ROXBURY HISTORY BEFORE 1868

This page provides readers with a history of the City of Roxbury Fire Department up to January 6, 1868, when Roxbury was annexed to Boston.

Seal of the City of Roxbury. 1907 Map of site of Greyhound Tavern up to 1784, then site of first firehouse in Roxbury. The Punch Bowl was located in today's Brookline Village. Punch Bowl Road is now Brookline Ave. and Washington St. is now Huntington Av. A large segment of the Town of Roxbury as it existed in 1832. An 1846 membership certificate of Warren Spofford of the Hook & Ladder Co. of Roxbury. The Company and 1829 Hunneman engine of Roxbury Torrent 6 on Eustis St., circa 1850. Announcement of the forming of the Charitable Association of the Roxbury Fire Department. 1858 Hunneman & Co. advertisement which appeared in the Roxbury Directory, 1858. The Chief Engineers of the Roxbury Fire Department. The company of Warren Engine No. 1, Roxbury, pulling the hand-engine, circa 1862.

Date(s) Activity 1746 A legislative act set a penalty of ten shillings upon every householder, living within ten rods of a neighbor's house or barn, who failed to provide himself with a ladder, to aid in the extinguishing of fires. 1784 First Roxbury fire-engine was in service at the Greyhound Tavern at Roxbury & Vernon Sts. Daniel Munroe was appointed Captain and the following were appointed enginemen: David Swift William Dorr Aaron Willard John Williams, Jr. Joshua Felton Wm. Bosson, Jr. Elijah Weld John Swift Abel Hutchins Joseph Weld Joseph Richardson Amos Smith Story of the first firehouse in Roxbury 1784 Fire Wards were first chosen. 1785 The following were added to the list of enginemen: Capt. Samuel Mellish Jeremiah Gore William Blaney Ensign R.H. Greaton Jesse Doggett   1787 A new engine is established near the Punch-Bowl Tavern [located in the present-day Brookline Village]. 1795 Town votes to pay half the expense of repairing the 'new' fire-engine at the Punch-Bowl Village. New members of this company were: Capt. Belcher Hancock   John Ward Isaac Davis James Pierce Lt. William Bosson Joseph Davenport Samuel Barry Joseph Crehore January 21, 1800 The Washington Fire Club is formed. Rules and Regulations (printed in 1817) 1802 A new engine, called 'Torrent No. 2' was in service and a company of twenty-one men appointed. 1819 A new engine was purchased by subscription for Engine No. 1 and the town was asked for land on the northerly corner of the burying-ground [at Washington & Eustis Sts.] 1823 The first suction [hand] fire engines were made in Roxbury by William C. Hunneman. The supply of water had previously been brought in buckets and dumped into the 'tub'. The hand-tub was Serial No. 90 and was delivered to the Boston Fire Department as 'Torrent No. 16'. 1831 Chief Engineer Joshua B. Fowle reported the town operated seven fire-engines, with four hose-reels attached. No. 1, Dudley St. (new house) No. 5, Spring Street No. 2, Centre St., by Poor-house No. 6, Eustis St. (new house) No.3 & No.4, Jamaica Plain No. 7 'Norfolk' at Punch-Bowl May 25, 1843 A fire destroyed the box factory in the Mill Dam area of Roxbury. Read a Newspaper Story on the fire. August 29, 1843 Roxbury Fire Company No. 7 visits the City of New Bedford and is received by the company of New Bedford Engine No. 7. Roxbury brought their engine and were in full uniform during the visit. Newspaper report of the visit. 1844 1844 Report of Expenditures of the Roxbury Fire Department. 1845 1845 Report of Expenditures of the Roxbury Fire Department. April 23, 1845 A fire destroyed the Webber & Son Rope-Walk in Roxbury. Newspaper Story June 26, 1845 A fire destroyed the Tremont Starch Factory in Roxbury. Newspaper Story 1846 1846 Report of the Chief Engineer March 12, 1846 The Town of Roxbury becomes the City of Roxbury. 