ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- George Washington fought fires here. Washington was one of Virginia's first volunteer firefighters.
Or maybe he wasn't. For years legend has had it that Washington acquired a fire engine from Philadelphia for Alexandria's Friendship Fire Company in 1775, the year after the company was established.
"It's turned out there's no documentation to prove that," says Elizabeth Field, a museum aide with the Office of Historic Alexandria. "It's one of those Alexandria legends."
Never fear: Alexandria's actual fire fighting history stays interesting.
In April 1961, Union Army Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, who studied law under Abraham Lincoln, raised the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment -- the "Fire Zouaves" -- a group of firefighters from New York City.
On May 23, 1861, Virginia's voters ratified the state's secession. The next day Ellsworth and the Fire Zouaves entered Alexandria, to occupy the city. Ellsworth saw an enormous Confederate flag flying from the roof of what is now The Hotel Monaco, then called The Marshall House, a second-class hotel in the heart of Old Town.
Ellsworth tore the flag down off the hotel's roof. The hotel's notoriously violent innkeeper James Jackson shot Ellsworth with a shotgun. Ellsworth died; he was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. Jackson, too, was killed, by Corporal Francis E. Brownell, a member of the Fire Zouaves.
Discover more facts and legends about Alexandria's firefighting history on two upcoming walking tours. "Blazing a Trail: Alexandria's Firefighting Past" on April 14 and May 12. The tour begins at at 1 p.m. at the Friendship Firehouse (107 S. Alfred St., Alexandria), which is heavily decorated with photos of George Washington; Washington is still something of a Alexandria firefighting mascot, even if not an actual Alexandria firefighter.
Columbia Firehouse(01 of08)
Open Image ModalAmong Alexandria's 19th-century firehouses is the Columbia Firehouse at 109 South St. Asaph St. Built in 1883, this historic firehouse is now home to Columbia Firehouse restaurant. (credit:Library of Congress)
Hydraulion & Reliance Firehouse(02 of08)
Open Image ModalIn 1897, the Hyrdaulion Fire Company moved into its new engine house at 115 North Patrick St. It had a hose tower in the rear and originally featured two rounded entrances on the first floor. In 1903, Hydraulion dissolved and the newly-formed Reliance Fire Company took over the firehouse. As firefighting equipment was modernized, the arched entrances had to be remodeled to accommodate motorized vehicles. (credit:Alexandria Library Special Collections)
Hydraulion Engine House(03 of08)
Open Image ModalIn 1856, a new engine house at 209 North Royal St. was erected for the Hydraulion Fire Company which was formed in 1827. The two-story structure had a three-story hose tower in the rear and a stable in the adjacent lot to the north, and its front façade was remodeled in 1872. In 1897, Hydraulion moved to a new station and today their old firehouse is a private residence. (credit:Alexandria Library Special Collections)
Civil War Firefighting(04 of08)
Open Image ModalBefore the Civil War, Alexandria had five active fire companies, Friendship, Hydraulion, Relief, Star and Sun. Union troops occupied Alexandria throughout the war and the U.S. Fire Department, seen in this 1863 image, established itself on Princess Street. Union forces used the equipment and stations of the local companies and after the war ended, the volunteer units struggled to re-establish themselves. (credit:Library of Congress)
James Keene(05 of08)
Open Image ModalJames Keene, a volunteer in the Friendship Fire Company, and six other Alexandria firefighters from other companies were killed in a fire on King Street in 1855. Today his image adorns this antique apparatus on display at the Friendship Firehouse Museum. (credit:Office of Historic Alexandria)
Antique Apparatus(06 of08)
Open Image ModalThe Friendship Firehouse Museum has an extensive collection of early firefighting equipment, including buckets, hoses, and engines that were pulled by horses or pushed by hand. Visitors will learn how volunteer firemen battled devastating blazes throughout the 19th century. (credit:Library of Congress)
Friendship Fire Company(07 of08)
Open Image ModalFormed during the days of George Washington, the Friendship Fire Company, seen in this photo from the 1880s, served the community faithfully, particularly during enormous blazes in 1827, 1855 and 1871. Friendship transitioned from an active firefighting company to a ceremonial one in the late 19th century, and the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association remains an active benevolent organization today. (credit:Office of Historic Alexandria)
Friendship Firehouse(08 of08)
Open Image ModalThe Friendship Fire Company was established in 1774 and moved into its station house at 107 South Alfred St. in 1855. The distinctive cupola was added in 1871. The historic firehouse is now a museum with programs and collections that interpret early firefighting. (credit:Library of Congress)
RELATED VIDEO: A video about The National Portrait Gallery's exhibition "The Death of Ellsworth"
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