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- W. E. Drew of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as W. E. Drew, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
W. E. Drew of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as W. E. Drew, 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.
- Henry Shaw of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as Henry Shaw, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Shaw of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as Henry Shaw, 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.
- Zip Hammond of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as "Zip" Hammond, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Zip Hammond of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as "Zip" Hammond, 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.
- Thomas Shaw of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as Thomas Shaw, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Thomas Shaw of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as Thomas Shaw, 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.
- Bandbox, circa 1835 - In the early 1800s, Americans used bandboxes to store clothing, accessories, and other small items. Bandboxes were handy containers in the home or when traveling by stage, boat, or rail. Manufacturers covered these inexpensive pasteboard or wooden boxes with colorful papers. This bandbox's paper depicts a scene of a New York City volunteer fire department using its new engine.
- circa 1835
- Collections - Artifact
Bandbox, circa 1835
In the early 1800s, Americans used bandboxes to store clothing, accessories, and other small items. Bandboxes were handy containers in the home or when traveling by stage, boat, or rail. Manufacturers covered these inexpensive pasteboard or wooden boxes with colorful papers. This bandbox's paper depicts a scene of a New York City volunteer fire department using its new engine.
- Fireman for the Alert Fire Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This unidentified man 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Fireman for the Alert Fire Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This unidentified man 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.
- Charles Gore of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Charles Gore of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
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.
- Louie Goulette of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as Louie Goulette, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Louie Goulette of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as Louie Goulette, 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.
- Angus McLelland of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This man, identified as Angus McLelland, 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.
- 1877
- Collections - Artifact
Angus McLelland of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This man, identified as Angus McLelland, 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.
- Portrait of Ike Varney of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877 - This carte-de-visite shows a man identified as Ike Varney. An additional notation on the back simply states "Alert." Varney was likely a member of the Alert Hose Company of Big Rapids, Michigan. The Henry Ford received images of other members of this firefighting organization -- wearing firemen tournament uniforms -- at the same time as this photograph.
- 1875
- Collections - Artifact
Portrait of Ike Varney of the Alert Hose Company, Big Rapids, Michigan, 1877
This carte-de-visite shows a man identified as Ike Varney. An additional notation on the back simply states "Alert." Varney was likely a member of the Alert Hose Company of Big Rapids, Michigan. The Henry Ford received images of other members of this firefighting organization -- wearing firemen tournament uniforms -- at the same time as this photograph.