Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Last Alarm

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 16, 2024

1. The Last Alarm Marker

Inscription. The Last Alarm
This bell, cast in 1874, served as the Danville Fire Department’s first fire bell and hung in Danville’s original fire station located on Patton Street before being moved in 1926 to what was then our fire headquarters on Bridge Street. Today, it serves as a memorial to honor those Danville firefighters who answered the last alarm for service and died while performing those duties.

James S. Jackson
Assistant Chief
12-18-1934

Charles F. Royster
Fire Lineman
12-1-1938

G. Herman Knight
Captain
6-3-1985

Robert T .Crutchfield, III
Firefighter
1-28-1990

V. Dennis Deshazor
Firefighter
1-28-1990

Erected 2014 by City of Danville.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 36° 35.061′ N, 79° 23.267′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is on Lynn Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Lynn Street, Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

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It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: We Will Never Forget (a few steps from this marker); Danville Lumber and Manufacturing Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Buildings Of The Former Danville Lumber & Manufacturing Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Prison Number 6 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Danville Tobacco Warehouse and Residential District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Prison No. 6 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tobacco Heritage Mural (approx. 0.2 miles away); Richmond & Danville Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 24, 2024

2. The Last Alarm Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 16, 2024

3. The Last Alarm Marker

Historic Fire Alarm Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 16, 2024

4. Historic Fire Alarm Bell

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, October 24, 2024

5. Historic Fire Alarm Bell

The historic fire alarm bell described by the Marker was cast in 1878 by the McNeeley Bell Foundery of West Troy, New York

Fire Station #1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 5, 2024

6. Fire Station #1

The Marker is located in front of Fire Station #1

Former Bell Base image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 16, 2024

7. Former Bell Base

In 2014, the historic bell described by the Marker was relocated from its original location upon this base, which remains in front of the former Fire Station 1 on Bridge Street. The former Bridge Street Station is now privately owned.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 16, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 7. submitted on January 1, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.