Sat, Nov 16 – Algiers Historical Society – History of Algiers Fire Companies

Presenter: Nikki CARUSO

Prior to its annexation by the City of New Orleans in 1870, Algiers was an independent town with its own fire department dating back to 1851. The original Algiers Fire Department companies were Pelican No. 1, Brooklyn No. 2, Morgan No. 3, and Washington Hook & Ladder No. 1. Like the companies in New Orleans, they formed their own Firemen’s Charitable Association, held parades, and reflected the communities in which they served. This talk will cover the histories of those companies, their role in battling the Great Algiers Fire of 1895, the evolution of their fire stations, and what the companies of the 8th Fire District look like today.

As the daughter of a retired New Orleans Fire Department Captain, Nikki CARUSO grew up hearing stories about the fire department and visiting fire houses around the city. In 2020 – inspired by her dad’s hunt for the location of the original Engine 1 – she began to research the histories of 19th and 20th century fire stations throughout New Orleans. To share her discoveries, Nikki created the Instagram account “Crescent City Stations.” She’s presented on Fire Department History at the Deutsches Haus; for Learning Before Lunch at UNO; Gretna’s German-American Cultural Center; and in conjunction with the City Archives, at the New Orleans Public Library.

Nikki has a BA in Theatre from Appalachian State University, a Master of Arts in American Dance Studies from Florida State University, and is currently working on her Masters of Library Information Science at LSU. While at Florida State, she studied parading traditions in New Orleans and worked as a research assistant for the book “New Orleans Carnival Balls: The Secret Side of Mardi Gras.”

Location: Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Dr., in Algiers. Library phone: 504-596-2641. First floor, large meeting room.

AHS meetings, at the library, are free and open to the public and media. Also, they are not affiliated with or endorsed by the New Orleans Public Library.