Charles Gore of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877

01

Artifact Overview

This man, identified as Charles Gore, was a fireman with the Alert Hose Company of Big Rapids, Michigan. To 21st-century eyes his uniform may appear odd, but it was worn during firemen's tournaments and not for fighting fires. These competitions pitted rival firefighting companies against each other in engine and hose races and other tests of firefighting skills needed during fire emergencies.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Carte-de-visite (Card photograph)

Date Made

1877

Subject Date

1877

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

36.493.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cardboard
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Albumen process
Mounting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 4.125 in
Width: 2.438 in

Inscriptions

Handwritten in pencil on back of image: Chas Gore / 1877 / Alert Fire Co / Big Rapids / W.E. Drew
Charles Gore of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877