1848-1849 Chief Engineer: Abraham S. Parker, Salary $100. Assistant Engineers: Jerahmeel C. Pratt; Joseph H. Billings; Samuel S. Chase; Alexander Dickson; Daniel E. Page; Hiram Hall. Engines Location Foreman Warren Co. Dudley cr. Warren David S. Eaton America Co. Centre Jonathan Moulton Jamaica Co. Centre nr. Perkins Isaac Curtis Elliot Co. Centre nr. Elliot Lebbeus H. Varney Salamander Co. Spring Chauncey Jordan Torrent Co. Eustis John Dove Tremont Co. Ruggles Joseph Wiggin Hook & Ladder Co. Dudley cr. Warren Gilbert S. May 1849-1950 Chief Engineer: Abraham S. Parker, Salary $100. Assistant Engineers: Jerahmeel C. Pratt; Joseph H. Billings; Samuel S. Chase; Alexander Dickson; Daniel E. Page; Hiram Hall. Engines Location Foreman Warren Co. Dudley cr. Warren David S. Eaton America Co. Centre Jonathan Moulton Jamaica Co. Centre nr. Perkins Wm. H. Williams Elliot Co. Centre nr. Elliot Lebbeus H. Varney Salamander Co. Spring Chauncey Jordan Torrent Co. Eustis Samuel F. Train Tremont Co. Ruggles John Wethers Hook & Ladder Co. Dudley cr. Warren Gilbert S. May Cochituate Hose. Co. Wash. nr RR crossing Reuben Weeks 1851 1851 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. October 26, 1852 A horse stable fire at the Union House destroys many buildings in the Tremont & Oxford Streets area of Roxbury. Read a Newspaper Story on the fire. 1852 1852 Report of the Chief Engineer 1853 Engineers of the Roxbury Fire Department in 1853. 1854 1854 Report of the Chief Engineer June 6, 1855 Newspaper report of large fire on Northampton St., Roxbury 1855 1855 Report of the Chief Engineer 1856 1856 Report of the Chief Engineer 1857 1857 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1858 Chief Engineer: Samuel F. Train, Salary $225. Assistant Engineers: Gilbert S. May; Jonas Fillebrown; John Withers; Rueben Weeks. Salary $80. (Chosen by City Council in April, 1858) Engines Location Foreman Warren Co. 1 Dudley cr. Warren Adam B. Cooper America No. 2 Centre George White Jamaica No. 3 Centre nr. Perkins (Vacant) Torrent No. 6 Eustis Phineas D. Allen Tremont No. 7 Ruggles Abraham Baldner Washington H&L Co. Dudley cr. Warren Wm. N. Hastings Cochituate Hose Co. RR crossing Wash. Thomas A. Scott 1858 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1859 1859 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1860 Chief Engineer: James Munroe, Salary $300. Assistant Engineers: Gilbert S. May; John Culligan; Amory T. Sherman; Robert Simpson. Salary $80. (Chosen by City Council in April, 1860) Engines Location Foreman Warren Co. 1 Dudley cr. Warren John A. Foley America No. 2 Centre George White Torrent No. 6 Eustis Phineas D. Allen Tremont No. 7 Ruggles John Brooks Washington H&L Co. Dudley cr. Warren Ed. W. Murray Cochituate Hose Co. RR crossing Wash. Thomas A. Scott Firemen are appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen. 1860 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1861 1861 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1862 1862 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1863 1863 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1864 1864 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. 1866 The organization of the Roxbury Fire Department in 1866. 1867 1867 Report of the Chief Engineer and Roxbury Fire Dept. activity. January 6, 1868 The City of Roxbury (in Norfolk County) is annexed to the City of Boston (in Suffolk County). Three Engine Companies, one Hook & Ladder Company and one Hose Company are added to the rolls of the Boston Fire Department. They become Engines 12, 13, 14; Ladder 4; Hose 7. To find the historical development of early Roxbury fire companies, see the chart below. Engine 1 Engine 2 Engine 3 Engine 4 Engine 5 Engine 6 Engine 7 . Hose Co. . Hook & Ladder Co. .