Engine House #6, Know-nothing Riot

Built in 1853 for the Oldtown Independent Fire Company, Engine House 6 anchors the south end of Old Town Mall. The firehouse predates the unified Baltimore City Fire Department by 6 years! The Oldtown Independent Fire Company, founded in 1799, was one of many local fire departments that would compete with one another to put out fires. Competition was fierce, fire companies were often organized into rival street gangs. Violence between these fire company associated street gangs would sometimes erupt into violence. In 1856, the Know-nothing Riot pitted nativist “Know-nothing” affiliated gangs against their rival gangs and local supporters of the Democratic Party. Violence often occurred at polling places as “Know-nothing” gangs would attempt to intimidate and drive off non-native voters. The gang-violence in 1856 would lead directly to the creation of the Baltimore City Fire Department in 1859.

 

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Feb 7th, 1904, The Great Baltimore Fire

The Great Baltimore Fire in 1904 decimated a major part of central Baltimore, including over 1,500 buildings. The fire began where Royal Farms Arena (formerly the Civic Center) stands today and burned for 30 hours straight. The fire spread east towards the Jones Falls and destroyed most of downtown and what is today the Inner Harbor. Fire companies from Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York City were called in to assist. The Engine 6 Firehouse, sitting on the opposite side of the Jones Falls, was on the front line fighting the fire. Buildings in Old Town, including the fire house, were used as burnwards to treat those who were injured in the blaze.

QUICK FACTS:

By 1854 25% of Baltimore’s Population was foreign born

No deaths were reported as a direct result of the fire, although there are reports that at least one burnt body was found in the harbor later.

Five lost lives were indirectly attributed to the fire. Two members of the 4th Regiment of the Maryland National Guard, Private John Undutch of Company ‘F’, and Second Lieutenant John V. Richardson of Company ‘E’, both fell ill and died of pneumonia. Fireman Mark Kelly and Fire Lieutenant John A. McKnew also died of pneumonia and tuberculosis due to exposure during the Great Fire. Martin Mullin, the proprietor of Mullin’s Hotel (on the northwest corner of West Baltimore and North Liberty Streets, above Hopkins Place), a block to the north of the John E. Hurst Building, where the fire started, also later died.

In the aftermath, 35,000 people were left unemployed. Over $150 million (in 1904 USD) worth of damage was done, which is approximately $3.84 billion in 2014 dollars.
The fire led to uniform national standards in fire fighting equipment and protocols.