Fire Marked Doors

Sherry Felix

Fire insurance marks were metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company which were affixed to the front of insured buildings as a guide to the insurance company’s fire brigade. These identification marks were used in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in the days before municipal fire services were formed.

Subscribers paid firefighting companies in advance for fire protection and in exchange would receive a fire mark to attach to their building. The payments for the fire marks supported the firefighting companies. Volunteer fire departments were also common in the United States, and some fire insurers contributed money to these departments and awarded bonuses to the first fire engine arriving at the scene of a fire.

Firefighting used to be a private for-profit industry. In the 1800’sin cities like New York and Baltimore, there were private “clubs” or “gangs” who were in charge of putting out fires. The infamous Boss Tweed started his illustrious political career at a volunteer fire company. The first club at the scene got money from the insurance company and sometimes loot. So, they had an incentive to get there fast. They also had an incentive to sabotage competition. They also often ended up getting in fights over territory and many times buildings would burn down before the issue was resolved.

Fire mark gallery at NYCFM

These historic c. 1850 buildings on Washington Place, between 6th and 7th Avenues, have fire insurance marks.

For Norm’s Thursday Doors 6/2/2016.

Fire Mark at 108 Washigton Place, NYC 5/29/2016

Fire Mark at 108 Washigton Place, NYC 5/29/2016

108 Washigton Place, NYC 5/29/2016
108 Washigton Place, NYC 5/29/2016
134 Washington Place, NY 5/29/2016
134 Washington Place, NY 5/29/2016
140 Washingto Place, NYC 6/29/2016
140 Washingto Place, NYC 6/29/2016

These two c. 1899 buildings (stable and studio) are on West 4th Street on the other side of the fire marked buildings.

20160529_Greenwich-Village_17
185 West 4th Street, NYC 5/29/2016
20160529_Greenwich-Village_18
185 West 4th Street, NYC 5/29/2016
183 W 4th Street, NYC 5/29/2016
183 W 4th Street, NYC 5/29/2016

30 thoughts on “Fire Marked Doors”

  2. undiscoverdimagesamongstus 2016-06-05 / 12:37 am

    Nice doors and very interesting history about firefighters. The fire station near my house may be partially closed due to budgetary problems; perhaps we may end up paying individually for fire services and I might to have to start looking for a plaque to hang 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Sherry Lynn Felix 2016-06-05 / 4:57 am

      Thank you. I hope we don’t need a fire marks again. It does seem we are moving backwards. Todays presidential race is an example. But let’s not go there 😦

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Becky B 2016-06-04 / 3:56 am

    Fascinating – love the history behind doors. Now off to look at more plaques as like Jo and Janet think it’s lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
      • Becky B 2016-06-04 / 5:10 am

        Agree – fascinating especially that so many countries took a similar approach.
        I wonder if some of the more dodgy companies deliberately started fires to encourage more to sign up?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  4. Birder's Journey 2016-06-03 / 4:05 pm

    Very interesting bit of history – and beautiful images to illustrate this!

    Like

    Reply
  6. restlessjo 2016-06-02 / 4:34 pm

    It looks a lovely neighbourhood. I’d like more close ups of the plaques. That one is very handsome. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Jean Reinhardt 2016-06-02 / 9:55 am

    Great photos and history. Your post reminded me of the scene in the movie ‘Gangs of New York’ when the rival fire-fighting gangs were too busy fighting over a burning building to put out the fire.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Reinhold Staden 2016-06-02 / 7:58 am

    Interesting information and excellent shots. I was a fire fighter for 10 years. But always on a voluntary basis. These houses and doors could be located in England as well.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Sherry Lynn Felix 2016-06-02 / 8:10 am

      That is commendable. There are a lot of good firefighters out there. Like the police force, a few bad ones that turn up in poor neighborhoods (see my comment about firefighters in the ’60s in the East Village).

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Reinhold Staden 2016-06-02 / 8:21 am

        Never heard anything like this in my time. But the main reason could be that I was living in a small village during this time. And the voluntary fire brigade was the only one in this area. Could be different in mega cities.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  12. Barbara Bryan 2016-06-02 / 7:10 am

    Beautiful photos, great history!

    Like

    Reply
  13. Midwestern Plant Girl 2016-06-02 / 6:38 am

    Thanks for the history lesson! That’s pretty interesting… firefighters fighting for business. And now we take it for granted that they will save us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Sherry Lynn Felix 2016-06-02 / 6:50 am

      In the 60’s some firemen had bad reputations for looting and destruction. I witnessed it the East Village. I hope that is no longer the case.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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