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Regardless of the situation, all matters brought to the city Board of Aldermen were coordinated and disseminated by and through Chief Miller. In certain cases, such as the Colored Fire Department, they were quartered on property which was not city owned rather rent was paid for the use of the structure. Miller was appointed and recognized as Chief of the City Fire Department, the other fire companies in the city which were not quartered in the Central Fire Station were identified by names such as: The Cannonville Fire Department, The Concord Colored Fire Department, and the Cabarrus Fire Department. The modern facility was a three-story masonry structure located at the corner of Union Street South & Barbrick Avenue (current site of the City Hall Annex building).

At the same time, Concord was building a new city hall, which became the new home to the Concord Fire Department. Biles was appointed the first full-time fireman and had responsibilities as the wagon driver. Chief Miller’s service with the Concord Fire Department spanned 52 years, (a feat not likely to be repeated). Miller, elected by the membership of the Fire Department (in later years, the Fire Chief would be “elected” by the city’s Board of Aldermen. The first Fire Chief for the “City Fire Department” was Mr. On December 21, 1900, the City of Concord established fire protection as a function of city government. It is interesting to note that at the turn of the century, water for the city was provided through a contract with a private citizen who owned the waterworks. Membership of this company was entirely African- American. The Concord Hook and Ladder Company chose Martin Boger as its Foreman (equivalent to a fire chief during this period).

The Concord Hook and Ladder Company manned a hand drawn wagon, which carried wooden ladders, pike poles and axes. The Concord Hose and Reel Company chose Mr. Firefighting paraphernalia of the period still included 12 rubber buckets for applying water to a fire. The Concord Hose and Reel Company was organized and manned a hand drawn hose reel cart to transport fire hose to the scene of fires. By 1887 the population had reached 2,500 and thought was given to more reliable fire protection. Prior to 1887 citizens of the city assembled during fires and formed bucket brigades, working together in efforts to prevent the calamities caused by the ravages of fire.

Multi-storied brick factories were beginning to be commonplace, as the textile industry became a mainstay of the regional economy. Concord was bustling with business activity, benefited by the proximity of the railroad to the city. Modern manufacturing plants were being built and operated as Concord began to experience benefits of the industrial revolution.

1914 DAPPLEGREY LN SERIES

This series of articles are written to provide the reader a better understanding of the rich history of the Concord Fire Department.Ĭoncord like other cities in the late 1880’s was a city in transition. Firefighters in America have historically been the members of society who were willing to give their all for the lives of others, always forming the first line of defense in times of fires or other disasters. Firefighting, a time-honored tradition, founded on the bravery of members from the past and continuing through today.

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