c1880\'s Austin Texas Fire Department Washington 1 Sterling Pin badge for Sale

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c1880\'s Austin Texas Fire Department Washington 1 Sterling Pin badge For Sale

$c1880\'s Austin Texas Fire Department Washington 1 Sterling Pin badge$
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c1880\'s Austin Texas Fire Department Washington 1 Sterling Pin badge:
$2450.00

c1880\'s Austin Fire Department Washington 1 Sterling Pin badge. Extremely rare small pin badge from the last quarter of the 19th century to the very early 20th century at the latest. As stated below the Washington 1 Station closed in 1916. The Washington 1 was the first fire station in Austin as quoted below. This was recovered by me in Austin in a bag including the letter I\'m also including. I purchased a large percentage of this estate from a family I know has been in the same home since the 1920\'s. The Volunteer firefighter who wore this was a man named John F Westlund (1858-1945) or there\'s a smaller chance it could have been Lee Wesley Westlund (1891–1970) at a very young age. There\'s an Austin Fire museum which I have not yet made it to that could likely confirm one of these. Measures approx 1.25 x 5/8\", marked sterling on reverse side. It has enamel lettering with overall wear but is extremely rare and important.The Central Station No. 1 wasn’t the first fire station in downtown Austin. In 1868 Washington Fire Company #1 was established on 6th Street. The first fire engine, pulled by hand, was replaced by a steamer, which in turn was abandoned when the water company changed to the Holly system in the early 1880s. The engine company then was converted to a hose company.Austin Fire Department: Volunteers to Professional Fire Fighters
Austin Fire Department began in the 1870´s with a very formal volunteer program. The success of the volunteer organization actually delayed the need for a career department until 1916. It was Austin’s businessmen and merchants who mainly comprised the volunteer rosters. Many devoted their lives to the fire department. In the spring of 1916, the citizens of Austin voted in support of the creation of a paid, municipal fire department. Overnight, the department went from more than 200 volunteers to 27 paid firefighters, working six 24 hour shifts per week.The first paid Fire Chief appointed by Austin city administrators was C.F. Millett. Under Millett’s direction strict fire ordinances were passed and they were effectively enforced by the dedicated volunteers. By 1874 the city council establishing a fire department with a chief, assistant chief, recorder, fire commissioners, and fire police. By 1880s Austin Fire Department included both volunteer and paid firemen.In June 1916, Clarence Woodward was appointed Fire Chief. The volunteer fire companies disbanded and the fire department renumbered its fire stations and renamed its apparatus which is still in effect today.Washington #1 closed its station
Austin Hook and Ladder #1 became Truck Co. 1, Engine 1
Colorado #2 became Hose 1 at Central Fire Station 1
Protection #3 became Engine 2 at Station 2, and Truck 2 was created
East Austin #4 became Engine 5 at Station 5
South Austin #5 became Engine 6 at Station 6
North Austin #6 became Engine 3 at Station 3
West Austin #7 became Engine 4 at Station 4
Tenth Ward #8 became Engine 7 at Station 7
And Rescue #9 became Engine 8 at Station 8