Old City in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Fire Company,

(1736-1843)

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

1. Union Fire Company, Marker

Inscription. This first truly volunteer fire company in the US served as a model for others across the nation. Members, including Ben Franklin, purchased tools stored here in Grindstone Alley, helped provide a fire bell, buckets, and an engine for the city, and developed the idea of fire insurance.

Erected 2011 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list.

Location. 39° 57.004′ N, 75° 8.672′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Old City. It is on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 219 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Grindstone Alley (a few steps from this marker); Branch Office of the State Bank of Camden, N.J. (within shouting distance of this marker); Christ Church Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); Christ Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Original Eight Bells in this Church (about 300

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feet away, measured in a direct line); James Wilson (about 300 feet away); Benjamin Franklin (about 300 feet away); A National Historic Site in Journalism (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

2. Union Fire Company, Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,932 times since then and 258 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.