Dec 05, 2010 donald whitney retired as a lieutenant from the portland fire department and serves as portland fire museum curator. Dry temperatures, low tide and a hot wind out of the west created perfect conditions for the conflagration which destroyed 1800. Before and after the great fire of 1866 press herald. A plume of smoke near dollivers dump signaled the end of bar harbors splendid era and the worst of the terrifying maine fires of 1947.
Collectively, the fires killed a total of 16 people. Photos of him still hang in the restaurant kitchen. He is the author of at home with the general, about maines civil war hero joshua chamberlain. The portland fire museum is a fire museum in portland, maine. Located at 157 spring street in the former home of fire engine 4, the museum is operated by the portland veteran firemens association pvfa.
Researching your old building greater portland landmarks. On july 4, 1866, fireworks set off the great fire of portland, maine. Portland fire museum 2020 all you need to know before. The portland maine fire department has been on the front lines since 1768. The story of this fire is included in the book the exchange artist, a tale of highflying. Located on portland harbor, south portland fire department provides fire and emergency medical services to a community with a resident population of over 25,000 and a workday population that more than doubles in size during the day. Museums in portland, maine firefighting in portland, maine fire stations in. Built in 1931, it has since been replaced by a 2,040foot modern suspension bridge that was opened on december 30, 2006. The department responds to all types of fires in town. View a fire dept photo, logo, contact info, map, volunteer info, mission statement, fire equipment, firefighters and statistics. The history of portland, maine begins when the area was called machigonne, meaning great neck, by algonquians who originally inhabited the peninsula. The fire chief is elected at the annual march town meeting.
Welcome to maine historical societyand welcome to portland. Peaks island, maine news center the peaks island fire department has a new addition to their fleet. Portland maine fire department union website local 740. The elected chief recommends people for appointment to be the deputy chief and assistant deputy chief. Content posted here has been selected and deposited by the individual campus groups. Portlands first post office opened in 1849, and the steam sawmills whistle could be heard as far away as fort vancouver. The motto of the city, resurgam, is latin for i will rise again.
Portland paid fire department submits its first annual budget to city council. Our mission is to deliver emergency services to the city of. For most of its history, the portland fire department, formed in 1831. The new portland fire department is a volunteerpaidoncall, department. Wildfire loose was originally published in 1997, the 50th anniversary of the great fires of 1947, and reissued in 2014 by down east books, which also published the original. He is an adjunct professor at southern maine community college, fire science department, teaching the history course fire in american society. Explore the city of portland maine historical society. A searing dryness had settled over maine that summer. The city of south portland is the fourth largest city in maine. With a fleet of motorized fire apparatus and a force of proud firefighters, portland fire department was at the top of its game on june 26 th, 1911 when the second alarm came from e.
History of portland oregons fire department access. Portland fire museum 2020 all you need to know before you. Over the past couple of decades, it has appeared on numerous best of lists for its quality of life, awardwinning restaurants, arts and entertainment offerings, and historical. The portland fire department is a proud team of dedicated professionals on the front line since 1768. Donaghue has been a member of the portland fire department for 10 years and is assigned to engine company no. This is a terrific little museum located in a late 1800s firehouse that was built after portlands great fire of july 4, 1866. It extends to the citys recent cultural and economic renaissance. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. The city of portland, maine, has an extraordinary history as a.
Pettygrove won the coin toss two out of three times and the rest as they say is history. After this fire, portland was rebuilt with brick and took on a victorian. By the late 1890s portlands fire department had become a well respected fire department, well known throughout the north east for its skill in battling major fires and for its high fire activity. These units respond to all types of emergencies here in south portland and cape elizabeth. The history of portland, maine begins when the area was called machigonne, meaning great. This devastation and human privation resulted from fires which were fanned by strong winds up to 70 mph during. New portland maine fire department new portland, maine. Willard hose company was established on october 1, 1892, incorporated on december 24, 1904, bylaws adopted and approved on. The great fire of portland, maine down east magazine.
Consult local repositories, like greater portland landmarks, that collect building histories or building plans to see if there is existing information on your building or street. July 4, 1866, an anniversary edition of the evening express by earle g. He has authored four books on the portland fire department and has written for. Pettygrove was from maine and wanted to name the new town portland. Joel barnes, sunday, march 10, 2019, in portland, maine. Portland the scarborough fire department is tasked with responding to accidents and other incidents on one of the busiest stretches on the maine turnpike, one of the most highly traveled.
The portland boat is one of the first fire boats built by. Maines great fires kindle a second chance at love the new. Browns portland sugar house photographed in the days after the fire by s. It started in a boat house on commercial street, likely caused by a firecracker or a cigar ash. Fire protection started in portland on march 29th,1768 with the appointment of five fire wards. These men had police powers and had the authority to order citizens to help at fire scenes. Firefighting in portland through the years history the. Courtesy of collections of the maine historical society. The great fires of 1947 were a series of forest fires in the state of maine in the united states that destroyed a total area of 17,188 acres 6,956 ha of wooded land on mount desert island and 200,000 acres 81,000 ha statewide.
