Vigo County Historical Society

Intense rivalries existed between firefighting companies during the 1800s in T.H.

When Terre Haute was first laid out in 1816, the only fire fighters consisted of a volunteer bucket brigade made up of available men and women, stretching from the fire to the nearest source of water, be it from a well, cistern, canal or river. They used leather buckets to hold the water and passed it from hand to hand.

The first organized volunteer firefighters in Terre Haute were the Vigo No. 2 Company formed in 1855. Before this time, the only piece of firefighting equipment available was an old hand brake called "The Old Hoosier," but Vigo No. 2, through public subscription, was able to acquire a then up to date "Hunniman Machine." A short time later a company of Alton Railroad men from the north end of town formed another company known as "Northern Liberties." They rehabilitated the old hand brake machine "Old Hoosier," and renamed it "The Deluge." In 1857 a third company, "The Niagaras," was formed--mostly by railroad men from the Indianapolis and Evansville Railroad. The people of Terre Haute were very supportive of the firefighter groups and helped them through public subscription to acquire good equipment.

An intense rivalry existed between the different companies, as indicated in the "Rules for the Government of the Fire Companies while on duty."

>No company or part of a company shall in any way obstruct the way of another company overtaking them.

>No person having control of a pipe is to knowingly direct it so as to throw water on members of other companies.

>Racing is strictly prohibited. The company starting first is to be fined $5, the other $2.

The volunteers did not have uniforms to distinguish them, but they proudly wore scarlet shirts to all public functions and parades. The conducted annual tournaments and fought hard for the winning trophies, such as the silver trumpet, which is still on display in the fire chief’s office at headquarters.

The old equipment is broken up and scattered now, but the old Vigo No. 2 Company machine and four leather water buckets from Terre Haute are on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

One leather bucket from the bucket brigades remains and is on display at the museum. When you visit the museum, you can see it and many other artifacts from the interesting history of Terre Haute.