FIREMAN'S PARADE. PRESENTATION OF TWO SILVER FIRE HORNS TO THE HIBERNIA ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 1. PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 5TH, 1857.
Philadelphia: Published by Wm. Smith... Looking Glass, Portrait & Picture Frames of every description, 1877. Folio broadside, 14" x 17". Printed in three columns: the first, an 'Address of Hon. R.T. Conrad'; second, 'Fireman's Address. Written at the request of the Association for the Relief of Disabled Firemen,' by 'Hon. Robert T. Conrad'; third, 'Address of Philip S. White, Esq.' Very Good.
The ceremony seeks to make amends for Philadelphia's long history of antipathy to Irish Catholics. Conrad had been elected Mayor of Philadelphia on a Know-Nothing platform that capitalized on anti-Irish sentiment. But he says here, "Whatever prejudices may have existed in regard to fireman [sic] have disappeared before the favorable evidence of the past and present conduct and character." Also a poet and writer, Conrad composed a poem for the occasion, printed in the second column.
Praising the Company in column three was a leading temperance advocate, Philip S. White. The Hibernia Company was responsible for an area of great "importance": "all the Exchange, Post Office and Custom House brokers-- all the printing offices-- all the newspapers of the city... all the steamboat landings-- all the banks save two, and nearly all the insurance offices."
OCLC records four locations under three accession numbers as of May 2021: the Library Company, Clements, NYHS, Brown. Item #35307
Price: $450.00