Monthly Archives: September 2012

In the Old Dutch Burying Ground of Sleepy Hollow in New York lies the grave of Solomon Brewer, Revolutionary War soldier.  The epitaph on his gravestone makes a reference to a passage found in the King James Bible, Psalm 90 … Continue reading →

The thistle is characterized by a purple or red flower that rests in a cup-shaped part of the stem and has prickly leaves and thorns that protect it from plant-eating animals.  The thistle is in the family Asteraceae. This flower, … Continue reading →

The metal markers placed beside the tombstones of volunteer and full-time firefighters vary in size and shape but usually display traditional iconography.  

Styles for grave markers to commemorate firefighters’ service are varied.  Some are designed with very little ornamentation looking like a plain badge while others display a myriad of different firefighters’ iconography. This marker honoring a volunteer firefighter from the Morganville … Continue reading →

Men and women who have worked as firefighters either as volunteers or as full-timers have their service commemorated in the cemetery in a number of ways.  Sometimes there are communal plots where the departed members are buried together around a … Continue reading →

The Sun Fire Engine Company of York, Pennsylvania, is one of the oldest fire engine companies in the nation.  S. F. E. eventually became the Laurel Company Number 1.  The monument that was erected in 1915 in the Prospect Hill … Continue reading →

Cypress Cemetery at New Orleans honors firefighters in several communal tombs dedicated to firefighters which were designed in a number of different styles. The tomb pictured above was built by the Perseverance Fire Company Number 13 and designed by architect … Continue reading →

Firefighting companies were also known as Hook and Ladder companies.  Hook and Ladder companies got their names from two of the primary tools of their trade.  Ladders, of course, were used to scale walls and reach people who needed to … Continue reading →

Firefighting Companies were vital to all communities which could be swept away by fire.  Entire communities could be lost to flame, so volunteer and professional firefighters were vital to save lives and citizens’ homes and businesses.  Firefighters had to be … Continue reading →

Many individual gravestones in the Cypress Grove Cemetery at New Orleans are dedicated to firefighters.  The gravestone of W. H. Webb, propped up against a tomb, is decorated with a pumper signifying his service as a fireman. In Memory of W.H. … Continue reading →