Sun Fire House Company #3

Description:	These are the firefighters of the Sun Fire House Company #3. Their station was located on the northeast corner of Second and High streets in what was the old City Hall building. It was built in 1876 and later torn down in 1900. In 1875 when Elkhart became a city, the first fire chief was named. The fire house was to be located in the City Hall building. The city purchased a hand pump engine in 1861 which was later returned, because it was too heavy for use on the dirt streets of Elkhart. It is important to note that until 1893, the fire department ran mainly as a volunteer organization. Until that time, there was one paid employee of record. John Cassler was hired in 1868 to run the new Silsby steam fire engine which was purchased in 1867. He was the first fireman on the city payroll. This photograph was taken May 13, 1886, the same year in which ten alarm boxes were installed at points throughout the city.
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isl4/id/552
Collection:	Elkhart Public Library
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/;
Copyright:	No Copyright - United States;
Subjects:	Elkhart County (Ind.) Fire fighters

Further information on this record can be found at its source.