Textiles and the Triplett Sisters

The Vigilant Fire Company had quite a reputation for fights and disagreements with other fire companies. Specifically, The Watchman and the Independent Fire Companies multiple disputes with the men of Vigilant including damages to the fire equipment was well documented in the newspaper. Also well documented in the paper was the murder of Edmund Mitchell, President of the Vigilant Fire Company. Like many of the leaders in Baltimore, Edmund Mitchell was also actively involved in the Washingtonians Temperance organization. The mayor offered a $500 reward, and the Vigilant Fire Company offered a $300 reward for information about the murder. A later President of the Vigilant Fire Company was Thomas Creamer, another well-known citizen of Baltimore. Besides being an active member of both Exeter Street Church at his death, he was also a member of the High...

  As I’ve continued to research the ties between the Fire Companies, Temperance Groups, churches, and women’s groups, the maze of connections is astounding. Men held leadership roles in multiple organizations, even sometimes the women’s groups. Determining if a specific block was made by a group or individual for sale, when they belonged to multiple groups might be insurmountable. Without written documentation, in some cases the best I can do is point out some of the connections as I continue to search for original source documentation. I originally started BAQ research because of several BAQ’s in the Poos Collection. The BAQ with Rose Border is heavily tied to Washingtonian Temperance Union through the images depicted, the names, and the familial ties to those in the organization. Mary Boyd signed one of the distinctive blocks, which for...

I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the obvious fire engine blocks found in more than one Baltimore Album Quilt. I’d been hopeful I would be able to tie the blocks specifically to a Fire Company. I’ve not been able to find an ad selling blocks for a fundraiser for the engine etc. So far, I’ve only been able to tie the block circumstantially to the First Baltimore Fire Company. In 1842, J. Share & Sons created a new suction fire engine. The theory was that it could shoot a stream of water higher and farther than other traditionally built engines. According to the newspaper, one demonstration proved it sent a stream of water 171 feet and “could bend an arch over the roofs of any ordinary building.” By 1843 the creators provided another demonstration using...

The diary that connected the Washingtonians and the Fire Companies, also mentioned her father’s connection to Odd Fellows. I wondered if that was an isolated situation with her father just being actively involved. However, after researching the Columbian Fire Company, I realized that it was more common than I expected. Lt. Colonel William H. Watson was a hero in the Mexican American War killed leading a charge in 1846. Many times, the Watson block is simply associated with that heroism. But W. H. Watson also served as the President of the Columbian Fire Company for multiple years. Then in 1843, when the Columbian Temperance Society was formed, the volunteer firefighters were asked to sign an abstinence pledge. After the initial temperance meeting where upwards of 50 Columbian Fire Company members signed the pledge, they also elected...

I’m continuing to explore the connections between Baltimore Album Quilts and the fire companies. If you haven’t read our blog recently, please check the two previous blogs for info on the Liberty and Union Fire Companies. Next, I decided to focus on the Watchman Fire Company. John and Diane Steele owners of a beautiful Baltimore Album Quilt had already done a significant amount of research on the few inscriptions the quilt contained. The couple traced the four initials/names to the same neighborhood and two lived on Montgomery Street the location of the Watchman Fire Company. As I was attempting to locate the ladies group associated with the Fire Company, it became clear that it was not like the other two previous ladies’ organizations which were associated with the temperance movement. The Watchman Fire Company was formed...