More family discoveries on MY maiden name

@jerzgirl (9226)
United States
December 14, 2022 5:24pm CST
I learned something today about my great granduncle, Charles Mansfield Wilkins, I didn't know before. First I'll explain that the family descending from my 2nd great grandfather lost contact with one another and didn't know anything about the others as time went on. This uncle was my great grandfather's 1st cousin. He helped organize and establish the Radnor Fire Department after a large fire showed them that bucket brigades would no longer cut it. The horse drawn apparatus worked fine, but it was also the start of automobiles that were increasingly popular. When the fire department looked around to buy an automotive fire truck, they learned that none had ever been created. That's when the "Three Charlies" went ahead and designed an automotive that was contracted to the Knox Company. Their horseless fire truck was the very first in the United States and my great granduncle helped design it. The photo is the first ever fire truck with my GG uncle sitting up front closest to the photographer.
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2 responses
@Albain (238)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
14 Dec 22
Our family histories can be very interesting. When was that image taken?
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@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
14 Dec 22
I'm guessing between 1908 and 1911 after they received the truck. By 1919, they'd put the two motorized trucks out to pasture instead of saving them for history.
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@Albain (238)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
14 Dec 22
@jerzgirl Pity they weren't saved but nobody would have thought about it back then
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@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
15 Dec 22
@Albain The local historical society just sent me a news article of Charles's son retiring from firefighting after 64 and he mentioned in it that they bought that first truck in 1919, so maybe the ones that were pastured were the horse drawn ones. Either way, it would have been nice to see some history in person.
@RasmaSandra (73241)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Dec 22
That is a wonderful discovery and great memories, you can be so proud of your granduncle.
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@jerzgirl (9226)
• United States
15 Dec 22
For sure! And the fact that my grandfather and my father were also firefighters without knowing about their cousin and uncle across the river from us is pretty amazing!!
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