The Friendship Fire Company, established in 1774, was the first fire company in Alexandria. Friendship members were volunteers motivated by their concern for the property and well-being of the community. Today the Friendship Firehouse, built in 1855, is a museum open to the public. Buckets, hose, axes, other firefighting equipment, and Friendship’s recently conserved 1858 hose carriage, originally built by Robert Prettyman in Alexandria, are on view.
Visitors also learn how the organization played a larger role in the community. In addition to fighting fires, Friendship members participated in parades and performed ceremonial duties for civic events. In the firehouse Meeting Room ceremonial artifacts are exhibited such as helmets, capes, and other regalia.
Friendship Firehouse Museum is located at 107 South Alfred Street in Old Town, Alexandria. Admission is $2 for adults; free for children 5 and City of Alexandria Residents. For more information, please visit AlexandriaVA.gov/FriendshipFirehouse.
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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4763.
Original source can be found here.
