Arthur Smokestack Hardy Fire Museum

05/03/2016

First black fire commissioner gets Manhattan street named for him

New York City honors Robert O. Lowery, first black fire commissioner, with Manhattan street dedication. http://nydn.us/1T4pmFd

Robert O. Lowery was sworn in as the 21st fire commissioner — and first FDNY leader — in 1966.

07/20/2015

Book Discussion on [Firefight]

Here is the Cspan2 video recording of the discussion of FIREFIGHT at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn in June. http://www.c-span.org/video/?326506-1/book-discussion-firefight

Ginger Adams Otis, staff writer for the [New York Daily News], talks about the 100-year struggle to integrate the New York City Fire Department. Even today, the FDNY has only 300 black firefighters…

07/19/2015

TONIGHT! Breaking news: "Firefight" discussion with author Ginger Adams Otis that took place at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn NY on June 6 will air tonight, Sunday July 19 on CSpan2 Book TV. Tune in!

05/22/2015

From the Vulcan Society FDNY

05/22/2015

Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York's Bravest

If you order on Amazon before May 26th Save 28% on the new book: FIREFIGHT: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York’s Bravest by Ginger Adams Otis. Stories of courage—about African-American firefighters risking their lives in the line of duty but also risking their livelihood by battling an unjust system. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1137280018/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In 1919, when Wesley Williams became a New York City firefighter, he stepped into a world that was 100% white and predominantly Irish. As far as this city knew, black men in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) tended horses.Nearly a century later, many things in the FDNY had changed--but not t...

05/13/2015

Between the Lines: Ginger Adams Otis

Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York’s Bravest by Ginger Adams Otis shares stories of courage—about firefighters risking their lives in the line of duty but also risking their livelihood by battling an unjust system. FDNY Captain Paul Washington is a second-generation black firefighter, who spent his multi-decade career fighting to get blacks on the job. He faced an insular, close-knit culture that favored families and friends and never saw its own inclusion as privilege. Based on years of on the ground reporting, Firefight is an exciting blend of high-octane firefighting, critical Civil Rights history and a grassroots struggle for opportunity. A book signing will follow the conversation. http://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2015/05/12/between-lines-ginger-adams-otis

Ginger Adams Otis in Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York’s Bravest shares stories of courage—about firefighters risking their lives in the line of duty but also risking their livelihood by battling an unjust system. FDNY Captain Paul Washington is a second-generation black firef…

03/30/2015

James A. Strachan (1915-1989), co-founder and writer of the original constitution/by-laws of the VULCAN SOCIETY (the first fraternal order of African-American firefighters) was also the first elected Vice President of the New York-based organization (1940). At the time he wrote the by-laws, Strachan was 24 years old. At the November 2014 Vulcans memorial service in Brooklyn, in remarks to the assembled Firefighters and families, John Coombs, recent past president said "James Strachan is the architect of the Vulcan Society".

02/16/2015

History of Black Firefighters

Great online source for history of African-American firefighters-- http://www.legeros.com/history/ebf/national.shtml

This is an effort to pay tribute to the many volunteer and paid firefighters of color. Not in recent years but in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. This time period is chosen because there is little written about these men and in most instances they are forgotten. You are free to u…

02/16/2015

Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy

Good article about the museum! http://www.rachelhennick.com/arthur-smokestack-hardy-fire-museum/

SHC club helped to dismantle segregation in the Baltimore City Fire Department. The Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy Museum, a collection of black firefighters’ memorabilia, includes among its artifacts a faded blue playbill from a minstrel show held by the Baltimore City Fire Department in the 1940s. At t…

02/16/2015

Arthur Smokestack Hardy Fire Museum's cover photo

02/03/2015

Arthur Smokestack Hardy Fire Museum

02/03/2015

Guy Cephas, director and curator of the The Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy Fire Museum

02/02/2015

The Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy Fire Museum
It’s rare that a museum is as specific — and as heartfelt — as this one, which honors Baltimore’s first African-American firefighter (and the founder of the first black firefighters’ club in the nation). Housed in the front room of a West Baltimore rowhouse, the museum uses Hardy’s store to tell stories of civil rights, the Great Fire of 1904, and the history of black Baltimore. Caveat: This museum is in someone’s house, so you’ve got to call ahead; to visit, call Guy Cephas at 443-919-9310.

02/02/2015

The Arthur “Smokestack” Hardy Fire Museum
It’s rare that a museum is as specific — and as heartfelt — as this one, which honors Baltimore’s first African-American firefighter (and the founder of the first black firefighters’ club in the nation). Housed in the front room of a West Baltimore rowhouse, the museum uses Hardy’s store to tell stories of civil rights, the Great Fire of 1904, and the history of black Baltimore. Caveat: This museum is in someone’s house, so you’ve got to call ahead; to visit, call Guy Cephas at 443-919-9310.