DORCHESTER HISTORY BEFORE 1870

This page provides a history of the Town of Dorchester Fire Department up to January 3, 1870, when Dorchester was annexed to Boston.

Seal of the Town of Dorchester. Membership Card issued to John Lillie, Esquire, on September 24, 1794 The 1829 Hunneman hand-engine 'Fountain' of the Fireward Society of Dorchester & Milton 1850 map of Dorchester Lower Mills showing the 'Fountain' Engine House on Adams St. The Fourth of July celebration in 1855 included the Fire Department. 1859 map showing the location of the Neponset engine-house on Neponset Avenue 1868 Dorchester Town Warrant with several articles relating to the Fire Department. The Chief Engineers of the Dorchester Fire Department. 1880 Lower Mills map - Engine 16 House and the Walter Baker Chocolate Works circled. 1890 map of Mattapan showing Engine 19's firehouse on Babson St., and other structures.

Date(s) Activity September 7, 1630 The Town of Dorchester is incorporated. 1793 The Fireward Society of Dorchester and Milton is established. Stephen Badlam was elected clerk. Society members were exempted from military duty and the poll tax. Most houses had two fire buckets and more buckets were kept on the hand-engine. 200th Anniversary newspaper article from January, 1993. 200th Anniversary Program from October 17, 1993 by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco. 1794 Residents of Dorchester voted an allowance of 12 pounds toward purchasing a house for the hand-engine purchased earlier. July 10, 1824 Large fire occurs at Beacon, Charles & Chestnut Streets in Boston. Many towns send mutual aid. The Independence Engine from Neponset responds over a distance of 5 miles. The company walked the distance, while the engine was hauled the first mile by the company and the remainder with the aid of a horse. Newspaper story 1829 The Dorchester-Milton Firewards receive a Hunneman suction hand-engine, Serial #136, named 'Fountain'. The engine continued to be housed on Adams St. on the Dorchester side of the Neponset River. Several years later a new engine, called 'Alert' was purchased and housed on the Milton side of the river. A friendly rivalry developed between the two companies. November 6, 1832 A barn and other buildings burn at the Alms House. City Engines from Boston responded and performed duty. December 31, 1834 The E. H. Ruggles cabinet factory was destroyed by fire. Due to snow, the engines had difficulty responding. February 28, 1837 The cotton-mill on River St. near Fremont St. at Dorchester Upper Falls was destroyed by fire. The Tileston & Hollingsworth paper-mill was erected at the same site. February 1, 1839 1st Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1839. Expenditures of the Fire Department. February 1, 1840 2nd Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1840. Expenditures of the Fire Department. February 1, 1841 3rd Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1841. Expenditures of the Fire Department. February 1, 1842 4th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1842. Expenditures of the Fire Department. February 1, 1843 5th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1843. Expenditures of the Fire Department. October 23, 1843 Two large barns were destroyed by fire. 1844 The town receives three Hunneman hand-engines, Serial Numbers 231, 232 and 233. April 21, 1846 The home and barn of Mr. Summer of Dorchester, Foreman of the Torrent Six Engine of Roxbury, were destroyed by fire. May 13, 1846 A large fire destroys three new two-story wooden buildings and nearly causes a conflagration. Newspaper story September 9, 1846 The presentation of a silver trumpet to Ebenezer Summer of Dorchester, Foreman of the Tiger Engine Six of Dorchester. October 22, 1847 The Crehore Card Factory is destroyed by fire. The Crehore Card Company was the precurser of the American Playing Card Company. April 20, 1848 A fire destroyed the lumber wharf of Chamberlain & Son on the Neponset River, near the Old Colony RR tracks. Newspaper story May 25, 1848 The 1813 "Walter Baker Chocolate Co." chocolate mill at Lower Mills was destroyed by fire. A newer, larger granite building was erected on the same spot. 1850 1850 Dorchester Town Officers   including the Chief Engineer, Engineers, and Engines. Annual Report of the Chief Engineer Edward Jones. 1850 Annual Report (Best copy available) February 1, 1851 13th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1852 14th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1853 15th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1853. Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1854 16th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1854. Report of the Chief Engineer. January 11, 1855 The Dorchester Cotton and Iron Company is destroyed by fire. The company was founded before the War of 1812. Newspaper story (1)   Newspaper Story (2) February 1, 1856 18th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1856. Report of the Chief Engineer. 1857 Town receives a Hunneman engine, Serial Number 597, named Protector No. 2. It is later destroyed in a fire on August 16, 1865, which destroyed the Meeting House Hill firehouse and all apparatus and equipment. February 1, 1857 19th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1857. Report of the Chief Engineer. April 3, 1857 Newspaper story of a fire at Meeting House Hill. April 9, 1857 The residents of Dorchester voted to pay firefighters for their work at fires. February 1, 1858 20th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1858. Report of the Chief Engineer. 1859 Annual Report of the Chief Engineer Sylvester H. Hebard. 1859 Annual Report February 1, 1860 22nd Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1860. Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1861 23rd Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester, in 1861. Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1862 24th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1863 25th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1864 26th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1865 27th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. August 16, 1865 The Meeting House Hill firehouse, Protector 2 (Hunneman engine, Serial Number 597), and associated apparatus and equipment are destroyed in a fire. February 1, 1866 28th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1867 29th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. February 1, 1868 30th Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester. Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. April 22, 1868 1,300 acres of the town are annexed to make up a portion of the new Town of Hyde Park. June 16, 1868 Notice of a Town Meeting to cover several articles, including purchasing land at Lower Mills to erect a firehouse, and for the town to provide a house for Hook and Ladder No. 2. February 1, 1869 31st Annual Report of the Town of Dorchester. Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. January 3, 1870 The Town of Dorchester (Norfolk County) is annexed by the City of Boston (Suffolk County). The Dorchester Fire Department becomes part of the Boston Fire Department. Dorchester Engines 1 through 6 become Boston Engines 16 through 21. Dorchester Ladders 1 and 2 become Boston Ladders 6 and 7. (1870) Report by the Boston City Auditor describing the firehouses erected by the Town of Dorchester, which are now owned by the City of Boston.   Firehouse Report To find the historical development of early Dorchester fire companies, see the chart below. Engine 1 Engine 2 Engine 3 Engine 4 Engine 5 Engine 6 Hook & Ladder 1 Hook & Ladder 2