james.voves
Engine 100 Story
I have 2 stories about this famous house. This company is now out of service and this firehouse is now being used as a museum for Black firemen
The first story I have is from my old Lt. Bill Ryan that he told me. It seemed for several days when ever the men sat down for dinner they would get a fire call and always a false alarm at that. But when they returned the food would be gone. This happen over and over. So he went to a veterinarian he knew and got some Croton oil that they used on horses as a laxative. He purchased a roast beef at a meat market and he cook it at the firehouse. He then poured the Croton oil on the beef and he said as they sat down for dinner the bell went off and when they returned the beef was gone. But he said they never had that problem again
The second story is about that famous video that was shown all over the world. I got my information from a fireman I knew who was there at the party.
I must first tell you I know Captain Ezra McCann. I knew him as a fireman and we talked often about the fire department. I liked the man, he was very big and always had a great smile and fun to talk to. When he became the Captain of Engine 100, I was told he ask all the white firemen to put in for a transfer because he wanted the house to be all black. The video you saw was taken by a black fire girl out of a locker of a white fireman and given to Captain McCann.
I will say taking a video of this party was not a very good idea, kind of stupid I would have to say.
The men on duty had a retirement party for a man on there company and had it at the firehouse. I have been to parties like these over time and they were not uncommon. The video shows the men drinking and having beer in a firehouse was not on the list of things to have.
But I was told that the men working that day did not drink any of the beer just the many men who came in on there days off to say good bye to the man of the hour. Companies from all over the district came over to say there good byes as well. Chiefs and officiers alike. White firemen and black firemen were all there. At one time someone said that Rap was not music and anyone could do it. A black firemen wrote down the lyrics to a Rap song and challenged a white firemen to sing it. We all saw what he did and all who were at that party both black and white had a good laugh. I point out no firemen on duty that day were drinking and it all happen a year or more before you saw the video. Captain McCann was all to happy to make a race issue out of it. The city tried to fire the men at that party, just the white men no charges were against the black firemen or officiers who attained the party. They fired the men, but a year or more later a arbitrator reinstated the men and the city still did not give back there jobs, It went to court and a judge ruled against the city and the men got back there jobs with back pay. What happen to that black girl who stole the video I don't know but most likely she got promoted.
Engine 100 Story
I have 2 stories about this famous house. This company is now out of service and this firehouse is now being used as a museum for Black firemen
The first story I have is from my old Lt. Bill Ryan that he told me. It seemed for several days when ever the men sat down for dinner they would get a fire call and always a false alarm at that. But when they returned the food would be gone. This happen over and over. So he went to a veterinarian he knew and got some Croton oil that they used on horses as a laxative. He purchased a roast beef at a meat market and he cook it at the firehouse. He then poured the Croton oil on the beef and he said as they sat down for dinner the bell went off and when they returned the beef was gone. But he said they never had that problem again
The second story is about that famous video that was shown all over the world. I got my information from a fireman I knew who was there at the party.
I must first tell you I know Captain Ezra McCann. I knew him as a fireman and we talked often about the fire department. I liked the man, he was very big and always had a great smile and fun to talk to. When he became the Captain of Engine 100, I was told he ask all the white firemen to put in for a transfer because he wanted the house to be all black. The video you saw was taken by a black fire girl out of a locker of a white fireman and given to Captain McCann.
I will say taking a video of this party was not a very good idea, kind of stupid I would have to say.
The men on duty had a retirement party for a man on there company and had it at the firehouse. I have been to parties like these over time and they were not uncommon. The video shows the men drinking and having beer in a firehouse was not on the list of things to have.
But I was told that the men working that day did not drink any of the beer just the many men who came in on there days off to say good bye to the man of the hour. Companies from all over the district came over to say there good byes as well. Chiefs and officiers alike. White firemen and black firemen were all there. At one time someone said that Rap was not music and anyone could do it. A black firemen wrote down the lyrics to a Rap song and challenged a white firemen to sing it. We all saw what he did and all who were at that party both black and white had a good laugh. I point out no firemen on duty that day were drinking and it all happen a year or more before you saw the video. Captain McCann was all to happy to make a race issue out of it. The city tried to fire the men at that party, just the white men no charges were against the black firemen or officiers who attained the party. They fired the men, but a year or more later a arbitrator reinstated the men and the city still did not give back there jobs, It went to court and a judge ruled against the city and the men got back there jobs with back pay. What happen to that black girl who stole the video I don't know but most likely she got promoted.