The Redshirts of York

The Redshirts of York. . , Near this spot a group known as the Redshirts has assembled for York’s annual Firemen’s Parade every August since 1929. Officially they are the Volunteer Veteran Fireman’s Association of York, Maine. In fact, members are neither veteran firemen nor even firemen. The association was founded by summer residents with the fledgling York Volunteer Fire Department. Initially there were 29 Redshirts. By 2016 there were 127, including four honorary members from the York and York Beach Fire Departments., It was a solid partnership from the start because the wood-frame summer houses of the founders lay vacant and vulnerable much of the year and the volunteer department welcomed a source of encouragement and financial support. Every third Sunday in August, the Redshirts held their annual meeting. One of the purposes is to pledge financial support to the York and York Beach Fire departments., The night before the annual meeting and their participation in the Fireman’s Parade and Muster, the redshirts hold a convivial dinner. Following tradition, the members tell stories and sing songs popular after World War I. The early dinners were held in a special room at the Hillcroft, now the York Harbor Inn,. Old postcards show the room decorated with prints of 19th century fire scenes and other fire memorabilia., In the parade the Redshirts, wearing replica 19th century red firemen’s shirts and white pants, pull an antique fire apparatus by hand. This is an 1853 Button and Blake hand pumper. By the 1800’s these classic horse-drawn pumpers were used only for muster competitions between fire companies. The Redshirts procured it from the Fire department of Hampton Beach NH for their first parade in 1929., The apparatus’ first home in 1853 was Adrian, Michigan’s firehouse number 2, named Protection: hence its name "Protection No. 2." The redshirts wear the name “Protection” on their shirts and the number "2" on their hats, By 1878 Protection No. 2 was outmoded. The Adrian Department sold it that year to Quincy, Mass. for use in competitions. By 1929 it was in York. In fact, that first year, the Redshirts, manning the Button, beat the Eureka of Portsmouth. The competition took place near the Harbor Beach, drawing a large crowd at the spot where the tennis courts now stand., In 2014 the apparatus received a major refinishing at the devoted hands of Ed Walsh, Assistant Chief (Ret.) of the York department, who sandblasted and repainted every metal piece, with the able assistance of YFD Captain Jack Loew. Walsh’s labor of love is an apt symbol of the long relationship between the Redshirts and the York Volunteer Fire Department.