American, 19th Century
Medium: Leather
Misc. 42 Museum Purchase in 1983
English minister Thomas Adams wrote in 1614, that “Fire is a good servant but a bad master.”
Up until the invention of gas lighting and electricity, the generally harmless daily activity of lighting a candle could quickly take a turn for the worst when the lit candle was neglected by distracted household members or overworked servants. Teaching fire safety from infancy was very common in early America given the high risk associated with the way homes were lit and food cooked. An accidental fire could consume a whole house, or multiple homes if in an urban area like Annapolis. Despite fire companies being organized, the methods used to fight flames remained relatively primitive up until the early 20th century. Firefighting techniques depended on using leather buckets filled with water, ladders to access second floors, and hooks.
In the early 19th century, Annapolis city leaders addressed the hazards of fire in new ways. The town repaired the five town wells, all of which were out of service in 1801. Three fire companies were established in the early 19th century in Annapolis. The town’s first fire engine was made in Britain, and local cabinetmaker John Shaw, among his many occupations, had the task of overseeing it.
If you were to walk into a home like the Hammond-Harwood House two hundred years ago you would have likely seen the familiar fire bucket near the entrance, with a canvas bag nearby. The bucket was for water and the bag to gather important valuables in case of a blaze. Buckets in this period were generally made of leather and were often made by a cobbler or saddlemaker, like George Washington’s 1797 one. New England fire buckets tended to have extra decoration.
This particular fire bucket comes from the Naumkeag Fire Club, which was chartered in August of 1832 in Salem, Massachusetts. The name chosen was the original Indian name for the area. This was one of several fire companies in Salem; each company had a different name corresponding to the neighborhood it served.. By the time of the Naumkeag Fire Club was founded, the city already had a long tradition of associations, with the earliest one, Old Fire Club, founded in March of 1744. This bucket was owned by William Merritt of Salem, who was a superintendent of the Boston and Maine railroad,and widely respected in his community. This fire bucket likely survived several fires and lived to tell the tale. Next time you are at the museum we invite you to take a closer look!
By Rachel Lovett, Curator
Posted on Nov 27, 2020 in Collections, Item of the Week, Reading List, Resources by Hammond-Harwood House