Police siren, Portland, ca. 1820
Item 6037 info
Maine Historical Society
When a fire started, the wards sounded the alarm by using a rattle or by crying "Fire!"
By 1787, town residents voted to acquire a hand-pump fire engine and appointed a crew to maintain and man the new pumper, named "Neptune."
For their service, these men were exempted from "common and ordinary military duty, from serving as Jurors, or in the office of Constable."
The engine men met on a regular basis for care and maintenance of the engine, and remained in readiness to respond to fire in any part of the city.
Item 16 of 18
