Shaw in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Engine Company No. 4
931 R Street, NW
— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 30, 2019
1. Engine Company No. 4 Marker
Inscription.
Engine Company No. 4. 931 R Street, NW. This 1885 building originally housed the DC Fire Department's Engine Company No. 7. It eventually became home to Washington's first all-black fire company. The department had included a few African American firefighters since 1868, but none ever advanced to officer. In 1919, 17-year veteran Charles E. Gibson sought to correct this situation, requesting an all-black company. The department agreed, choosing Engine Co. No. 4, at 474 Virginia Avenue, SW, as its first all-African American company, under Gibson's command. In 1940 the Fire Department reorganized and moved Engine 4 here. When the department desegregated in 1962, it split up its five all-black companies. Engine 4 moved to 2531 Sherman Avenue in 1976.
This 1885 building originally housed the DC Fire Department's Engine Company No. 7. It eventually became home to Washington's first all-black fire company. The department had included a few African American firefighters since 1868, but none ever advanced to officer. In 1919, 17-year veteran Charles E. Gibson sought to correct this situation, requesting an all-black company. The department agreed, choosing Engine Co. No. 4, at 474 Virginia Avenue, SW, as its first all-African American company, under Gibson's command. In 1940 the Fire Department reorganized and moved Engine 4 here. When the department desegregated in 1962, it split up its five all-black companies. Engine 4 moved to 2531 Sherman Avenue in 1976.
Location. 38° 54.764′ N, 77° 1.515′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Shaw. Marker is on R Street Northwest east of 10th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 931 R St NW, Washington DC 20001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. [Caption:] Engine Company No. 4, 1943 Photo by Gordon Parks, Library of Congress
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Markers about Engine Company No. 4
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 30, 2019
2. Engine Company No. 4 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
