Today in Wheeling History: December 23--Frank J. Healy became the Chief of the City of Wheeling Fire Department (1890).
When Frank J. Healy became Fire Chief on December 23, 1890, one of his early challenges was a fire that burned down the Vigilant No. 2 firehouse in North Wheeling in 1891. Healy quickly had a new firehouse constructed at the same 650 Main Street location. On August 15, 1892, he established Wheeling Fire Company No. 4 on South Jacob Street. The chief also provided firefighters with Loeb Respirators to protect them from smoke inhalation and, while waiting for a new fire engine to arrive, he borrowed a steam fire engine named “Blackjack” that had been previously used during the Great Chicago Fire. A major fire later broke out in Cameron, West Virginia, and Wheeling answered the call for help, sending men, “Blackjack,” and a hose wagon via railroad. After briefly adding more volunteer firefighters in Moundsville, the train derailed near Rosby’s Rock, killing the engineer and damaging equipment.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/mr29fuez) (https://tinyurl.com/neakbbrp) (https://tinyurl.com/ydx2ve5k)
Photo credits: New York Heritage Digital Collections; Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
When Frank J. Healy became Fire Chief on December 23, 1890, one of his early challenges was a fire that burned down the Vigilant No. 2 firehouse in North Wheeling in 1891. Healy quickly had a new firehouse constructed at the same 650 Main Street location. On August 15, 1892, he established Wheeling Fire Company No. 4 on South Jacob Street. The chief also provided firefighters with Loeb Respirators to protect them from smoke inhalation and, while waiting for a new fire engine to arrive, he borrowed a steam fire engine named “Blackjack” that had been previously used during the Great Chicago Fire. A major fire later broke out in Cameron, West Virginia, and Wheeling answered the call for help, sending men, “Blackjack,” and a hose wagon via railroad. After briefly adding more volunteer firefighters in Moundsville, the train derailed near Rosby’s Rock, killing the engineer and damaging equipment.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/mr29fuez) (https://tinyurl.com/neakbbrp) (https://tinyurl.com/ydx2ve5k)
Photo credits: New York Heritage Digital Collections; Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
RSS Feed
