Resource Type
Partner
Collection
Rescuing Texas History, 2015
100
George Pendexter Postcard Collection
92
Texas History Collection
25
Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum
10
Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection
8
T. B. Willis Collection
8
Fort Bend Museum Collection
7
Preston George Collection
6
Abilene Library Consortium
5
The Mexican Revolution on the Border: Primary Sources from El Paso
5
16 More
Serial/Series Title
Country
States
Year
Month
Language
[Postcard of a Horse-Drawn Hook and Ladder]
Postcard of fire fighters in a horse-drawn wagon at a fire station. The garage at the station is labeled, "Hook & Ladder 4." On the back of the postcard, the sender has left a handwritten message that says, "At home again. Here the two views of Cen. Fire Sta. that I have sent you. Duplicates or not, please. [...] I may get new views for you now."
Date:
September 10, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from J. P. Eagan to George Pendexter, January 17, 1912]
Postcard from J. P. Eagan to George Pendexter with a note talking about having to fight a large fire in 15-degrees below zero weather. He notes that the fire chief, van Toor, is sick but that Pendexter should hear from him shortly. The photograph on the reverse side of the card shows the crew of the "#32 Hose Wagon" in St. Louis, Missouri. There are six firemen in the photograph, all are standing or sitting on the wagon; the wagon itself is equipped with a large water cannon mounted towards the front.
Date:
January 17, 1912
Creator:
Eagan, J. P.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, April 29, 1912]
Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter with a note on the back saying there has not been many fires in Battle Creek, Michigan to deal with. The photograph on the reverse side shows the "Combination Chemical wagon and Steamer - #3 Fire Station Battle Creek - Mich." There are eight firemen in the photo, three standing around the steamer wagon and five around the wagon on the right side.
Date:
April 29, 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, January 29, 1912]
Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter telling Pendexter to call Henry W. Woodward in Springfield, Massachusetts for more photographs. Johnston says that the men in the photo belong to Engine #3 as they work on their spraying and he is the man wearing the light shirt; the photograph shows the men with their hose shooting a high pressured stream of water into the air.
Date:
January 29, 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from Gus Brown to George Pendexter, February 27, 1912]
Postcard from Gus Brown to George Pendexter describing a fire that happened in Springfield, Ohio in 1903, in talking about injuries Brown says: "5 buried [sic] by falling walls, 3 taken out dead, others had broken limbs." The photograph on the reverse side shows the damage caused by the fire at the Fountain Square Theatre on February 19, 1903; this is the "stage entrance" which is torn up and wooden beams lying on the ground in disarray.
Date:
February 27, 1912
Creator:
Brown, Gus C.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, April 9, 1912]
Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter with a note thanking Pendexter for his recent card and describing the fire taking place in the photo on the reverse side of this card. The photograph shows a smoking building with a fire truck parked outside and firemen running hoses into the building; the caption says this fire took place March 25, 1912. There are civilians in the picture as well but they are standing behind the scene watching the firemen work.
Date:
April 9, 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard with a Photo of a Fire at Bernhard Milling Company, January 16, 1912]
Postcard with a photograph of the backside of the Bernhard Milling Company building as it is on fire. The photograph shows the building, frozen on the outside, with a ladder leaning against it and a few firemen standing underneath the small awning.
Date:
January 16, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard with a Photograph of Fire Damage in Houston, February 21, 1912]
Postcard with a photograph of some of the damage caused by a fire in Houston, Texas; the text on the photo says that this is "looking west from plant of Dew Bros Syrup Co." Most of the pieces of debris in the picture are sheets of metal lying on the ground with other charred pieces in the background.
Date:
February 21, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard of a Fire Station, Providence, R.I.]
Postcard of the Providence Fire Department and citizens at a three-story fire station. Three fire fighters are standing on an upright ladder in the center of the image. On the back of the postcard, the sender has left a handwritten message that says, "Occupies the first door - engine. The next - doors leading to men's quarters in centre - trucks next - district chief last. This station is close to my home, covers the district [...] up to date - bowling alley on the top floor. Capt's rooms at each corner, front - recreation room in centre. [...]"
Date:
August 12, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, February 5, 1912]
Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter regarding other cards he would like to receive and some that he has available. The photograph on the reverse side shows the "rear of Parker Fur Store" as it is burning on December 7, 1911; most of the picture shows nothing but smoke.
Date:
February 5, 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from F. A. Bruce to George Pendexter, February 21, 1912]
Postcard from F. A. Bruce to George Pendexter concerning the fire truck in the picture, which is the car Bruce drives. Bruce notes the blizzard conditions in Michigan that include four to five feet snow drifts. The photograph on the reverse side shows a group of firemen sitting in a fire truck that is covered in snow and wearing snow chains; the note on the picture says: "10 below zero inspecting fire alarm."
