Hope Fire Company Fire Hat

Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.

This fire hat was used in the eastern United States during the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black overall, with a painting on its front featuring a female figure clothed in a white robe with an anchor at her side, and stormy sea behind her. The painting is encircled in a red border with gold trim that reads “HOPE FIRE COMPY” in gold lettering. The back of the hat features the company’s initials “H.F.C.” in large golden letters, with a diamond shape above and below. The owner’s initials “J.J.S.” are on the crown of the hat. The female figure with anchor is a classical allegorical representation of Hope.

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