McKenney-Mills Collection Finding Aid MS413

McKenney-Mills Collection Finding Aid MS413


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Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library

717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Business Number: 703-746-1791
lhsc@alexlibraryva.org
URL: http://alexlibraryva.org/lhsc

Repository
Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
Identification
MS413
Title
McKenney-Mills Collection (MS413) 2000
URL:
https://alexlibraryva.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/resources/162
Quantity
3 Cubic Feet
Creator
McKenney, Ashton N. (Mike), 1921-2005
Creator
Mills, Thomas E., III (Thomas Edward), 1935-
Creator
Mills, Thomas E., Jr. (Thomas Edward), 1912-1999
Creator
Moore, C. Bennett (Charles Bennett), 1904-1966
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[item identification], McKenney-Mills Collection, MS413, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.


Biographical / Historical

Ashton "Mike" McKenney was a long time member of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, starting in 1940. Later in his career, he worked as the historian for the AFD and wrote A History of the Relief Truck and Engine Company No. 1 of the Alexandria Fire Department (1788-1958) . In 1956, Mike moved in with close friend Thomas Mills, Jr. and his family. He retired in 1972 from the Dulles International Airport Fire Department, and lived out his days with the Mills family in Colonial Beach where he was a charter member of the Colonial Yacht Club.

Thomas Mills III was a firefighter with the Alexandria Fire Department. Both he and his father had a penchant for grabbing their camera while headed to a fire, in order to capture the efforts of the fire companies. Tom also loved fire trucks and engines and documented that love with research and photographs, while both Mills and McKenney collected photos that documented the history of the AFD.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains research materials, ephemora, and photographs collected by or created by Mike McKenney, Thomas Mills Jr., and Thomas Mills III, that document the Alexandria Fire Department.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Fire departments -- Officials and employees.
  • Fire departments -- Virginia -- Alexandria
  • Fire engines.
  • Fire fighting equipment industry
  • Fire stations.
  • Fires -- Virginia -- Alexandria
  • Photographs.
  • Railroad trains.
  • Train stations

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • McKenney, Ashton N. (Mike), 1921-2005
  • Mills, Thomas E., III (Thomas Edward), 1935-
  • Mills, Thomas E., Jr. (Thomas Edward), 1912-1999
  • Moore, C. Bennett (Charles Bennett), 1904-1966
  • Ogden, Kenneth W. (Kenneth William), 1884-1925

Container List

Series I: Mike McKenney Papers
  • Text box: 1 folder: 1
    Relief Fire Company History
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains various notes and writings on the Alexandria Relief Fire Company written by Mike McKenney. Much of this material led to the publishing of his book on the subject.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 2
    Research: Newspaper Photocopies
    1855-1935English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains many various photocopies of newspapers taken from microfilm, from 1855-1935 newspapers. The subject matter collected by McKenney is anything fire department related.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 3
    Seaport in Virginia and Permission Letter
    July 2, 1987English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains photocopies of portions of Seaport in Virginia by Gay Montague Moore, along with a letter from her nephew, F. Breckenridge Montague, granting permission to use portions of the article.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 4
    Notes, Correspondence, and Photos Regarding the Ivy Hill Monument
    April - August, 1987English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains photocopied newspapers from 1855-1856, along with correspondence between McKenney and Harold J. Seibert, and photographic negatives surrounding the firefighters memorial at Ivy Hill Cemetery.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 5
    Notes on the Great Fire of 1827
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains handwritten notes and photocopies of an unidentified publication on the Great Fire of 1827 in Alexandria.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 6
    Miscellaneous Notes
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains various notes and transcriptions related to the history of the Alexandria Fire Department.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 7
    Notes on State Conventions
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains notes on fire department state conventions in the nineteenth century.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 8
    Photocopied News and Notes on George Whalen
    1924English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains photocopied newspapers and notes about the injury and death of the "Baby Fireman" George Whalen, who was severly injured in a fall while fighting a fire.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 9
    Article by Ashton McKenny
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains a photocopied article written by Ashton "Mike" McKenney.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 10
    200th Anniversary Program Designs
    1987English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several mock-ups of the program for the 200th anniversary of the Relief Truck and Engine Company No. 1, in 1988.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 11
    Newspaper Clippings on Volunteers in the Alexandria Fire Department
    1985English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains several newspaper articles about whether or not the AFD should be able to utilize volunteers in the fire department.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 12
    "Years Ago" Newspaper Clippings
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several small articles from the Alexandria Gazette's "Years Ago" series. These were compiled by Ashton "Mike" McKenney and mostly focus on the Alexandria Fire Department's history. These articles were kept in the order they appeared in McKenney's notebook, along with the black sheets that some of them are still taped to.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 13
    Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
    1969-1988English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings curated by Ashton "Mike" McKenney.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 14
    Ephemera
    1921-1981English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several miscellaneous items including a ticket to the Annual Escursion of the Columbia Engine and Motor Co. No. 4 on July 26, 1921, a constitution and by-laws of the Friendship Veteran Fire Association, newspaper clippings of articles written by J. H. Mansfield, programs for the first annual retirement banquet from December 10, 1970, and stamps from 1981 commemorating the 1860 fire pumpers.

