When I am called to duty, God,
whenever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
whatever be its age …
A.W. Smokey Linn, author of “Fireman’s Prayer” 1958
Joseph R. Winters was born in Leesburg, Virginia, in 1816 (birth date is debated) to an African-American father, a brick maker, and a Shawnee mother. When Joseph was about 14 years old, his family relocated to Chambersburg. In Joseph’s younger years, he farmed and worked for the Cumberland Valley Railroad where he learned to be a mechanic. In those early years, Joseph also became active in the abolition movement and was a participant in our local Underground Railroad. He was key to initiating a clandestine meeting between the abolitionist John Brown and the statesman Frederick Douglas. The meeting took place in August of 1859 at a quarry in the vicinity of what is now the Southgate Mall.
As an active resident in our Chambersburg community, Joseph had observed how difficult it was for firefighters attempting to save victims from higher and higher buildings. He successfully enhanced an earlier invention of a ladder fire truck, by using a metal frame and parallel steps. Joseph’s ladder invention could be placed on the bed of a horse-drawn wagon, an improvement enthusiastically adopted by our local fire department. His invention was patented in both Europe and the United States in 1878. He is also known to have formed the Winters Fire Apparatus Company here in Chambersburg. Mike Marotte recently noted Joseph Winters in his history talk of our local fire departments and their many accomplishments. At a time when our American cities were beginning to build “sky scraping” architectural structures, the patented invention of Joseph Winters caught on throughout our country.
Joseph lived a long and active life right here in Chambersburg. He was known for his hunting and fishing skills, along with being an avid poet and writer. Winters died in 1916 somewhere in his 90s or possibly at 100, depending on which birth date is used. He and his wife Mary are buried in Lebanon Cemetery.
Dear Lord, we thank you for the example of such an industrious and capable citizen of Chambersburg. Through his invention, Joseph created a practical way to better the chances of saving people caught in burning buildings. But Joseph didn’t stop there! He also worked the Underground Railroad, putting his anti-slavery convictions to action. It would truly have been an honor to meet him. May we build on his legacy of public service in our words, actions and deeds.
Blessings to all,
Diana
References:
BHA – https://www.myblackhistory.net/Joseph_Winters.htm
FaceBook, “Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, A Photographic Remembrance” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/156179377907730/posts/3165551196970518/
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Winters
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