One Last Call

Not about one horse, but a whole group of horses. By the mid 1920's, the fire horse had pretty much disappeared across the country, having been replaced with mechanical engines that ran on gasoline. This song is a composite of several stories I ran across while studying the subject of fire horses. I believe Jim, the horse mentioned in the song, worked for the Toledo Fire Department, while the pictures are from departments from the east coast to the west.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• horses
• fire
• harness
• engine
• history
• teamster
• story
• song

[Ishexan]

Beautiful song... Thanks for putting it on Youtube.

[oktahahorses]

Many thnks!

[LiptonGuy]

Great video. Great song. You have a lot of talent. I sometimes wish I was living around the turn of the century. Must have been a great time to experience life.  Things so busy and hectic these days.

[oktahahorses]

Thanks! when I was researching this, I was facinated by, what appears to be, collars that were hinged, and could be dropped over the horses neck, and then buckled together at the bottom. Most likely to speed up the harnessing process.

[crazedweazels]

you're really good at finding things like this, from the past and involving horses. It's amazing. I love it!

[oktahahorses]

The research is part of the fun. Sometimes while looking for information on one subject I stumble across something interesting on another related subject, leading me in a totally different direction.

[VestalFirefighter]

The fire house shown at 0:20 was in Binghamton NY on Chenango Street, the only building surviving is the tall Press building, itself recently ravaged by a fire.

[Skankpronger]

this goes back when firemen were a special breed, today they are a dime a dozen. thanks for taking us back in time.

[RFRDxplorer]

I'm a fireman in the Toledo area.... just curious but how did you find that Jim was from Toledo Fire? That's awesome!

[spiritstallionlov]

such a wonderful song. you are doing great work! I find it really impressive that you tell the exact story of the horses and you compose it into music. it's truly amazing, i love all your songs :)

[smokey19bear]

Very well done, nice to hear some original music too.

[k7son]

Very Awesome!!! I value the history of the fire service and it's many traditions. Thanks for your work, it is appreciated by many!

[AGhauler]

I once read where the horses had a shorter turn out time than our modern fire companies. I have friends, both retired firemen, whose father was hired by the City of Modesto, Cal FD as he could handle their 2 firehorses, Prince and Charlie. Great video!!!!!

[SamCunningham07]

@oktahahorses In London, England and no doubt elsewhere, the horses stood coupled up to the pump in 2 hour shifts and the device was used to relieve them of the weight of their collars, yet still allow a rapid turnout! Regards, Sam (LFB retired)

[canuckmel]

I like how most of the horses are drven open.

[Flaumball]

This is so great. All your videos are so great. I watched them all and nearly cried.