Fire Badge "Chicago Fire Dept. Foreman"

unknown · late 19th century

This metal fire badge was used by a foreman of the Chicago Fire Department Engine No. 2. The badge has a unique shape, made to resemble a fire hydrant. The badge is inscribed with the text “ENGINE/2/CHICAGO/FIRE DEP’T/FOREMAN/1” which is filled in with black enamel. This Chicago Fire Department introduced its first paid departments in August of 1858, with the last volunteer companies not going out of service until 1867. Engine 2 was eventually disbanded in 1963. This was the second type of badge style the Chicago Fire Department used, introducing it around 1875.