Before Fire Trucks
April 4, 2009
Post Tags: fire tank , old westerns , streets of chicago , The Untouchables
Jerry Parra & Future Archeologists
It was a week ago today we drove up to Oracle and found Sue and Jerry Parra’s Treasure Trove of History. It could take a month to catalog and inventory everything they have at their place.
It took me less than a minute to realize I had to stop trying to remember what and the time period in which it would have been associated.
I know from Jerry’s work he has a healthy sense of humor. I also know that if sometime in the future a group of archeology students descend on his place they will be thoroughly confused. Nothing will make sense to their approach of layers and time.
Jerry has time all mixed up and thrown together at his place.
The Fire Tank
Putting Out Fires
One of the things that caught my eye was the old two wheel version of a fire truck before there were fire trucks. I honestly figure they used these things for very small fires. But they were better and quicker than buckets and a hand pump and could be hauled down the street rather quickly when needed.
It is a time in history that is often passed over. We see the old westerns with the cowboys and farmers forming the bucket brigade to try and save the live stock in the burning barn.
Or the old fire engines from the time of Al Capone and “The Untouchables” going down the streets of Chicago with Tommy guns slung from the shoulders of the firefighters as they make their way through the streets with bootleg whiskey on board and not water for a fire like the by-standers thought.
But sandwiched between these times were the two wheeled fire tanks.
When you get nostalgic for the good old days, remember they weren’t all so good, especially if you had a fire.
This weekend would be a good time to head up to Oracle. It is the weekend of the Oracle Studio Tour.
