Out And About: Charlestown, MA

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Over the weekend I attended at research conference at Harvard. I was pretty busy Thursday-Saturday thus no pictures of any apparatus or fire houses of Cambridge or Downtown Boston but on Sunday before I had to leave to return back to Burlington I had a few hours to walk around. I took the T to Haymarket Square where I picked up the Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile long path throughout Boston highlighting the historic revolutionary sites along the way. I started at Haymarket Square to Old North Church where Robert Newmann hung two lanterns on April 18th, 1775, alerting Paul Revere to embark on his famous ride alerting the Minutemen of impending raid on Lexington and Concord.

I next moved to Cobb's Hill Burying Ground overlooking the Charles River

Where I found this gravestone, I found it very striking the incredibly patriotic epitaph:

Next I continued walking over the Charles River until I came to the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest serving ship in the U.S. Navy.

On my way to Bunker Hill Monument I came across the quarters of Boston Fire Department Engine 50.

Although Engine 50 was at a fire, Engine 4 a 2003 Pierce Enforcer was covering its quarters. I was let in by a very friendly B/C with a very thick Boston accent and was shown around the rig by the tour's chauffeur, Jim.

Their new patch (sorry for it being kinda blurry):

He gave some history of Engine 50, apparently at one point the city had completely shut down the company, no men, no nothing, so instead of letting an emergency happen and no one respond, the citizen of Charlestown came down to Engine 50's quarters and manned the station themselves. This was just one of several areas that did this in response to their shuttered houses. To show the distinction of being a "peoples" fire company, this sign was made.

Final Shot: A man and his rig:

(A special thank you to the men of Engine 4, especially Jim (never actually caught the last name) and the best of luck to him and his upcoming transfer to Engine 50.)

Edited January 24, 2012 by SRS131EMTFF

[IzzyEng4 427]

You have to pick up the book "Boston's Fire trail". It is actually the same trail for the most part as the Freedom Trail. pretty much all of Boston's infamous fires occurred along the route.

[sfrd18 360]

Nice. I've always wanted to visit Engine 50. I've walked by a couple of times when I was visiting Boston, but they were always out on a run.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Nice. I've always wanted to visit Engine 50. I've walked by a couple of times when I was visiting Boston, but they were always out on a run.

I was only in the two bays downstairs, I never got to see anything past that. I was running behind schedule and wanted to check out Bunker Hill and the museum before I had to make my way back to South Station.

[BFD1054 1,552]

SRS131EMTFF...

My wife and i were in Boston the same weekend to take in the Bruins-Rangers game with some friends. We were there Friday-Sunday, but i didnt get any fire pic's. Noticed they (BFD) had a couple of 2+ alarm fires that weekend, would have been a good photo op.

Heres a pic of our seat location at TD Bank Arena.

Here's a plaque from the Sam Adams Brewery (love that place). Sorry for the poor quality picture, there was a bad glare. But its a plaque from the Massachusetts Professional Firefighters Assoc to Sam Adams for being a Golf Tournament sponsor.

Edited January 29, 2012 by BFD1054

[sfrd18 360]

SRS131EMTFF...

My wife and i were in Boston the same weekend to take in the Bruins-Rangers game with some friends. We were there Friday-Sunday, but i didnt get any fire pic's. Noticed they (BFD) had a couple of 2+ alarm fires that weekend, would have been a good photo op.

Heres a pic of our seat location at TD Bank Arena.

Here's a plaque from the Sam Adams Brewery (love that place). Sorry for the poor quality picture, there was a bad glare. But its a plaque from the Massachusetts Professional Firefighters Assoc to Sam Adams for being a Golf Tournament sponsor.

Ironically, I believe Engine 50 was either operating at the job or on a Watch Line Assignment for one of the 2nd Alarms in question at the time of SRS131EMTFF's visit. Nice shots of the arena by the way.

Edited January 29, 2012 by sfrd18

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Ironically, I believe Engine 50 was either operating at the job or on a Watch Line Assignment for one of the 2nd Alarms in question at the time of SRS131EMTFF's visit. Nice shots of the arena by the way.

Engine 50 was operating at the 2 alarm fire when I was visiting.

BFD, I wish I had 1. A decent camera to take fire scene photos with 2. I had any idea the units were operating and where they were and 3. That my schedule was not so busy while I was in the Boston area.

All in all Boston is a really cool city and considering its $4 for a round trip ticket from Burlington to Boston, I think I will be visiting more often.

Edited January 29, 2012 by SRS131EMTFF