Hi Puzzlers,
In today’s Part II post we will look at the history of female fire fighters. I feel it is always important to inspire our girls to believe they can do and be anything they want. Nothing, to me, says it better than showing ladies from our historic past. They made things happen at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable, when they couldn’t vote or own their own property. Talk about overcoming adversity!
An African-American slave named Molly Williams was the first recorded female firefighter in US history. She worked on the Oceanus Engine Company # 11, where she became known as Volunteer # 11 and was said to be, “as good as a fire laddie as many of the boys.” Her bravery was especially noted during the blizzard of 1818. “Male firefighters were scarce, but Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes and pulled the pumper to the fire in the deep snow.”
Marina Betts, a resident of Pittsburgh in 1820, served as a volunteer firefighter. She claims she never missed a fire in the ten years she was a firefighter. Paul Ditzel stated: “Betts became famous for dumping buckets of water over male bystanders who refused to help fight fires.”
In 1851 Lillie Hitchcock began working on the Knickbocker Engine No. 5. Her journey began as she watched two other fire engine companies pass the understaffed men of the Knickbocker Engine, while enroute to a fire. As the other firefighters passed the Knickbocker they yelled out humiliating remarks. “Fifteen year old Lillie saw their plight and dashed to the vacant spot on the rope. Pulling with all her might she shouted to bystanders, "Come on, you men! Everybody pull and we’ll beat em!”
Can you imagine doing that at fifteen in the 1850’s?
A special note of thanks to all our firefighters.
Happy Puzzling!
In today’s Part II post we will look at the history of female fire fighters. I feel it is always important to inspire our girls to believe they can do and be anything they want. Nothing, to me, says it better than showing ladies from our historic past. They made things happen at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable, when they couldn’t vote or own their own property. Talk about overcoming adversity!
An African-American slave named Molly Williams was the first recorded female firefighter in US history. She worked on the Oceanus Engine Company # 11, where she became known as Volunteer # 11 and was said to be, “as good as a fire laddie as many of the boys.” Her bravery was especially noted during the blizzard of 1818. “Male firefighters were scarce, but Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes and pulled the pumper to the fire in the deep snow.”
Marina Betts, a resident of Pittsburgh in 1820, served as a volunteer firefighter. She claims she never missed a fire in the ten years she was a firefighter. Paul Ditzel stated: “Betts became famous for dumping buckets of water over male bystanders who refused to help fight fires.”
In 1851 Lillie Hitchcock began working on the Knickbocker Engine No. 5. Her journey began as she watched two other fire engine companies pass the understaffed men of the Knickbocker Engine, while enroute to a fire. As the other firefighters passed the Knickbocker they yelled out humiliating remarks. “Fifteen year old Lillie saw their plight and dashed to the vacant spot on the rope. Pulling with all her might she shouted to bystanders, "Come on, you men! Everybody pull and we’ll beat em!”
Can you imagine doing that at fifteen in the 1850’s?
A special note of thanks to all our firefighters.
Happy Puzzling!
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