On May 10, 1910, a large festival was held and a parade rolled through the streets of Covington with the city's fire fighting companies in the spotlight. Here are some photographs of the groups in the parade, notably the hook and ladder company, the chemical company, and the Jefferson Avenue company. Click on the images to make them larger.
The article that explained the festivities.
According to the above article, it was the finest parade ever seen in Covington. All the places of business were closed for the afternoon, and the town was decorated in preparation for the event. The parade was coordinated by the Firemen's Benevolent Association, and while it rolled "frequent cheers greeted the appearance of the fireboys."
Bouquets of flowers were handed to the firefighting volunteers as they paraded past, and the crowd was appreciative of the fire trucks and various pieces of equipment that rolled by. The president of the Louisiana State Board of Health attended, and he praised the event as one that gave evidence of the public spirit of the citizens of Covington.
In addition to the parade, there was the release of balloons during the day and nighttime fireworks.
Firefighting Keeps Improving
These were the days when Covington was trying to acquire the best and most effective fire-fighting forces available. The hook and ladder company offered its expertise, the chemical company utilized the latest chemical means of fighting fires, and the Jefferson company had pumpers. It was also a time when the city, devastated by a series of downtown fires, got serious about putting in a high capacity water system complete with hydrants.
Going through the St. Tammany Farmer issues over those years provides a large number of photos and articles about the fire fighting efforts, the purchase of new equipment, the training, and the dedication of the volunteer firefighters as one of the community's finest assets. They were celebrated, honored, and recognized in a number of ways, and the pride showed.
See also:
Major Fires in Covington 1898-1920
Statewide Firefighters Convention in Covington - 1911
When Competing Fire Companies Used To Race To Fires
