FAYETTEVILLE, NC

Top image: Black fire fighters on parade thought to be in Fayetteville.

Left image: Letter from Mr. C. R. Miller, president of the NC. Colored Volunteer Firemen's Assoc. to Mr. Wilbur Clark, chairman of the Fire Committee of Fayetteville, NC, seeking advice and information for a new set up of their volunteer group.
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The Cape Fear river was the center of trade in the early life of Fayetteville. Paddle Wheelers plied the river as a quick way to move farm products to markets far away.

There was also a strong trade in slaves prior to the War Between the States.

As early as the mid 1700s fire was beginning to be a problem for this blossoming community. Accounts of whole cities being consumed by fire led everyone to be ever watchful for anything that could spark a blaze.

The colonist had learned early on that it was everyone's responsibility to be prepared to give their best effort at the outbreak any fire. The year 1831 was to prove disastrous, a fire almost destroyed the town.

Hand engines were in use in 1847 when authorization was given to purchase two lots on Gillespie Street on which to build an engine house.

On June 24th ,1848, the commanding officers of the two engine companies and the hook and ladder company were permitted to enlist twenty five Black men in each company to work the engines. and to help with the ladders.

They were to be given proper hats or caps at public expense, to show which company they belong to.
Their owners had to give permission for them to serve and the firemen were to be compensated at the judgment of the Chief Fire Warden.

By December, 1884 the Black firefighters had become well established and operated the two hand engines.

The White firefighters manned the hook and ladder truck and the bucket company. Reservoirs or cisterns were dug in several areas of the city and pipes laid to connect them, hydrants were also installed at each location.

A Silsby Steam Engine had been acquired and a Silsby pump ran by a turbine furnished water to the mains and hydrants. The choice of using a stream straight from the hydrant or using the hydrant to keep the reservoir filled was made by the first arriving unit. The steamer would draft from the reservoir.

The Black fire company distinguished themselves for a number of years attending the state conventions and tournaments.

In 1947 C.R. Miller was serving as president of the North Carolina Colored Volunteer Fireman's Association.

Fayetteville opted to form a paid fire department in this year. The plans for a paid department did not include black firefighters. C.R. Miller, along with seven other Black firefighters wrote a letter to the fire committee which is reproduced below.

As a result of this letter the Black fire company was given $150.00 a year to continue training Accounts of the demise of the Black fire company have yet to be found, they apparently faded away with out notice.

Citations:
1866 - The Weekly Progress of Raleigh on January 6, 1866, reported on a celebration in Fayetteville on January 1, that included participation by the "negro fire company."

1873 - The Statesman on April 19, 1873, said in an editorial that the "head of one of the fire companies of Fayetteville" says the town's fire engine isn't in use, but "could be made useful with repairs." He also believes a colored fire company should be created, as "he knows from experience that the colored men work better at fires than white men." They hoped that the next board of Mayor and Commissioners "will take the subject under consideration, and do all in the power of the town to encourage the formation of a colored fire company in y our town. Don't run politics in your fire companies!"

1923 - The Fayetteville H. R. Company is listed in the 1923 conference proceedings.
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Note: This newspaper article below was included with the information about the Fayetteville Colored Firefighters.
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Well-Known Negro Is Traffic Victim
He was an old-time member of the Fayetteville Volunteer company.

The black flag hung from the First Citizens Bank building today as the week-end produced the first traffic death in Cumberland County in more than two months. J.W. "Will" Archie, 66, of 912 Ellis Street, a very well-known Negro resident, died Sunday afternoon at 5:30 o'clock of injuries sustained when he was struck late Saturday night on Bragg Boulevard by a car driven by Charles Dawkins, 116 Ruth Street.

Archie suffered a fractured leg and a head injury. He had been employed for years at the incinerator by the City of Fayetteville and had worked at Breece's Banquet Hall until several months ago. More recently he had been engaged in the horseshoeing business and had a small shop in the rear of the Rogers and Breece funeral home on Bow Street.

Archie's death saddened the convention for many of the local firemen as he was an old-time member of the Fayetteville Volunteer company and recently had been engaged in shining and getting ready for display the old horse-drawn pumping engine of the local department.

He is the 19th person to die in 1948 as the result of a traffic accident in Cumberland County. Witnesses to the accident said Mr. Dawkins was not to blame.

He was driving approximately 35 miles per hour in a line of traffic returning from the baseball game when Archie is said to have stepped in front of the car while attempting to cross Bragg Boulevard near the Ames Street intersection.

Statements absolving Mr. Dawkins were made to the investigating police by I.B. Julian, E.B. Bates and W.D. Hyman. Coroner J.W. Pinkston said an inquest would not be necessary. Archie was the first person to lose his life in a traffic accident since the current safety campaign was started.

The last previous fatal traffic accident occurred June 6. Archie is survived by one son, John William Archie, Jr.; by one daughter, Laura Williams of Rock Hill, S.C.; by four brothers, Charlie Archie of Winston-Salem, James Archie of Greensboro, Henry Archie of Baltimore and Hope Archie of Vandermere, N.C.; by three grandchildren and number of niece and nephews.

He came to Fayetteville 50 years ago from Winston-Salem and for years was employed at the C.L. Bevill stable where the courthouse now stands. When the stables were removed, he became a popular drayman and driver for the Fayetteville fire department. As a fireman he trained under the late Capt. James McNeill.

When trucks replaced fire horses, he was employed by the city sanitary department and was in charge of the abattoir and incinerator. After his retirement he was employed at Breece's Landing. He was a faithful member of Evans Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion church, a member of the board of stewards, the usher board and the Boy Scout committee.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock from that church and Rev. D.I.W. McInnis and burial will be in Cross Creek cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Baker Plummer and Harvey Brown of Warrenton, Julian Lyon of Enfield, Charles Monroe, Jim McLean, B.C. Morgan, Cicero Miller and Sam Drake, all of Fayetteville. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department, both white and colored, and members of the paid fire department.

The Fayetteville Observer
Monday, August 9, 1948 Page 1

Editor's Note: Although the above article listed Archie as G.W. Archie, he is listed as John William Archie Sr. in the County Vital Records. He was the son of John W. Archie.

This obituary was contributed by Daisy Maxwell, Librarian of The Fayetteville Observer.