CHARLOTTE, NC - #1

Top left: Colonel Charles Samuel Lafayette Alexander Taylor
Photo donated by James Richardson, Col. Taylor's charge at an early age.

Top and bottom right: Hand engine of Neptune later restored by Newbury Mass. Photos courtesy of Doug Hickin, Charlotte, NC Fire Department.
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Much like other larger cities in the state, Charlotte enlisted slaves in the fire department before the War Between the States.

At some point after the war two black companies were formed with the Neptune company continuing until 1907.

The Neptune company furnished leadership for the North Carolina Colored Volunteer Fireman's Association. One prominent figure of this organization was Colonel C.S.L.A. Taylor.

Taylor was the only black colonel in the Spanish-American war from Charlotte. His leadership ability helped him to serve as Financial Secretary of the state organization for a number of years.
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African American Influence in the Charlotte Fire Department

Even in the days of slavery Mecklenburg county area residents would not tolerate the mistreatment of animals or slaves.

Anyone rumored to be guilty of this type of behavior was shunned by the rest of the community. This may have come from the Quaker influence.

The great wagon road from Pennsylvania funneled early settlers into the western piedmont and foot hills. Charlotteans then as now had a much different idea of how thing should be done.

Many of the slave holders felt the need to educate their slaves and because of this when emancipation came they had an advantage when they faced their new found freedom. In the span of only 30 years many former slaves had risen to positions of authority both in private and political life. They were quick to take their place in civic endeavors.

No greater cause can be found than to come to the aid of a fellow man in time of distress. Fire was a devastating threat and water the only reliable extinguishing agent. Every firefighting operation was labor intensive. Using manpower to move water can be extremely tiring. To be a volunteer fireman in this era was for the physical and mentally fit.

One young man stands out above all others. Charles Samuel LaFayette Alexander Taylor was born in Charlotte in 1854. He was educated in a Quaker school.

He was an accomplished musician, a dancing master, a shoemaker and a barber. He taught ballroom dancing to the prominent White ladies of Charlotte.

His contact with the fire department could have come very early as slaves were used in the fire department prior to the War Between the States. He was elected and served as an Alderman of the Charlotte City Government from 1885 to 1887.

He held the title of Chief Marshal at one time. Taylor served in the Charlotte Light Infantry in 1887, first as a Lieutenant and after one year was promoted to Captain. When the war with Spain broke out he took command of company A 1st battalion on April 17, 1898.

He was promoted to Lt. Colonel of the 3rd regiment June 23, 1898. From this point on he was known as Colonel Taylor.

Col. Taylor, found time to volunteer as a firefighter and was a member of the Neptune Company. His leadership ability was recognized by all he came in contact with. At a height of 5 ft. 7 1/2 inches he was not a tall man but stood tall among his peers as he carried himself in an erect manor and being well groomed commanded respect from all.

On May 12, 1891 the General Assembly of North Carolina ratified a charter for the North Carolina Colored Volunteer Firemen’s Association. Col. Taylor was soon taking a leadership role and served as Financial Secretary for an number of years before assuming the Presidency in the late 1920s.

With all of the many duties of the different offices he held he still found time to be a dedicated member of the A.M.E. Church and served as choir director. He was a member of the Masons, an Elk and an Odd Fellow.

Though Taylor stood out in his community others that were serving as volunteer firemen over the state were college professors, ministers and leaders in other professions as well. Being a volunteer fireman was a rewarding and respected position.

More than one group of men organized into fire companies.

From A Brief History of the Charlotte Fire Department, written in 2014, this information is presented: in the 1850s, the black community in Charlotte petitioned the Board of Alderman and the Mayor's Office for a colored fire company.

Also, during those times, slave owners were requested to allow their slaves to participate in firefighting activities prior to the 1875 organization of the department. The colored fire company was named the Yellow Jackets, and later renamed [or re-organized as] the Neptune Fire Company--organized in 1868--and the Dreadnaught Fire Company.

The unified Charlotte Fire Department, organized in 1875, consisted of four companies, the white Hornet, Pioneer, and Independent Hook and Ladder companies, and the black Neptune fire company.

In December 1858, the Charlotte Fire Company disbanded and town officials organized a company of slaves "for the purpose of working the engine and hose."

