Union Fire Company became the second company to form in St. Louis. Samuel Hawken founded Union in 1832 and became incorporated in February of 1837. The incorporators were Hugh O’Neil, Benoni Severson and Bryan Mullanphy. The incorporators’ role meant they assumed financial and legal responsibility for each company. Additionally, they developed the by-laws, charters and presided over the election of officers. Union’s motto was “In Union there is Strength.” Union Fire Company was originally located in a frame shed, east of Third Street, just North of Washington Avenue. In 1847, they moved to their second site located west of Third Street, just South of Washington Avenue. This is where they remained until 1855. Union Fire Company disbanded in 1855 due to the emerging rowdyism, moral reform and technological development of the steam engine.

In the 1850s, St. Louis began to witness increased incidents of fighting amongst the different companies. This can be linked to the rivalry between different volunteer companies and the disposition of the adolescent members. Competition existed between each company, because they wanted to be the first to gain access to the fire plug. The company that eliminated the threat of the fire first received praise and contributions from the community. As a result, trucks crashed into one another and created unnecessary damage to their apparatus. Moreover, property owners became unintended victims of the turmoil this technique fostered. Although, newspapers praised past efforts of the volunteers, criticism proliferated during the 1850s. Quoted in a PhD Theses by Arlen Ross Dystrka, the Missouri Republican stated the “assemblages of reckless boys haunted vicinities of engine houses.” Moral reformers deemed the character of the volunteer as improper for the young impressionable mind. Although, the law stated members had to be eighteen, evidence indicates this was disregarded. According to the 1880 United States Federal Census Bernard S. Brady, a member of Union was born around1838. Additionally, two other members of Union Allen Riley and Henry Delisle were born in 1842. The residents concerned over their property investments and safety began to vocalize their disapproval of the reckless behavior being produced by the younger generation of volunteers. Evidence of this can be seen in a letter addressed to the Firemen’s Association by Mayor Washington King concerning hose carriages being drug across the sidewalk by half-grown boys endangering the lives of the individuals walking on the crowded thoroughfare. In another instance, young members of Washington entered a tavern while a fire was still burning and demanded beer. The owner of the tavern Martin Graf gave them mineral water and other spirits, because his beer pump was broken. Washington members became enraged and began destroying his property. The uncivilized and careless conduct from the volunteers led to the endorsement for a paid department. Additionally, the introduction of the steam engine transformed and improved the previous firefighting methods.

The introduction of the steam engine enhanced the firefighter’s ability to extinguish the flames by being able to pump more water than three hand engines and only half the amount of men was required to operate the machine. Moreover, the men could combat the fire from a further distance and reduce the risk of injury. The steam engine did present disadvantages, because it was complicated to operate and required a permanent position. Many volunteers viewed this equipment as a threat to their existence. However, Union supported these changes and disbanded in 1855 due to rowdyism and the steam engine. They sold their assets and bought a steam engine. This steam engine was given to the city under the stipulation that it carry on the company’s name. Union’s decision to voluntarily disband set the atmosphere for the development of the paid department.

Sources:

Thomas Lynch, The Volunteer Fire Department of St. Louis, 1819-1859 (St. Louis: R&T Ennis, 1880).
Arlen Ross Dystrka, A History of St. Louis Firefighting: The Transitional Years from Volunteer to Professional Pattern, 1850-1880 (PhD Thesis, St. Louis University, 1970).
Amy S. Greenberg, Cause for Alarm: The Volunteer Fire Department in the Nineteenth-Century City (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1998).
C. T Aubin, Oliver & Whipple’s Fire Insurance Maps [St. Louis, MD: A. Whipple, 1876]
J. T. Palmatary, Birds-Eys View of St. Louis, MO [1888]