Synopses & Reviews
They are called "the Bravest."
They are the New York City Fire Department, ordinary men who put themselves on the line every day to save lives, and this is a chronicle of their early history.
Birth of the Braves traces the history of New York firefighting from the earliest days of the city when it was part of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam to the end of the nineteenth century when new innovations in firefighting technology began to make their appearance.
Along the way are many tales of heroism and bravery, including accounts of the disastrous fire of 1811, the great conflagration of 1835, the awful fire of 1845, and many other signature events in New York Citys history.
Birth of the Bravest also documents the history of firefighting itself, the birth and evolution of fire companies (both "volunteer and paid"), legislated fire regulations, the development of new equipment to aid the bravest in their mission, and the birth of fire insurance.
Birth of the Bravest also tracks individual exploits of great heroism, on the job and off, as many members went off to serve in the Civil War.
A seminal part of New York City history, the chronicle of the evolution of the Fire Department is an informative tribute to the men who are New York City's Bravest.
Birth of the Bravest is a substantially abridged edition of Our Firemen -A History of the New York Fire Departments Volunteer and Paid by A. E. Costello which was originally published in 1887.
Synopsis
An excerpt from Birth of the Bravest appeared in the New York Times City Section on Sunday, 11/10/02.
Table of Contents
Birth of the BravestContents include:
Genesis of Fire Extinguishing
Primitive Fire Appliances
The First Hand Engines
Beginning of a New Era
Improvement in Fire Extinguishing Methods
Adoption of a Plan for the Future City
Growth of the City and the Department
Feuds and Their Suppression
Introduction of the Croton Service
Abolishment of the Volunteers
Life Among the Volunteers
Stories of the Companies
Memorable Incidents
Fires of the Olden Time
Other Destructive Conflagrations
Old Volunteers Fighting Fire
Final Fires of the Old Department
The Great Conflagration of 1835
Gunpowder Checks the Flames
The Exempt Firemens Benevolent Fund
The Fire Zouaves
A Farewell to the Volunteers
Organization of the Paid Department
Work of the New Commissioners
The New Department Severely Criticized
The Department Gains in Efficiency
Fire Department Telegraph System
Fire Insurance: its Beneficence and Importance
The Hand and Steam Fire Engine
Miscellaneous Fire Matters