Perseverance Hose 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 hat dates to the first half of the 19th century. The hat is painted black overall with the golden text “PERSEVERANCE / HOSE / COMPANY” on the front of the hat. The back of the hat has the number “5” set into a golden sunburst. The crown of the hat has the owner’s initials “J.P.W.” painted in gold. The Perseverance Hose Company No. 5 was established on May 27, 1805 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and operated until 1871 when Philadelphia’s paid firefighting department was established.

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