March 3, 1894 Program: New Orleans Firemen's Charitable & Benevolent Association

Description

[NEW ORLEANS HISTORY]
First Grand
FANCY DRESS
AND
Masquerade B
ALL
To be given by the
F
IREMEN'S
C
HARITABLE
and B
ENEVOLENT
A
SSOCIATION
Of New Orleans,
At Washington Artillery Hall, Saturday Evening, March 3rd, 1894 -
For the Benefit of their
RELIEF FUND.
Original program for the Crescent City event sponsored by the charitable fraternity of volunteer firemen who preceded the New Orleans Fire Department by over five decades, and today preserves Cypress Grove and Greenwood Cemeteries as a permanent memorial to the fallen and
deceased
.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Printed on heavy cardstock measuring 5 1/4 x 3 7/8 inches, die cut edges - [4] pages including covers, lists of committee members on p.[3], illustrated. Upper cover features artistic rendition of a rescue in progress - lower cover depicting the tools of the trade - each within decorative gold border design. Exhibits slight edgewear - bit of spotting - short closed tear at head of center fold - acceptable condition overall.
"The greatest stress seems to have been laid on those contests between the companies which tested their efficiency as firemen; and whether it was a trial at the Fair Grounds, which included running a hand-engine a certain distance, running out hose and getting water started, or the trial of a steamer at a busy corner of a public thoroughfare in the city, testing the skill of the engineers and pipemen, as well as the vigor of the machinery, the keenest efforts were put forth in these tests of professional proficiency, and the trophies won in them were among the proudest possessions of an engine company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Beside these more vigorous and spectacular events, there were other firemen's festivities, which partook rather of a social nature. Whenever a new engine house was occupied, or an old one fixed up, the proper thing was a house-warming, at which there were many guests and about as much attention paid to the speech-making as to the accompanying eating and drinking. But the firemen were too essentially ladies' men to limit their festivities to "stag" affairs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Fancy dress and masquerade balls were quite a feature of the firemen's winter amusements, and very splendid affairs some of them were. The whole Department were at times the sponsors of these affairs, while some of them were company entertainments. Altogether, the firemen did a very handsome part in providing the social entertainments of a season."
- Thomas O'Conner,
History of the Fire Department of New Orleans: From the Earliest Days to the Present Time; Including the Original Volunteer Department, the Firemen's Charitable Association, and the Paid Department Down to 1895