Documenting the American South

Doc South header logo Home
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes banner

Source:  Charlotte Firefighters, Charlotte. Courtesy of Waymarking.com.

  • Monument Name

    Charlotte Firefighters, Charlotte

  • Type

    Statue

  • Subjects

    Tragedy

    Voluntary Organizations

    First Responders

  • City

    Charlotte

  • County

    Mecklenburg

  • Description

    This memorial, dedicated to Charlotte's fallen volunteer firefighters, depicts a late 19th century fireman standing poised and calm but ready as he steps forward with his right leg. He wears a large brimmed fire helmet and the traditional dress of fireman of the period, and in his left hand he holds what appears to be the nozzle of a fire hose. A fire extinguisher sits behind him. The statue rests atop a tall plinth with a tiered and embellished cap. The plinth sits on a three tier base.

    Images: Front inscription | Right inscription | Side inscription

  • Inscription

    Front: ERECTED / OCTOBER 10, 1883. / BY THE VOLUNTEER / FIREMEN OF CHARLOTTE / AS A LASTING TRIBUTE / TO THEIR DEAD COMRADES / FIRE DEPARTMENT / ORGANIZED / MAY 20, 1875 / FIREMEN

    Right Side: HORNET / FIRE COMPANY / ORGANIZED JANUARY 29, 1867 /

    Side: PIONEER FIRE COMPANY / ORGANIZED MAY 20, 1874

    Side: INDEPENDENT / HOOK AND LADDER CO. / ORGANIZED / AUGUST 4, 1868.

  • Custodian

    Elmwood Cemetery

  • Dedication Date

    October 10, 1883

  • Decade

    1880s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.234260 , -80.847690 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Charlotte NC Firefighter Memorial," North Carolina Historical Markers on Waymarking.com, (accessed January 9, 2014) Link

      "Elmwood and Pinewood Cemetery, Charlotte, NC," Waymarking.com, (accessed May 6, 2017) Link

      Flybrian. "Firefighter Memorial and Uptown CLT," Panoramio.com, (accessed April 19, 2013) Link

      Killeri, Kimberly. "Pinewood/Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, NC," published on Feb 4, 2013, (accessed May 6, 2017) Link

      Wikipedia. "Charlotte Fire Department," (accessed April 19, 2013) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    The plinth and statue appear to made of granite. The plinth rests on what appears to be two tiers of marble and this rests on a square granite foundation.

  • Sponsors

    Volunteer Firemen of Charlotte

  • Location

    The monument sits near the entrance to the Elmwood Cemetery off West 6th Street.

  • Landscape

    The monument is located in a grassy lawn with grave markers on the perimeter and mature shade trees in the background. Portions of the Charlotte city skyline are visible to the south.

  • Death Space

    Yes

Icon for reporting missing/incorrect information Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.