Ladder 42 provides ladder protection for the city of portland on third alarms. Powered by leaflet stamen terrain, openstreetmap, ccbysa. Portland is a small city of nearly 30 square miles, set on a peninsula overlooking casco bay, with a nighttime population of about 68,000 that swells to over 150,000 during the day. History of portland oregons fire department access genealogy. In 1850, portland was a community of 600 folks who might spend their time reading a newspaper called the weekly oregonian, or strolling by the only hotel in the city, the california house, located on front street where it intersected with alder. Engine 42 is a crucial piece for the city and its oil terminal response. See more ideas about maine, south portland and portland. In october 1947, maine experienced its worst forest fire disaster in its history. Few realize how heavily intertwined this history is with fire and firefighting. The city of portland, maine, has an extraordinary history as a prominent seaport dating back to early colonial times. Sep 09, 2014 allan levinsky, a portland native, is a graduate of the university of maine. This disaster is an important part of the local history of the york county and mount desert island areas. In any part of the city, a book could be read in the streets by the light of the flaming buildings.
In the 19th century, the portland company manufactured more than 600. While this truck is new to the island, its already made 25,000 calls in the city of portland. As the portland fire department celebrates the 250th anniversary of the. Maines largest city is a vibrant, coastal community with much to offer visitors and residents alike. The story of the great portland maine fire of july 4th 1866, as told by those that lived through it by allan m. Michael has done extensive research on the portland fire departments history. Photos are the property of northeast firenews and the respective photographers and may not be used on any other website or publication without expressed consent. Firefighting in portland through the years history the city of.
We explore portlands peninsula and its many lighthouses and forts as well as the amazing architectural buildings hidden inside of the cobblestoned streets that make up our wonderful city. On the fourth of july in 1866, joy turned to tragedy in portland, maine. Gilbert called the bar harbor fire department on oct. Firefighting in portland through the years the volunteer years 18501883. Donaghue, his wife, is a published author and enthusiastic history buff. The brooks fire department is a municipal department supported by town taxes and guidance. Our mission is to deliver emergency services to the city of portland and protect its well being through preparedness, prevention and education. Those statements and records, along with newspaper reports, history books and interviews with historians and descendants of those who lived through the fire, shine a new light on a defining moment for the city and how it shaped the portland that exists 150 years later. Donald whitney retired as a lieutenant from the portland fire department and serves as portland fire museum curator. The erection of the maine mall, an indoor shopping center established in the suburb of south portland during the 1970s, had a significant effect on portland s downtown. The great fire of portland, maine, sometimes known as the 1866 great fire of portland, occurred on july 4, 1866the first independence day after the end of the american civil war. He is the author of at home with the general, about maine s civil war hero joshua chamberlain. As the city grew so did the fires, and the fire department.
Maines great fires kindle a second chance at love the. May 19, 2018 pre arrival fully involved house fire north portland oswego house fire st johns neighborhood pdx duration. Towle photo courtesy of the maine historic preservation commission. Lord proprietor of maine, he returned to england and wrote a book about his. A burning permit is required for anyone burning these materials and you can obtain one from the fire chief, any deputies, or you can purchase a maine burn permit online. The great need of the present is a fire boat, and to require all buildings of three stories or more to be supplied with pipe stands and fire escapesthe latter being useful to the firemen as well as to the inmates. The city symbol has long included the phoenix, a mythological bird that is said to arise from the ashes of its predecessor. Find contact information, addresses and phone numbers for all the fire departments in maine. Allan levinsky, a portland native, is a graduate of the university of maine. It showcases the history of firefighting in portland, including a number of retired firetrucks.
The bbcs also provides nonbinding technical interpretation of the codes for professionals and the public. Joyce butler has written eight books, including a twovolume history of the kennebunks, curated several exhibits at the center for maine histories, and lectured widely. Portland fire department is located in portland, me. In 1899 portland annexed the city of deering, with that the entire firefighting force of deering was incorporated into the pfd. Portland fireboat marine 1 city of portland iv portland, maine built by a. That fire was the largest fire in the history of the united states up to that time.
Delivered in summer 2009 65 loa and pumping capacity of 3,500 gpm two bow turrets, two stern turrets, one massive center turret. Pre arrival fully involved house fire north portland oswego house fire st johns neighborhood pdx duration. Browse by research unit, center, or department portland. A 1760 fire bucket of john rowe, a boston selectman, fireward of the 176070s, and a member of the. Department stores and other major franchises, many from congress street or free street, either moved to the nearby mall or went out of business. Greater portland landmarks and local historian herb adams are offering a tour of the areas affected by the great fire of 1866. Five years before the great chicago fire, this was the greatest fire yet seen in an american city. Portland maine history 1786 to present home facebook. In 1787 portlands first organized fire company was formed and was named the neptune. Boston history before 1859 boston fire historical society. The portland fire department protects a diverse community that contains a major seaport, island communities, an international airport, industrial companies, large. On this sesquicentennial anniversary of the fire, former state representative herb adams lead a discussion with maine state historian earle g. The museum filled to the brim with antique fire fighting apparatus.
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