Fire Department

[dbrobertson]

Hi...

The attached photograph is of the crew of a fire hall in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. The year is likely 1912, although it could be 1910  or 1911. One of the firemen is William Inglee, my grandfather, who was a fireman first in New Westminster (1910 - 1912) and then in nearby Vancouver, BC from 1912 until his superannuation in 1945.

This is the earliest photograph of Bill Inglee's career, but isn't much to look at in its present state. Can this snapshot be revived a wee bit, or is it too badly deteriorated?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Brian

[Wiggy]

Nice photo to have  - historically interesting too.

Wiggy

[tomkin]

             Nice one Wiggy

[Trishanne]

One from me,
Pat

[Trishanne]

Another one with slightly different tone,
Pat

[McGroger]

My try.
Peter

[tomkin]

      Another colour experiment

[Wiggy]

Interesting!  Wouldn't you love to know why the horses have their ears laid back like that? To me they look even further laid back than just listening . . . . but . . . .

Wiggy 

[dbrobertson]

Thank you so much for all these different looks!

Wiggy, I don't know much back story, but what my mother told me was as follows.

     My grandfather, a muleskinner, had been horse-logging the previous fall with two first cousins when someone approached him about training fire horses at the local fire hall. So began a 35 year career.

Of course, in a very few years (1916?) fire trucks began to replace the horses.

In the photo my grandfather logically would have the reins, but it is the fellow next to him who does, so perhaps the horses were curious about the posing?

Brian