{"id":581,"date":"2020-04-13T00:12:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T00:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/?page_id=581"},"modified":"2020-04-13T00:38:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-13T00:38:43","slug":"dekalb-walcott","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/?page_id=581","title":{"rendered":"Dekalb Walcott"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Black Heroes of Fire History Books<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

National \u2013\u00a0Black Heroes of Fire Publishing Company has published\u00a0Black Heroes of Fire: The History of the First African American Fire Company in Chicago -Fire Engine Company 21BLACK HEROES OF FIRE: The History of the First African-American Fire Company in Chicago -Fire Engine Company 21<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0introduces and describes the background of the members of Engine 21, Chicago\u2019s first organized paid African American Firefighting Company. Author, Dekalb Walcott, Jr. provides information and insight on changes from Slavery to Freedom in the African American Community and the political impact that affected change for African American Firefighters, during this period of reconstruction in America.<\/p>\n

There are many incidents concerning the history of black firefighters, particularly in the City of Chicago, which are most likely mirrored in every major city throughout the United States.\u00a0 Nationally, Black men were not hired as firefighters in America until well after World War II; and this has stymied Blacks\u2019 ability to get employment and promotions in the fire service, in general.\u00a0 Black men, such as Thomas J. Martin, the inventor of the fire extinguisher in 1872; Garrett A. Morgan, the inventor of the gas mask in 1914; and Engine 21\u2019s invention of the firehouse sliding pole discredit these negative stereotypes of Black men and Black firefighters.<\/p>\n

Many, if not all, of Engine 21\u2019s Black members were ex-slaves and Civil War Veterans. Foreman David Kenyon was a Captain, the highest rank served in the war and he was said to have led a Black regiment of men, making him an ideal candidate to lead this brave group of men. Seven years prior to establishing Engine 21, the Civil War ended, banning Slavery; and thereby granting equal rights, voting rights and citizenship to Blacks.<\/p>\n

One major fact that most people are unaware of is that the concept and use of the fire house sliding pole was invented and made popular, in Chicago and nationally, by Foreman David Kenyon and members of Engine 21. Kenyon never received a patent for his invention, but Documentation verifies where this concept was originated and first conceived. The concept was ingenious, but the use of wood was discontinued because of splinters and other maintenance problems, so three years later, in 1880 Boston patented the brass pole, taking this concept to the next level.<\/p>\n

Engine 21 led Chicago\u2019s fire companies in fire runs, fire work time and total runs, and stimulated competition among fire companies.\u00a0 From 1872-1927, Engine 21 participated in most, if not all, major fires that occurred in Chicago\u2019s Downtown area, namely, the Iroquois Theater fire December 30, 1903 and many other fires in Printers Row.<\/p>\n

Black Heroes of Fire<\/em><\/strong>: The History of the First African-American Fire Company in Chicago -Fire Engine Company 21<\/em><\/strong> is dedicated to those unselfish courageous noble Firefighters both black and white; slave and free; who paid the ultimate price while serving to protect life and property.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0According to Author Dekalb Walcott<\/strong>, Jr<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cIt is my desire to clear up any misconceptions of Engine 21 being the first organized paid black fire company in the United States; moreover, to establish that David B. Kenyon (1836-1884) and the members of Engine 21 created and made popular the concept of the sliding pole in the Fire Service.<\/p>\n

Retired Battalion Chief Dekalb E. Walcott Jr. served 31 years as a Chicago firefighter starting his career in November 1978.Throughout his career Dekalb served as Firefighter to Battalion Chief along with serving in fire prevention and public education. He has received numerous awards for community service, served as Chairman for Black Firefighters day and was responsible for helping Chicago establish a smoke detector and carbon monoxide ordinance in the mid 1980\u2019s. Dekalb has received numerous awards for community service. He has served on the executive board of the African American Firefighters and Paramedic League of Chicago as historian, corresponding secretary, sergeant at arms, vice president and President. Dekalb sponsored a 100-photo pictorial display during Black History month in February of 1984 honoring Chicago\u2019s unsung Black Heroes of Fire, which started his career as Chicago\u2019s Black Firefighter historian.\u00a0 BLACK HEROES OF FIRE: The History of the First African-American Fire Company in Chicago -Fire Engine Company 21 <\/em><\/strong>is Dekalb Walcott\u2019s first published book.<\/p>\n

Welcome to Black Heroes of Fire History Books<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

BLACK HEROES OF FIRE<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0FIRE COMPANY IN CHICAGO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fire Engine Company 21<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Dekalb Walcott<\/strong><\/p>\n

ISBN #:\u00a0 978-1-4951-7830-6 \/ 104 pages \/ $25<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ebook ISBN #: 978-1-4951-7835-1 \/ 104 pages \/ $9.99<\/strong><\/p>\n

All proceeds from this book go towards Chicago African American Firefighters Museum (CAAFFM) organization.<\/p>\n

RETAIL CUSTOMERS<\/strong>\u00a0& ORGANIZTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call: 773-510-9668<\/strong><\/p>\n

OR ORDER PAPERBACK BOOKS ONLNE AT:<\/strong><\/p>\n

WWW.AMAZON.COM<\/strong><\/a> and\u00a0<\/strong>WWW.BARNESANDNOBLE.COM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

WWW.BLACKHEROESOFFIRE.COM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

ORDER EBOOKS AT:<\/strong><\/p>\n

AMAZON<\/a> and BARNES & NOBLE<\/a><\/p>\n

Bookstores and Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call: <\/strong>773-510-9668<\/strong> or<\/strong><\/p>\n

Email your Purchase Orders to:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WWW.<\/strong>INGRAMCONTENT.COM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Media contact<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Email Dekalb Walcott at:<\/strong><\/p>\n

info@blackheroesoffire.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

or call: <\/strong>773-510-9668<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

REVIEWS<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Vincent Johnson<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
5.0 out of 5 stars<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0Value<\/a><\/div>\n

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2020<\/span><\/p>\n

Format: Paperback<\/a><\/i>Verified Purchase<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
If you are a firefighter and love history about the fire services, this is the book for you.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Toni L. Parks Oats<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
5.0 out of 5 stars<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0original history of Black firefighters in Chicago<\/a><\/div>\n

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Format: Paperback<\/a><\/i>Verified Purchase<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
Used for family history. My father is named in the book.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
NDyia Mahon-Godfrey<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
5.0 out of 5 stars<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0Engine 21<\/a><\/div>\n

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Format: Paperback<\/a><\/div>\n
Quick read, shows the passion behind the hurdles that one endures.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":495,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/581"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=581"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":591,"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/581\/revisions\/591"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/qualitypress.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}