{"id":88718,"date":"2026-01-16T18:17:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T18:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/88718\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T18:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T18:17:12","slug":"ben-franklins-volunteer-fire-company-next-on-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/88718\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Franklin\u2019s volunteer fire company next on show"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Historic District\u2019s \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 continues this weekend with a Saturday \u201cFirstival\u201d at the Fireman\u2019s Hall Museum, commemorating the city and nation\u2019s first volunteer fire company, formed in 1736.<\/p>\n

The weekly celebrations highlighting America\u2019s 250th birthday showcase a variety of marvels, inventions and events that first happened right here in Philly. The first two weeks recognized the first successful balloon flight in America<\/a> and then the Mummers Parade as the nation\u2019s first folk parade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brian Anderson, a firefighter and curator at the Fireman\u2019s Hall Museum<\/a>, said he was excited to get to tell the history of firefighting in the \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just outstanding,\u201d he said at a press conference held at the Mummers Museum. \u201cTelling the story about how Ben Franklin started the first fire company in 1736 when they were using bucket brigades and hand engines, to how we evolved to today, the equipment that we\u2019re using doing the same mission of saving the general public and protecting property.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cfirstivals\u201d are free public events that run each Saturday of the year, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kicking off each \u201cfirsts week\u201d and offering entertainment and activities, including a sculpture painted by a local artist<\/a> and selected by Mural Arts Philadelphia<\/a>, music, giveaways and storytelling by Historic Philly\u2019s Once Upon a Nation historical experts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Artist Jenn Procacci<\/a> painted the \u201cNo. 1\u201d sculpture this upcoming week. The subject had special meaning to her, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather was a volunteer firefighter and I love civic service, so I wanted to support that topic by working with the volunteer fire company museum, firemen\u2019s hall, to get the right imagery on their \u2018first,\u2019 and just honor the bucket brigade,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Artist Jenn Procacci painted the \u201cNo. 1\u201d sculpture for the first volunteer fire company. (Nick Kariuki\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

While researching about the first volunteer fire company, Procacci said she was amazed how it operated within the limitations of the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, the name is literally the bucket brigade,\u201d she said. \u201cSo it was amazing to think about the work that these people did when they were defending property and lives from fire, and just how physical and arduous it must have been for them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Procacci also appreciated how the bucket brigade would defend everyone\u2019s property, not just paying clients, which similar groups did. Her grandfather died five years ago, but she said she knew he would have been happy to see the \u201cfirstival\u201d and her sculpture.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"(Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"(Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"(Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)<\/p>\n

For all of the events happening during the city\u2019s semiquincentennial celebrations, there will be teams of first responders present, making sure that everything happens safely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anderson said it was an honor to be in the spotlight and represent that group as a whole, in a year where they\u2019ll be called on so heavily.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean servicing [Philadelphia\u2019s population] and then what will be coming into the city for the soccer events, the All-Star games, we will be at our max for medical emergencies, fire and and anything else that we are supported in and our partners,\u201d he said \u201cSo, it\u2019s very exciting to be able to tell the story, and I look forward to what kind of year 2026 is going to be for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the coming weeks<\/p>\n

Here is the complete list of other firsts being highlighted this year, along with the upcoming Saturday \u201cfirstival\u201d dates and locations.<\/p>\n

The first:<\/p>\n

Professional basketball league (1898)
Jan. 24, Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad St.<\/p>\n

Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Jan. 31, PECO Building, 2301 Market St.<\/p>\n

African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Feb. 7, Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 S. 6th St.<\/p>\n

Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Feb. 14, African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St.<\/p>\n

Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Feb. 21, Crane Building, 1400 N. American St.<\/p>\n

Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Feb. 28, Historic Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, 6119 Germantown Ave.<\/p>\n

Flower Show (1829)
March 7, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s medical college (1850)
March 14, Health Sciences Building, Drexel University, 60 N. 36th St.<\/p>\n

Match folder (1892)
March 21, Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

The first medical school in America (1765)
March 28, Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Blvd.<\/p>\n

Stadium in America (1895)
April 4, Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd St.<\/p>\n

Circus performance in America (1793)
April 11, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, 6452 Greene St.<\/p>\n

Botanical garden (1728)
April 18, Bartram\u2019s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd.<\/p>\n

Postmaster (1737)
April 25, Franklin Court, 322 Market St.<\/p>\n

American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
May 2, Ensemble Arts Philly, 300 S. Broad St.<\/p>\n

Mother\u2019s Day (1908)
May 9, Historic St. George\u2019s Museum & Archives, 326 New St.<\/p>\n

Hospital in America (1751)
May 16, Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

World\u2019s Fair on American soil (1876)
May 23, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic<\/p>\n

Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)<\/p>\n

May 30, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.<\/p>\n

American flag (1777)<\/p>\n

June 6, Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.<\/p>\n

U.S. Army (1775)<\/p>\n

June 13, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd St.<\/p>\n

Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)<\/p>\n

June 20, Philly Pride Visitor Center, Lombard St. and S. 12th St.<\/p>\n

Paper maker in America (1690)<\/p>\n

June 27, Rittenhouse Town, 6034 Wissahickon Ave.<\/p>\n

Bank of the United States (1791)<\/p>\n

July 4, First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd St.<\/p>\n

Organized baseball team (1831)<\/p>\n

July 11 (location TBD)<\/p>\n

Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)<\/p>\n

July 18, Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St.\u00a0<\/p>\n

American art school (1805)<\/p>\n

July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.<\/p>\n

Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)<\/p>\n

Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

Zoo in America (1874)<\/p>\n

Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.<\/p>\n

U.S. Mint (1793)<\/p>\n

Aug. 15 (location TBD)<\/p>\n

Selfie (1839)<\/p>\n

Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.<\/p>\n

Slinky (1943)<\/p>\n

Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

Signing of the Constitution (1787)<\/p>\n

Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.<\/p>\n

Continental Congress (1774)<\/p>\n

Sept. 12 at Carpenters\u2019 Hall, 320 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

Naming of the United States (1776)<\/p>\n

Sept. 19, Independence Hall<\/p>\n

Ronald McDonald House (1974)<\/p>\n

Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

Penitentiary in America (1829)<\/p>\n

Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.<\/p>\n

The First Peoples<\/p>\n

Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.<\/p>\n

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)<\/p>\n

Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.<\/p>\n

Public showing of a motion picture (1870)<\/p>\n

Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

Modern detective story written (1841)<\/p>\n

Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)<\/p>\n

Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

University in America (1740)<\/p>\n

Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s hospital in America (1855)<\/p>\n

Nov. 21, Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.<\/p>\n

Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)<\/p>\n

Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

Weather bureau (1870)<\/p>\n

Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.<\/p>\n

Electronic computer (1945)<\/p>\n

Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.<\/p>\n

Public lending library in America (1731)<\/p>\n

Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.<\/p>\n

Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)<\/p>\n

Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Philadelphia Historic District\u2019s \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts\u201d\u00a0 continues this weekend with a Saturday \u201cFirstival\u201d at the Fireman\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88719,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[44064,4000,43235,44065,44066,32133,94,29269,69,4001,71,70,9880],"class_list":{"0":"post-88718","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-philadelphia","8":"tag-52-weeks-of-firsts","9":"tag-america-250","10":"tag-ben-franklin","11":"tag-firemans-hall-museum","12":"tag-firstival","13":"tag-historic-philadelphia","14":"tag-history","15":"tag-mural-arts","16":"tag-philadelphia","17":"tag-philadelphia-250","18":"tag-philadelphia-headlines","19":"tag-philadelphia-news","20":"tag-semiquincentennial"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}