Resource Type

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, January 22, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter with the names of other firemen collectors: "Capt. George H. Cook; Gus Brown; B. F. Garrigus." The photograph shows a building after it has been burned down, Johnston says that it was burned January 9, 1912; the middle portion of the building has been destroyed, only the walls in the front and back have been left standing.
Date: January 22, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, May 14, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter with a newspaper clipping glued to the correspondence section of the card. The clipping describes the technical features of the new "Chemical and hose Motor Car" which has a capacity of "700 gallons of water a minute." Johnston mentions L. D. Smith and a fire on March 25, 1925; Smith is possibly the fireman in the photograph on the reverse side seen going up a ladder into a smoking building.
Date: May 14, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter, August 20, 1909]

Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter with a message saying that Smith had forgotten Pendexter's number. On the backside of the postcard there is a photo of some of the members of the Central Fire Station in Lansing, Michigan. The twelve men in front of the building are standing next to two of the automobiles used in fighting fires; the car on the left is holding ladders in the back end.
Date: August 20, 1909
Creator: Smith, J. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, February 26, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter concerning fire engines and different cards to be sent. The photograph on the reverse side shows an old steamer engine, "Steamer #3" a part of the Battle Creek Fire Department in Battle Creek Michigan. There is a hose attached to the engine near the bottom while the steamer has smoke puffing out of the top.
Date: February 26, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, July 24, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter mentioning a recent fire that took place by a drug store and restaurant; Johnston says this took place "across the street from the Parker fire" that he had sent a card of in the past. The photograph shows the ruins of a building in Bellevue, Michigan after having been destroyed by a fire in December 1911; the only thing left is a pile of rubble and dirt.
Date: July 24, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, April 2, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter discussing different cards and views from other collectors around the country. The photograph shows the "McLane Swift & Co. Elevator" burning on July 1, 1911 while a large group of firemen are working to put it out. There is a large group of civilians standing in the background watching as the firemen are working with their fire engines to try to put out the fire.
Date: April 2, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter, December 17, 1909]

Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter with a photograph showing the destruction of the Burdick House on the "Morning of Dec. 9-1909. Kalamazoo, Mich." The photograph shows the massive damage to the front wall of the building as it has been burned down by a fire; there are firemen holding a large hose trying to put out the fire.
Date: December 17, 1909
Creator: Smith, J. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, August 16, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter saying that he has just returned from his vacation of 25 days. The photograph on the reverse side of the card shows a Quaker Oats Plant having been burned in March 1911; the building is still smoking at the time of this picture. There is also a train in the photograph with the words "Ann Arbor" written on the side.
Date: August 16, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter, December 10, 1909]

Postcard from J. D. Smith to George Pendexter with a note saying: "Just of Hotel Lobby and Arcade all gone now." The photo on the reverse side of the card shows the lobby and arcade inside of the Burdick House in Kalamazoo, Michigan; after the fire on December 9, 1909 all of this was totally destroyed.
Date: December 10, 1912
Creator: Smith, J. D.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard of the Number 4 Fire Station in Battle Creek, Michigan]

Postcard addressed to George Pendexter with a photograph of the number 4 fire station in Battle Creek, Michigan. This station has a prominent cylindrical castle-like feature in the front, and a large opening where the garage is.
Date: June 1909
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, February 12, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter discussing cards to send and saying that the wagon in the photo just went out of commission. The photograph on the reverse side shows a horse-drawn fire wagon with the title "Auxiliary" written on the side; this wagon and crew are a part of the St. Joseph Fire Department in St. Joseph, Michigan. There are five firemen in this photograph, two are sitting in the driver's seat while the other three are standing on the ground next to the wagon. There is a water cannon mounted in the back of the wagon and a lantern attached to the driver's seat.
Date: February 12, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, January 15, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter regarding his contacts in Detroit, Michigan. The photograph on the reverse side of the card shows a fire taking place in Battle Creek, Michigan with the fire department working to put it out. The building on fire is the lightly colored one in the center of the photo; there is smoke coming out of the windows. The caption on the photo reads: "The Fire - Dec. 7-1911. Battle Creek, Mich."
Date: January 15, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, March 25, 1911]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter describing a recent fire that took place catching multiple buildings on fire and causing around $45,000 in damage. The photograph on the reverse side shows the Battle Creek Fire Department riding through the street during the July 4, 1912 parade. The carriage in the center of the picture is holding a number of ladders on the back end; there are four firemen standing on the carriage as it rolls down the street. A lot of the people in the crowd are holding umbrellas to protect from the sunshine.
Date: March 25, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, January 15, 1912]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter describing the Truck in the photograph as "truck No. 1 Hose #2-3 Engine Co. 3." The photograph shows a fire on "E. Main St." in Battle Creek, Michigan with the two fire trucks and firemen standing around along with a large crowd of people standing around.
Date: January 15, 1912
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter]

Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter saying he recently spilled a bottle of something but does have more cards to send out. The photograph shows the "Fire Department Testing No. 1 Auto Engine" in Battle Creek, Michigan; the firemen are surrounded by civilians watching the men pump water through their hoses. The men are shooting the high pressured water streams over a bridge into a body of water.
Date: [1909..1912]
Creator: Johnston, W. B.
System: The Portal to Texas History