Fire!

Hello! My name is Michael. My wife Ruth asked me to guest-write an article on fire engines in Portland, a hundred years ago and today.

Miriam Josefsohn is walking home in the October Portland rain. Her thoughts are elsewhere as she steps into the street and in front of a fast-moving fire engine. The huge polished boiler that powers the pump is belching steam, and the three-horse team pulling the engine is at full gallop. (Luckily, two hands pull Miriam back to safety in the nick of time…) The...