Series II: Thomas Mills III Papers
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 15
    Research Materials: Fire Trucks
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains various note and research materials about fire trucks, especially in the Alexandria fire department. It also contains 3 larger photographs of Alexandria fire trucks.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 16
    Research Materials: Fire Truck Correspondence
    1980-1982
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains letters written by and to Thomas Mills III, regarding his research on fire trucks.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 17
    Research Materials: Miscellaneous Fire Department
  • Text box: 2 folder: 1
    "The Surveyor", George Washington High School Newsletter
    1953-1954
  • Text box: 2 folder: 2
    George Washington High School Ephemera
    1953-1957
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains football programs and tickets along with a program for a play called Crew Follies .

  • Text box: 2 folder: 3
    Thomas Mills Jr.'s Alexandria High School Ephemera
    1928-1930
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a ticket for a play called Out of the Stillness , a football schedule for the 1928 season, programs for a play called A Dweller in the Darkness and a play called When the Clock Strikes Twelve , and several issues of The Last Lap Alexandria High School newsletter dating frmo October 12, 1928 to April 16, 1930.

Series III: Ephemera and Books
Scope and Contents

This series consists of a scrapbook, pamphlets, brochures, copies of Ashton McKenney's book, and a Bible donated to the fire department by the Ku Klux Klan.

  • Text box: 2 folder: 4
    America-La France 700 Operator's Manuals
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains two operator's manuals and a small booklet on the history of America-LaFrance.

  • Books box: 2 folder: 5
    Convention Booklets
    1927, 1932, and 1958
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 3 convention booklets. One is for the 41st Annual Convention and Tournament of the Virginia State Firemen's Association from August, 1927. Another is for the Annual Convention of Virginia State and Cumberland Valley Firemen's Associations, the Lady's Auxiliary to Virginia State Firemen's Assocation, and the State Fire Chiefs' Assocation of Virgina from 1932. The third is one for the same 3 conventions in 1958.

  • Books box: 2 folder: 6
    McKenney's Friendship Veterans Fire Association Booklets
    1973-2001
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several programs from past ceremonies of the Friendship Veterans Fire Association, often signed by the guest speaker of each ceremony. Signatures included are Gov. Mills E. Goodwin, Senator and astronaut John Glenn, Jeff Bostic, Bobby Beathard, and one signed by some of the people released in the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1981.

  • Books box: 2 folder: 7
    A History of the Relief Truck and Engine Company No. 1 of the Alexandria Fire Department
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains several copies of A History of the Relief Truck and Engine Company No. 1 of the Alexandria Fire Department , written by Ashton "Mike" McKenney.

