Description
Monroe Volunteer Fire Company with the Silsby steam fire engine. From the September 1974 historical edition of the Enquirer Journal, p.7F:
First Row:
J. W. Ashcraft (Chief of Police), Dr. W. B. Houston (foreman), Jack Green, Tom Polk, Sam Welsh, William C. Carroll, Ben Blakeney, John Davis, Sam Stevens, William Walsh, George McCorkle, Dr. W. D. Pemberton (surgeon), Dr. S. J. Welsh (Fire Chief), Iredell Hilliard and John Correll (engineer, in front of engine).
Second Row:
G. Ed Flow, John E. McCarten, Henry Austin, John Griffin, Jule Wolfe, Stafford Wolfe, Robert Wallace, Bud Ogburn, Braxton Phifer, John Dempster, Rufus Armfield, Frank Blakeney, Jim Davis (fireman, on engine) and John R. Welsh, II (the boy between the engine and horses).
The fire engine was purchased in the late 1890s when B. D. Heath was fire chief. Heath’s name was inscribed in silver on the engine. Sheriff Frank Stevens followed Heath as the company’s chief, to be succeeded by Dr. S. J. Welsh.
[End of transcribed portion of photo caption.]
Time period, description and transcription by P. Poland, 10/22/2015