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A fascinating film: A day in the life of an Austin, Texas firefighter in 1953.

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Let’s go back 59 years courtesy of the Austin Fire Museum. This film shows the men from old Fire Station 5 in East Austin. Besides giving us a view of station life in 1953, it also shows some of the first African American firefighters hired in Texas (see below). Stay beyond the closing credits of the film because there are a couple of outtakes.

Description of the film:

This film was created by Captain Victor Tiemann of Engine Company 5 at Old Fire Station 5 at 1005 Lydia St. in East Austin.  In 1952 the City of Austin hired the first paid African American firefighters in Texas.  They were initially stationed at Old Fire Station 5.  Captain Tiemann had the crew demonstrate for the camera various activities in the day in the life of an Austin fire company in 1953.  At the time of the filming the Austin Fire Department had a two platoon shift schedule and Captain Tiemann was in charge of the A-Shift.  The driver was William (Bill) Walsh, and the firefighters of the crew were Willie Ray Davis, Marvin Douglas, and James Ritchardson.

From the Austin Fire Museum website:

1952

The Austin Fire Department employed three black firefighters, the first blacks to be hired under Civil Service law in the state of Texas. The three were Willie Ray Davis, who retired as a Captain; Nathaniel H. Kindred, who died of a heart attack in 1977 while at a fire scene; and Roy D. Greene, who resigned.

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Posted by on May 12, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, must see video, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

8 Comments

  1. slackjawedyokel says

    Anyone else catch the pin up calendar on the wall?

    on May 12, 2012 @ 5:04 pm. Reply
  2. Fireboots says

    Wow, the more things change, the more they stay the same. It was a fine career then, and it still is today. Sometimes I think we forget that. And the hat on the new probie? That thing was awesome!

    on May 12, 2012 @ 5:17 pm. Reply
  3. Chas says

    Wow, they took the little dog with them! And how many people realize that in the “old days,” you could take your bicycle to the fire station for air and maybe replacement of a missing bolt. Actually, I think I did that once as a kid.

    Great old home movie here.

    on May 12, 2012 @ 8:08 pm. Reply
  4. Say what says

    The driver just mentioned above, William (Bill) Walsh, just passed away last week. His family had an interesting obituary in the paper today

    http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?n=william-walsh&pid=157563237&fhid=5106

    Tradition is an awesome thing in the fire service and its cool to look back at the old days.

    on May 13, 2012 @ 10:38 pm. Reply
  5. Andy says

    Classic,
    growing up in San Diego I remember taking my bike up to “old” 38′s for a license and gazing at the 50′s era Seagrave rigs in the bay, the firefighters or firemen as we used to call em were always amazed that I knew so much about the trucks and equipment at such a young age! I knew from as long as I can remember that I was going to be in the fire service…if its in your blood its in there forever! Thanks for the great movie and memories!

    on May 14, 2012 @ 3:09 pm. Reply
  6. firebob says

    Does anyone know the manufacturer of the firetruck that is shown in the Austin Tx video? I think my hometown fire department ran a similar piece in that era. Thanks

    on May 14, 2012 @ 3:47 pm. Reply
  7. Sharppointy1 says

    Fun to watch! My Mom had that same coffee pot; I pull hers out now and then. Loved the shirtless driver.

    on May 16, 2012 @ 6:38 pm. Reply

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Continuing the Discussion

  1. Morning Lineup – May 13 | Firegeezer linked to this post

    [...] it easy waiting for the bells to ring, click on over to STATter911 and watch the video Dave posted last night HERE.  It's a fun-view of a 1953 film taken in Austin, Texas, showing a "routine day" [...]

    on May 13, 2012 @ 9:00 am.