Fire Bucket, Used by Levi Huntington, circa 1795
THF188493 / Fire Bucket, Used by Levi Huntington, circa 1795
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Artifact Overview
Many home and business owners in colonial and early America kept leather fire buckets in case of emergency. When a fire broke out in the community, owners tossed their buckets into the street, where firefighters and local citizens used them to carry water to put out the fire. Buckets decorated with names, initials and numbers helped owners identify their buckets after the fire had been extinguished.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Fire bucket
Date Made
circa 1795
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
24.133.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Howard Stanton.
Material
Leather
Metal
Paint (Coating)
Color
Green
Yellow (Color)
Black (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 12.25 in
Diameter: 8 in
Inscriptions
L. Huntington No.1
Keywords |
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Related Artifacts
ArtifactFire Bucket, Used by Levi Huntington, circa 1795
Many home and business owners in colonial and early America kept leather fire buckets in case of emergency. When a fire broke out in the community, owners tossed their buckets into the street, where firefighters and local citizens used them to carry water to put out the fire. Buckets decorated with names, initials and numbers helped owners identify their buckets after the fire had been extinguished.
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Related Content
SetEarly Firefighting
- 32 Artifacts
Fire was a constant menace to American cities well into the 20th century, when most buildings were made of wood and firefighting equipment was underpowered and overmatched. Firefighters risked their own lives to save those of others, to protect property, and to constrain and contain blazes before they grew into uncontrollable conflagrations. Early firefighting relied on mettle, muscle, and machinery that improved slowly but steadily over time.