Extinguishing Fires in the UK...
 
I haven't followed this thread very closely, but I think that Fire
Insurance Companies in the UK might be worth mentioning. The Sun Fire
Insurance Company of London insured residences all over the UK in the
18th Century (e.g. including Perth Scotland). An added bonus is that the
company retains their records from the early period! Sun Fire and other
companies produced iron badges (rather like the old fashioned AAA
medallions affixed to automobiles early last century) that would be
mounted on the front of an insured business or home. If a fire broke out
in a building that did not display the Sun Fire Insurance badge, the Sun
Fire company would make no effort to extinguish that fire. This was not
just an idiosyncrasy of the Sun Fire Company but was a common practice
among British insurers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
 
Incidentally, the Texas Fire Museum is here in Beaumont with the world's
largest fire hydrant in front of it. Drive downtown in Beaumont and you
can't miss it.
 
Best,
Ware
 
 
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House 
Curator of Collections
725 Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
[log in to unmask]
www.mcfaddin-ward.org
409.832.1906 p
409.832.3483 f
 

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