Edward H. Savage, author of Police Recollections; Or Boston by Daylight and Gas-Light ., Boston events: a brief mention and the date of more than 5,000 events that transpired in Boston from 1630 to 1880, covering a period of 250 years, together with other occurrences of interest, arranged in alphabetical order

Fire

To be given by watchmen with a rattle, 1796

Bells first rang in Boston by electricity, Jan. 1, 1852

Supt. Moses G. Palmer, appointed, May 1, 1854

Joseph B. Stearns, appointed, May 26, 1856

John F. Kennard, appointed, Feb. 7, 1867

Commission, the Selectmen of the town, Mar. 31, 1651

A special, appointed by the town, Aug. 29, 1679

A board of three chosen by the City Council, Nov. 20, 1873

Companies, eight organized in the town, Aug., 1679

In commission, in the City, twenty, Dec. 31, 1850

With engines, thirty-six in all, Jan. 1, 1880

Engines, ladders and poles, with swabs, prepared, 1652

A machine, throwing water six feet high, provided, 1653

One imported from England, 1679

The town had seven, 1730

One machine throwing water ten feet high, 1730

One given the town by John Hancock, 1772

Had six leather buckets each, 1773

All the town's machines damaged by incendiaries, Mar. 13, 1793

Fifteen dollars premium for being first at a fire, May 1, 1823

The Perkins tub first introduced, Sep. 13, 1823

One stationed at South Boston, Jan. 12, 1829

The town has eighteen, Dec. 31, 1847

The first steamer, Miles Greenwood, arrived, Feb. 24, 1855

Steam taking the place of muscle, 1860

Engineers, Chief, Samuel D. Harris, appointed, Jan. 19, 1826