William H. Nicholson (1869–1911) was the first African American fireman in the New York City Fire Department. He was assigned to Engine Company 6 and detailed to the veterinary department to feed the horses and shovel manure.[1][2]
Biography edit
William H. Nicholson was born in 1869 in Virginia. He migrated to New York City and worked as a cement tester.[3] He joined the New York City Fire Department in Brooklyn in 1898 and was detailed to the veterinary unit to feed the horses and shovel manure.[1]
Nicholson retired because of his bad health in 1911 and died a few weeks later.[4]
See also edit
- Wesley Augustus Williams —Third African American fireman in the New York City Fire Department
Footnotes edit
- ^ a b "History of the Vulcan Society". Vulcan Society. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
- ^ Ginger Adams Otis (2015). Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York's Bravest. Macmillan. ISBN 9781137280015.
- ^ "Colored Man Made Fireman. First One of His Race to Get On Force in New York City". New York Press. November 13, 1898.
- ^ "Can A Colored Man Extinguish Brooklyn Fires". The Brownstone Detectives. Retrieved 2015-12-02.