Show old chronicle tells of washington as fireman george washington hIngton wits was once it 11 firl fire inan sas tho detroit news at least lio presented tin the volunteer company of alexandria nn with it a tire fire eri engine gine 51 it II levick writing in st Mc nicholas holas describes this incident in the life of tho the fattier father of our country as follows washington presented the engine in 1675 1775 to the friendship lire fire company that was almost a hundred years before there were paid firemen in those 1 anys I avs the uro fire lighting fighting was lone done by volunteers volun teens who belonged to different companies just us its it Is today in gintell sni till towns when a tire fire was waa discovered discover cover ed a ng big bell was rung and at tile signil the lie members of the voltin volunteer t eer company came running from froin wherever they were they out the engine and dragged it with it a score of nien men tugging tagging at it a long rope to tile the fire and then fell it to work for till all they were worth making the pump handles go up anti and down own like 11 set seesaw saw the friendship ship fire company compi iny was organized ou on august 13 1774 the year before washington bought the engine for it an and la in still in existence although now nov alexandria lias has a paid fire department the engine 14 1 4 there yet and an on special occasions it Is brought out by the friendship veterans fire association |