The uniforms and "other goods" of the fire company were delivered to town officials. On December 4, 1858, the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution that S. A. Harris, Solomon Cohen, H. M. Phelps, John Wiley, and Francis Scarr be appointed 'Fire Masters' and who were instructed and empowered to immediately form a fire company comprised of slaves.

They are authorized to pay the slave owners 50 cents for each and every half-day's work by the slaves, except in cases of fire. They are required to exercise the engine at least once a month, or as often as the Fire Masters 'deem prudent.' Source: Charlotte Democrat, December 7, 1858; Western Democrat, December 14, 1858.

Around 1870 or 1871, recalled the Daily Charlotte Observer on September 22, 1875, the hand engine named Crazy Hannah was disposed to the Yellow Jacket Company.

The Charlotte Observer on August 15, 1875, reported that the Yellow Jacket Fire Company had reorganized as Neptune No. 3 fire company. They had also acquired a better hand engine and, once delivered and tested, would ship their old engine, named Crazy Hannah, to Richard Harrel of Patterson, NJ.

However, because the new engine's performance fell 20 feet short of the required distance of a 200 foot water stream, $200 was deducted from the purchase price owed to the seller. The fire company received $800 from the sale of their old engine.

On May 25, 1882, Harrison Watts Hose Co. No. 4 organized at meeting of young colored men at the Mayor's Hall. Officers were also elected. On the Monday before June 23, they petitioned the Board of Alderman for hose and a reel.

On July 19 and 20, the company held a 'bazaar' to raise money. By November 24, reported the news, the company decided to disband, having never received any aid from the town. The following year, the company has apparently re-formed and petitioned the Board of Alderman for a hose reel.

Sources: Daily Charlotte Observer, May 26, 1882; June 23, 1882; July 12; 1882; Nov 24, 1882. Charlotte Democrat, June 15, 1883.
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In the spring of 1883, the Neptune Company moved into new quarters at 207 W. 6th Street, into a new, two-story, brick engine house. It was located behind the newly opened City Hall building at the nearby corner of Tryon and 6th streets. In the summer of 1887, the town's three white fire companies ceased operation and a paid fire department was created. The Neptune Company continued operating as a volunteer force.

The Daily Charlotte Observer on March 30, 1892, reported that the "new color fire company, to be known as 'Dread Naught' No. 4' was meeting tomorrow night to "fully perfect the organization." It was created as an "auxiliary company" of the Neptune Company, which had "outgrown its membership."

The company would use the hose reel named 'Our Pet' and the [hand] engine of the "old Pioneer Company". They would also use the "old fire hall [located] by the Lawyers' building." Other sources: Charlotte News, March 22, 1892.

In the fall of the 1893, the Neptune Company relocated from 6th Street to old Station 1 on 218 E. Trade Street, which was vacated in 1891, when Station 1 relocated to a new station at a new City Hall building.

One such group, in Charlotte, the Dreadnaughts, were active when the North Carolina Colored Volunteer Firemen’s Association held their August 1893 convention and tournament in Charlotte.

This was a three or four day event and attracted visitors from over the state. Railroads gave special fares to these meetings and the contests drew local citizen of all races to witness the activities. The City Government helped sponsor the convention with a sizable donation.

The Dreadnaughts did not fair well in the contests as the Charlotte Observer declared “They let Greensboro, Raleigh and Neptune’s of Charlotte walk their log pretty badly.” The only other company listed in the state was Henderson and they came in last in two of three events. The last comment in that column stated that, “The city is always glad to open her gates to such well-behaved visitors; she will be glad to see them again.”

The following year the meetings were held in Durham where Taylor was elected Financial Secretary and J.H. Johnson was appointed to the Legislative Committee.

The Charlotte Observer on April 10, 1898, reported that the colored fire company was "taken down" to Rock Hill, S.C., during a "great fire which recently afflicted the town." They assisted Rock Hill's white fire company.

In [1905] the Neptunes were disbanded. They continued as members of the NCCVFA for many more years but lost their leader, Col. Taylor.

The Daily Charlotte Observer on June 3, 1905, reported that the fire and police commission met on June 2, 1905, and they decided to abolish the Neptune Company. Their members "seemed to think that the negro company was a dead expense to the city [and] had become inefficient."