The City of Cincinnati celebrated its 150th birthday on Tuesday October 11th, 1938. The centerpiece of festivities was a great parade with floats designed to capture the history of the city. Leading the parade was a prominent Cincinnati businessman dressed as Cincinnatus and riding in a Roman chariot. Among the most interesting parade entries was an original Wells Fargo stagecoach on which can be seen scars from bullets and arrows earned in its earlier working life on the frontier.
Original Wells Fargo stagecoach
The fire department marked the occasion with old fire apparatus. Members dressed as old time volunteers. The fire department band lead the group followed by a flat bed with the original fire drum which served as the first city fire alarm. Hand pulled pumpers and horse drawn steamers joined modern apparatus in the parade. After the parade the fire department put on a display at the public landing. A hand pulled pumper was rushed to the water followed by a horse pulled steamer and both were put in operation recalling the great battle that took place on New Years Day 1853 between Union Fire Co.9's powerful hand pumped apparatus "Ocean" and Shawk and Latta's new horse pulled steam apparatus the "Uncle Joe Ross."
The events were well documented and we are left with some fantastic pictures from the event. Better still is the surviving video which captures the demonstration of fire apparatus at the public landing. Check out the link to the video at the bottom of the post!!!
The original fire alarm - The fire drum
Chief Barney Houston pictured on right
Horse pulled steamer rushes to the water at the public landing
Hand pumper pulled to the waterfront with runners
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE...1938 Steamer Demonstration Video
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