Quote:
Originally Posted by Those Who Squirm
The Thirty-Eights were a volunteer outfit organized in 1875 according to the Wikipedia entry. I can't find a cite offhand, but I've read elsewhere that there were 38 members at the time this was established, hence the name.
Having sufficiently many stations to require two-digit numbers would have been preposterous at that time.
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From
www.lafire.com:
In April, 1874, many of the old members of No.1, with the addition of others, altogether numbering thirty-eight, reorganized the company under the name of "Thirty-Eights-No.1" with the following officers:
Foreman, Chas, E. Miles
First Asst. John Cashin
Secretary, Sidney Lacy
Treasurer, J. Kuhrts
www.lafire.com
The caption for the picture above reads:
Photo: 26 Plaza Street
Circa 1884
Los Angeles Engine Co. No. 1
(The First Volunteer Company)
Organized November 1869, Effective September 1871
Disbanded in Spring of 1874
Re-Organized April 14, 1874 as
Thirty-Eights Engine Company No.1
(The First Permanent Volunteer Company)
also known as
Original 38's Engine
First station located at Spring St. near Franklin
In 1884 moved to 26 Plaza Street