomez, L. E. Personal Communication. Member, David Crockett Fire Company No. 1, Gretna Historical Society and Jefferson Parish Historical Society. 71 Willow Drive, Gretna, LA 70053.

Thoede, H, J. History of Jefferson Parish and Its People. Distinctive Printing, Gretna, LA. 1976, p.51-54.

Robrecht, J. J. Personal Communication, Expert on firefighting apparatus; Consultant to the Museum of the Insurance Company of North America, Philadelphia and Fireman’s Hall, Philadelphia; Member of the Board of Directors of Fireman’s Hall; and member of team which set up the Cincinnati Fire Museum. 601 South 48th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19143.

Swanson, Betsy. Historic Jefferson Parish from Shore to Shore, Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company, 1975.

View the David Crockett Fire National Register of Historic Places Application.