And the West is History: Early Durango firefighters at July 4 parade – 1911

Durango established a volunteer fire department upon its founding in September 1881. This photo, taken in 1911 by Durango photographer Frank Gonner, shows some of the men preparing to participate in the annual Fourth of July parade. Captured at the intersection of East Second Avenue and 10th Street, the image depicts them ready to pull the hose cart along the parade route. The banner displayed reads: A Remnant of the Best Volunteer Fire Department Ever Organized and Some of Its Original Members. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum (Courtesy of the Durango Public Library)