HISTORY
Jack’s Firehouse Restaurant is situated in a 19th Century Firehouse in the charming Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia. Much of the original mahogany interior, wood plank floors, and even the brass fire pole remain intact to provide one of the most unique dining settings in the region. We are located directly across the street from the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
The fire company originally housed at Jack's was Truck "A" now referred to as Ladder Company 1 which is currently located at 1541 Parish Street with Engine Company 13. Truck "A" was the very first Truck of the paid Philadelphia Fire Department on March 15, 1871. Truck "A"'s location (Jack's) was 2132 Coates Street. Coates Street was renamed to Fairmount Avenue on January 1, 1900. Ladder Company 1 moved to it's present location on December 20, 1954.
In those days Jack's housed a Gardner & Fleming carriage, with seven ladders, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20 and 12 feet lengths, also five hooks, two axes, two picks, two buckets, four lanterns, one crowbar, three hay forks and one rope. The total weight with equipment and men was 7,500 pounds. In addition to the main carriage, a four-wheeled hose carriage was stored, with 350 feet of leather hose.
Following you will find a table of the original firemen of Truck "A" in 1872 with their positions, ages, residences, and occupations.
| NAME |
POSITION |
AGE |
ADDRESS |
OCCUPATION |
| Thomas Nicholson |
Foreman |
34 |
1502 Penna. Ave |
Carpenter |
| James Edwards |
Driver |
27 |
2203 Hare Street |
Teamster |
| Charles Seeger |
Tiller man |
23 |
1029 Stocker St. |
Plasterer |
| Edward Carty |
Ladderman |
28 |
552 Osprey St. |
Laborer |
| Joseph Heyls |
Ladderman |
23 |
2511 Callowhill St. |
Laborer |
| C.E. Osbourne |
Ladderman |
22 |
512 Taylor St. |
Weaver |
| George T. Snyder |
Ladderman |
25 |
809 Spring Garden St |
Cooper |
| Samuel Meredith |
Ladderman |
24 |
1127 Frankford Rd |
Carpenter |
| Joseph Ticknor |
Ladderman |
27 |
2511 Callowhill St |
Painter |
| John Pancoast |
Ladderman |
28 |
2130 Coates Street |
Bricklayer |
| William Forman |
Ladderman |
42 |
609 Fisher St House |
Painter |
| William H Wallace |
Ladderman |
35 |
Mica ab. Aldine St |
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