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HOW
FORT WORTH CAME TO HAVE WHITE FIRE TRUCKS Fort
Worth became one of the very first departments in the United States if not the
entire world to paint their apparatus white.
Several stories have been advanced to the reason. I happened to ask an
old fire chief in 1960 how it came about.
He started to explain to me how it came about, but abruptly stated that
he would write it down for me and return in a few days with the document. Good
to his word, in a couple of days he returned with a one page typewritten story
entitled " How we came to have White Fire Trucks (The Truth)." By C.M.
(Frog) Ferguson. Unfortunately I have let the original document get away from
me. Following is the story as I can best remember it. About
1903 or 1904 the department was preparing to go to Dallas for the annual
"Pumper Races", conducted each year at the Texas State Fair. An
elimination contest was conducted on Throckmorton Street, just south of Central.
Each hose wagon would drop a nozzle and lay a 2 1/2-inch line 150 feet to the
hydrant at Tenth and Throckmorton. The company that got water in the fastest
time would represent Fort Worth at the Fair. Hose
Company No. 5 under Captain Star Ferguson (later Fire Chief Sandifer Ferguson)
won the honor of representing Fort Worth at the Fair. As
the time approached to prepare for the trip to Dallas, the company was informed
that they would no be allowed to take their usual wagon for the race. When they
saw the reserve wagon that was to be used in the contest they were aghast at the
deplorable condition it was in. Not wanting to embarrass Fort Worth with such a
sorry looking vehicle, they implored the chief to have it repainted. A
bid of $45.00 from the E.E. Lennox Reliable Carriage works was presented to the
council for approval. The answer from the council was a resounding NO! Determined
to not embarrass the City, the members of the department passed the hat and
collected the necessary funds to refinish the wagon. When
Mr. Lennox asked what color? They replied they didn't care, as long as it was
the prettiest wagon at the fair. A few days later they returned to get the wagon
and were amazed. It was stunning, they described it as a beautiful Circus Wagon,
painted WHITE , trimmed and lettered in gold. According
to Chief Ferguson, the boys took their beautiful wagon to the fair. Won 1st
prize, as the fastest in Texas along with the $250.00 cash award that went with
the title. Triumphantly
returning to town, every time the white truck was placed in regular service, it
attracted favorable attention from the citizens. Being pleased with the results,
Fire Chief Maddox, declared that all new and refurbished fire trucks would be
painted and finished in the same colors. That
color combination has be our mainstay until about 1980 or 1981 when a blue
stripe was added.
Photo From the Dalton Hoffman, Jr. Collection
Copyright©1999-2006 Fort Worth Fire Department
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