  • Books box: 2 folder: 8
    Klan Bible
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a Bible donated by the Alexandria Ku Klux Klan No. 47 to the No 1. Relief Engine Company.

Series IV: Photographs
  • Sub-Series I: Firefighting Apparatus
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series of photographs features photos of firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines, hose wagons, steam pumps, fire trucks, and rescue vehicles. The separation of these materials from other photos was based on Thomas Mills III's study of these machines. On some photos in the collection, he would name everyone in the photo. Others, he would describe the apparatus, including the date in which it was ordered, the date in which it was shipped, the model and serial number, and which unit utilized it. If it was clear that the notation on the back was aimed at the apparatus, then it was placed in this sub-series.

    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 1
      Hoses and Pumps
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 2
      Truck 1
      1918-1956
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 3
      Truck 2
      1918-1973
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 4
      Truck 3
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 5
      Truck 4
      1963
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 6
      Truck 53
      1986
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 7
      Truck 55
      1979
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 8
      Truck 58
      1979
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 9
      Engine 1
      1915-1962
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 10
      Engine 2
      1929-1961
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 11
      Engine 3
      1925-1972
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 12
      Engine 4
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 13
      Engine 5
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 14
      Engine 6
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 15
      Engine 7
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 16
      Engine 51
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 17
      Engine 52
      1969-1992
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 18
      Engine 53
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 19
      Engine 54
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 20
      Engine 55
      1972-1991
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 21
      Engine 56
      1972, 1991
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 22
      Engine 57
      1975, 1991
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 23
      Engine 58
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 24
      Engine 206
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 25
      Engine 207
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 26
      Engine 208
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 27
      Rescue Squad 1
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 28
      Ambulances
  • Sub-Series II: Personnel and History
    Scope and Contents

    This sub-series of photographs covers photos relevant to the history of the Alexandria Fire Department. They were arranged this way, due to their focus on the people of the department.

    Arrangement

    The arrangement of this collection is based on two categories: Subject and fire company. The first half of the sub-series of mostly group photographs and is arranged by fire company, keeping the Hook and Ladder No. 1, Engine and Truck No. 1, Potomac, Columbia No. 4, and Relief No. 5 together. The rest of the sub-series is arranged by subject, including funerals for specific firemen, Christmas celebrations, and portraits of members of the AFD.

    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 29
      Friendship Fire Co.
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 30
      Relief Hook and Ladder Co.
    • Graphic Materials box: 3 folder: 31
      Relief Truck and Engine Co. No. 1
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 1
      Columbia Fire No. 4
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 2
      Reliance Co. No. 5
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 3
      Potomac Fire Co.
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 4
      AFD, Co. 2, Co. 3, and Unknown Units
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 5
      Rescue Squad
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 6
      Steamers
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 7
      Chief Ogden
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 8
      Funeral for Chief Grauner
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 9
      Funeral for Chief Petty
      April, 1911
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 10
      Funeral for Bill Moore
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 11
      Funeral for Chief John E. Posey
      1966
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 12
      Funeral for Frank Entwistle
      1924
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 13
      Parades
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 14
      Portraits
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 15
      Christmas Celebrations
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 16
      Water Rescue Training
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 17
      Acceptance Test
      1935
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 18
      Miscellaneous
    • Graphic Materials box: 4 folder: 19
      Personal Photos of Lt. Tom Mills III
  • Sub-Series III: Fires
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 1
      Smoot Lumber Yard
      May 12, 1909
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 2
      100 Block of Commerce
      December 1912
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 3
      Hay Pile Fire
      1919
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 4
      Charles King Warehouse
      1920
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 5
      Kirk Warehouse
      December 26, 1925
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 6
      Doniphan Building
      January 2, 1929
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 7
      Texaco Company at Wolfe and Union
      February 15, 1930
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 8
      Cameron Apartments at King and Alfred
      December 30, 1933
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 9
      100 Block of N. Fayette
      May 4, 1937
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 10
      Awning Shop at S. Patrick
      1940
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 11
      Monticello Hotel
      1941
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 12
      Colonial Laundry
      1943
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 13
      Klipstein's Terrace
      February 17, 1945
      Scope and Contents

