Pontoosuc Firefighters
SOLD March 2007 |
Sixth plate cuttings-patent style ruby-glass ambrotype showing two firemen with fire hats, anonymous American ca. 1858. With applied color in red. Housed in a half case.
A superb and detailed image of two comrade firefighters. Their hats read "PONTOOSUC 2" and "DR" and "AJN".
"Pontoosuc" is the name of a village in Illinois, and was earlier used for the area of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I have not identified the location of this fire company.
New information on this item:
Since the sale catalog was printed we have received information from a Pittsfield, Massachusetts historian indicating that there was indeed a "Pontoosuc" fire company in Pittsfield. This engine company, the second in Pittsfield after the Housatonic, was founded in 1848 and continued at least through 1876. By that time the town's fire companies had grown to three in number and were known as the 1 (Housatonic), 2 (Pontoosuc), and 3. This would fit perfectly with the fire hats held in the ambrotype, with their large numeral "2" and insignia "Pontoosuc". Unfortunately the town records which would have given the fire company officers names have been lost.