Date:
February 21, 1912
Creator:
Bruce, F. A.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from Gus Brown to George Pendexter, March 17, 1912]
Postcard from Gus Brown to George Pendexter describing the wagon in the photograph, Brown says "this is a view of old truck at No. 3." He later says that the wagon has been remodeled and moved to another station; the wagon is loaded down with ladders in the back. The photograph shows the wagon sitting outside of the local fire station with a fireman sitting atop the driver's seat and holding the reins.
Date:
March 17, 1912
Creator:
Brown, Gus
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from N. M. Wood to George Pendexter, March 19, 1912]
Postcard from N. M. Wood to George Pendexter concerning the fire department photo collection that he has; Wood mentions that he has over 30,000 photos from all over the world. He notes that the photograph on the reverse side is of the Ottawa Fire Department in Ottawa, Canada. The photograph shows three firemen of Engine Co. 4 standing with their steamer engine in the snow in front of the fire station; the engine has wheels cut in half to act as skis in the snow.
Date:
March 19, 1912
Creator:
Wood, N. M.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard of a Webb Fire Engine Test]
Postcard of a fire engine spraying water at a building with two large smokestacks. The photograph was captured from a distance above, and many people can be seen observing the scene below. A printed note on the back of the postcard says, "Test of the "Webb" Motor Fire Engine, Through Deck Turret on "Webb" Motor High Pressure Wagon. Height of Stack 246 ft. Size of Nozzle 1 5/8 inches. It was estimated that at times this stream reached nearly 300 feet perpendicularly."
Date:
February 9, 1912
Creator:
Inbody, J.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter, June, 1912]
Postcard from W. B. Johnston to George Pendexter with a photograph of a fire station in Otsego, Michigan. This fire station is made out of brick and has a tower attached to the from right corner of the building. The note written by Johnston on the postcard describes all the he had done by hand.
Date:
June 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from Bernard Shannahan to George Pendexter, July 7, 1912]
Postcard from B. Shannahan to George Pendexter with a photograph showing a firemen convention in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. The photograph shows a horse-drawn fire wagon racing down a street with a large crowd of people lined up on the sidewalk watching the action; some of the firemen on the wagon are working with the large hose loaded in the back.
Date:
July 5, 1912
Creator:
Shannohan, Bernard
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard of the Providence Fire Department]
Postcard of the Providence Fire Department in a fire engine, parked beside a brick building. The sender has left a handwritten message on the back of the postcard; it says, "I am finding your kind of cards one by one. Can you find any views of monuments or hospitals? I'd like them if you can, but do not inconvenience yourself, please. Happy New Year."
Date:
December 31, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard of the Equitable Life Building, New York, January 9th, 1912]
Postcard of men in a snowy street in New York, standing by a snow-covered vehicle. Smoke obscures the view ahead of the vehicle. A note at the foot of the postcard says, "Equitable Life Building, New York, destroyed by fire January 9th, 1912."
Date:
January 9, 1912
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 the weather and other cards that have been sent from Waco, Texas. The photograph on the reverse side shows "Truck Co. No. 1" in the St. Joseph Fire Department in St. Joseph, Michigan; the wagon in the picture is being pulled by three horses, is loaded with ladders, with two firemen in the driver's seat. The other seven men in the photograph are standing on the sides of the wagon with one fireman sitting on the very back end.
Date:
February 12, 1912
Creator:
Johnston, W. B.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[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 of Wichita Falls Fire Department]
Postcard of the Wichita Falls Fire Department with two automobiles and one horse-drawn carriage. The group is in front of the city hall, with two garage doors on the side of its building.
Date:
June 5, 1912
Creator:
unknown
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from B. H. Wilson to George Pendexter, June 18, 1912]
Postcard from B. H. Wilson to George Pendexter regarding more cards he has to send once he prints them; Wilson notes that the truck in the photo is a "ladder truck in the Decoration Day Parade, 1908." The truck is loaded with ladders and has at least four firemen on it, one is seated at the rear, one is standing on the side, and two are seated in the driver's seat while holdings the reins to the horses. The truck also has two small American flags planted on either side of it.
Date:
June 18, 1912
Creator:
Wilson, B. H.
System:
The Portal to Texas History
[Postcard from J. P. Eagan to George Pendexter, January 25, 1912]
Postcard from J. P. Eagan to George Pendexter describing the fire he had been fighting at a building at "Broadway and Cass Ave." The photograph shows the "#12 Engine" fighting the fire taking place at an auto store. There is snow on the streets as Eagan notes the weather is cold and foggy.
Date:
January 25, 1912
Creator:
Eagan, J. P.
System:
The Portal to Texas History