      300 Block of S. Patrick

    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 14
      Del Ray Bowling Alley
      1945
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 15
      Whelan's Drug Store
      November 17, 1946
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 16
      Fruit Growers Explosion
      April 12, 1947
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 17
      Alexandria Recreation Center Bowling Alley
      January 18, 1949
      Scope and Contents

      500 Block of Montgomery

    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 18
      National Electronic Laboritories
      August 8, 1949
      Scope and Contents

      Corner of King and Lee Streets.

    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 19
      Basement Fire on Vernon Street
      1949
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 20
      Shack on Duke and Strand
      1949
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 21
      Palace Cleaners
      July 21, 1950
      Scope and Contents

      Corner of Prince and Royal Streets.

    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 22
      Sheds at 1900 Duke Street
      1950
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 23
      Boat Club Flag Pole
      June 16, 1951
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 24
      Robinson Paper Warehouse
      August 24, 1951
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 25
      Paper Warehouse at Princess and Lee
      November 18, 1951
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 26
      1200 Princess Street
      April 12, 1952
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 27
      51 E. Rosemont Street
      October 6, 1952
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 28
      Rescue Squad
      October 12, 1952
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 29
      Armory Hall
      January 21, 1953
    • Graphic Materials box: 5 folder: 30
      1400 Block of Duke Street
      February 18, 1953
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 1
      Temple Foundry
      April 22, 1953
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 2
      618-620 S. Columbus Street
      January 10, 1954
      Scope and Contents

      618 S. Columbus and 620 S. Columbus Street.

    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 3
      Beach Combers at Prince and Strand
      January 23, 1954
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 4
      1 Block of S. Fayette Street
      April 1954
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 5
      1100 Block of Cameron Street
      August 11, 1954
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 6
      Johnson's off Quaker Lane
      January 29, 1955
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 7
      200 Block of Wilkes Street
      February 5, 1955
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 8
      700 Block of Gibbon Street
      February 12, 1955
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 9
      Drills at 500 Block of Princess
      January 15, 1956
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 10
      Unknown Fire in Old Town
      February 1960
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 11
      1016 Duke Street
      December 1962
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 12
      Warehouse at 724 S. Pickett Street
      August 17, 1963
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 13
      417 N. Pitt Street
      February 4, 1965
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 14
      Safeway Storage
      December 12, 1965
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 15
      W. M. Linder Lumber at 1215 Wilkes
      May 30, 1967
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 16
      Monticello Hotel
      August 1971
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 17
      Round House
      August 1971
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 18
      Asphalt Truck Explosion
      1975
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 19
      S. Royal Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 20
      Hay Storage at Duke and Union
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 21
      100 Block of S. Henry Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 22
      200 Block of S. Patrick Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 23
      Army Induction Center at Montgomery and N. St. Asaph
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 24
      100 Block of N. St. Asaph Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 25
      100 Block of King Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 26
      Railroad Wreck at Duke and Calahan
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 27
      700 Block of King Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 28
      St. Stevens School
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 29
      Sexton's House in Bethel Cemetery
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 30
      300 Block of N. Patrick Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 31
      331 N. Patrick Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 32
      Cabinet Shop at 100 Block of N. Pitt Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 33
      Pepco Plant at N. Royal Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 34
      925 N. Columbus Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 35
      400 Block of N. Columbus Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 36
      900 Block of King Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 37
      Crockett House on High Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 38
      304 E. Alexandria Avenue
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 39
      800 Block of Duke Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 40
      700 Block of King Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 41
      Russell Road
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 42
      Banner Laundry
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 43
      400 Block of S. Alfred Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 44
      Abingdon Apartment House Explosion
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 45
      100 Block of Princess Street
    • Graphic Materials box: 6 folder: 46
      Lone Star Riding Stables