Young America Engine Company No. 6 Historical Marker

This small historical marker at the pedestrian entrance to the city hall parking garage commemorates a former fire station constructed in 1858. Following the city's incorporation in 1849, the Sacramento Fire Department was established one year later as an all-volunteer department. Organized in 1855, the Young America Engine Company No. 6 was an all-volunteer unit of firefighters formed by residents of Sacramento's Third Ward. A firehouse for Engine Company No. 6 was constructed in 1858, with the cornerstone dedicated on the first day of that year. In 1872, the city launched its new Sacramento Paid Firefighting Department, and volunteer units were replaced by paid professional firefighters and this became a city fire station. Although the original firehouse is no longer standing, a historical marker was added to the site on January 1, 1933, marking the 75th Anniversary of the Young America Engine Company No. 6.

After a huge fire swept through the City of Sacramento in 1852, local residents and public officials recognized an immediate need for an organized fire department with "a well-trained constellation of units" comprised of firefighters, equipment, and horses. In response, volunteer units such as the Young America Engine Company No. 6 were formed to fill this need. Organized by residents of Sacramento's third ward in June of 1855, Engine Company No. 6 officially took up residence on Tenth Street in 1858, when a new two-story, brick fire station and engine house were completed that year. The Young America Engine Company No. 6 continued to use this firehouse until 1972.

At that time, the California State Legislature voted to create a professional fire department with paid firefighters based on the city's existing structure of volunteer units. With its firefighters now funded by the city, the Sacramento Fire Department became the first of its kind west of the Mississippi River. After the city began to fund the new Sacramento Fire Department in 1872, previous volunteer units such as the Young America Engine Company No. 6 were disbanded. Thereafter, the original Engine Company No. 6 Firehouse became the headquarters for one of the city' new professional units, Engine Company No. 2.

Although this firehouse was eventually torn down in the 1920s, a large celebration was held in Plaza Park across the street from its original location to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the firehouse on January 1, 1933. The event honored all of the professional and volunteer firefighters who had worked at the "No. 6 Firehouse" since its dedication in 1858. Historic photographs and postcards in the Sacramento Public Library's Digital Collections offer descriptions of the celebration, stating: "The Young American Engine Company Number Six Firehouse ... commemorated seventy-five years of service in January of 1933 with a large party and a large cake. According to newspaper accounts of the event, held in what was then known as Plaza Park, the huge treat prepared for the festivities was rushed by children and park hangers-on, resulting in a flurry of frosting that flew in all directions."

"6th Street Engine House, City Fire Dept., Sacramento, Cal. - Young America", Calisphere, University of California. Accessed July 6th, 2023. https://calisphere.org/item/f6683154cd2d034ef0bbd77fe2443cd8/.

"Sacramento's Young America Engine Company No. 6", Sacramento Fire Department, Facebook Page. Accessed July 6th, 2023. https://m.facebook.com/SacramentoFire/photos/tbt-throwback-thursday-sacramentos-young-america-engine-company-6-was-organized-/1243155502380311/?locale=zh_CN.

Whittle, Syd. "Young America Engine Co. No. 6: Engine House Historical Marker", Historical Marker Database. April 2nd, 2009. Accessed July 6th, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=17538.

"Young America Engine Company Number Six Anniversary", Calisphere, University of California. Accessed July 6th, 2023. https://calisphere.org/item/7519125673c2fe3e7eb1f185d85c0d92/.

"Young America Engine Company Number Six Anniversary", Sacramento Public Library, Digital Collections. Accessed July 6th, 2023. https://sacroom.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15248coll1/id/1370.