ANCIENT DAYS IN AUGUSTA

The Bell Tower or “Big Steve” The Grand
Opera House is to the left
[Loose Photographs Collection rl00460]

“I think there were 8 Wards in the City, then
watched over from the Bell Tower at the
intersection of Jackson and Greene Sts;
whence in case of undue Smoke in the
daytime or glare at night, came the deep
sound of Big Steve’s alarm ringing out the
number of the ward the watchman
reckoned the fire to be located in. The
volunteers firemen got out of bed or
deserted their business and ran for their
respective fire-company’s station,
spreading the alarm by loud yells of “Fi-
yuh! –Fi-Yuh!” a doleful cry in the night.
The market bells took up the alarm, so that
there were few in the City unapprised.” (p.
50)

Fire engine with firefighters and team
[Loose Photographs Collection rl00311]