Fire Bucket

Fire Bucket

Special Acquisitions Fund, 81.48

In the 1700s and 1800s the danger of fire was ever-present. To help contain loss and damage from fires, townsmen formed groups in which members agreed to help each other extinguish fires as well as protect property imperiled by a fire. Zachariah Stevens (dates unknown), who owned this water bucket, belonged to the Masonick Fire Society of Gloucester, Massachusetts—which drew its membership from area Masons. Marked with the Society’s motto, “Friendship in Adversity” and Stevens’ name, this bucket could be easily returned after a fire.

For more on this object please visit the online collection record here.

1799