George L. Eisenbrey, June 24th, 1841
On Thursday morning June 24, 1841, at about 2 a.m., fire broke out in the wholesale grocery store of Mulford and Alter. This large brick building was located on the north side of Market St. above Sixth Street. This was a fierce, rapid moving fire owing to the large quantity of combustible stored within. During the blaze a ladder was raised to the third floor in the front of the building. Francis Thomas and George Eisenbrey, both of the Phoenix Hose Company, ascended the ladder to play the hose in the upper window. As they climbed the ladder, a piece of the cornice broke loose. On its way to the ground, it glanced off Thomas’s arm but hit Eisenbrey in the head. He was at the middle of the ladder, the ladder broke, throwing the two men to the ground. Eisenbrey died before he could be carried the few blocks to his parents' house on Zane St. near Eighth.
George L. Eisenbrey’s funeral took place in the evening of Saturday the 26th. He was buried in the Ronaldson Cemetery at Bainbridge St. between 9th & 10th Streets. “The services were attended by the entire Fire Department.” George L. Eisenbrey was 23 years old and a clerk at Cove and Schaffer Druggists at Sixth and Market Streets.
The members of the Phoenix Hose Co. commissioned Mr. Charles M Howell, a member of the company, to erect an appropriate monument to the memory of George L. Eisenbrey, and place it over his remains at the Ronaldson Cemetery.
The monument was a square obelisk twelve feet high, of Italian marble. On the front was inscribed:
Erected
By the
PHOENIX HOSE COMPANY
To the Memory of
GEORGE LYBRAND EISENBREY
Who was killed while in
The discharge of his duties
As a Member
By the fall of a wall
at the Fire
In Market Street, above Sixth
June 24, A.D.
On the opposite side of the obelisk is the word Eisenbrey. Above the name, is an inverted wreath with an inverted Torch and in bold relief is the word Phoenix.
A painting by Mr. John Woodside, of the monument, was commissioned by Mr. Philip Eisenbrey, Esq., father of the decease. This painting was presented by him to the Phoenix Hose Co. to be displayed in their hall in memory of his son.
In 1950, when the Ronaldson’s Cemetery was closed, George Eisenbrey’s remains were moved to the Forest Hill Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County PA.
George L. Eisenbrey, June 24th, 1841
On Thursday morning June 24, 1841, at about 2 a.m., fire broke out in the wholesale grocery store of Mulford and Alter. This large brick building was located on the north side of Market St. above Sixth Street. This was a fierce, rapid moving fire owing to the large quantity of combustible stored within. During the blaze a ladder was raised to the third floor in the front of the building. Francis Thomas and George Eisenbrey, both of the Phoenix Hose Company, ascended the ladder to play the hose in the upper window. As they climbed the ladder, a piece of the cornice broke loose. On its way to the ground, it glanced off Thomas’s arm but hit Eisenbrey in the head. He was at the middle of the ladder, the ladder broke, throwing the two men to the ground. Eisenbrey died before he could be carried the few blocks to his parents' house on Zane St. near Eighth.
George L. Eisenbrey’s funeral took place in the evening of Saturday the 26th. He was buried in the Ronaldson Cemetery at Bainbridge St. between 9th & 10th Streets. “The services were attended by the entire Fire Department.” George L. Eisenbrey was 23 years old and a clerk at Cove and Schaffer Druggists at Sixth and Market Streets.
The members of the Phoenix Hose Co. commissioned Mr. Charles M Howell, a member of the company, to erect an appropriate monument to the memory of George L. Eisenbrey, and place it over his remains at the Ronaldson Cemetery.
The monument was a square obelisk twelve feet high, of Italian marble. On the front was inscribed:
Erected
By the
PHOENIX HOSE COMPANY
To the Memory of
GEORGE LYBRAND EISENBREY
Who was killed while in
The discharge of his duties
As a Member
By the fall of a wall
at the Fire
In Market Street, above Sixth
June 24, A.D.
On the opposite side of the obelisk is the word Eisenbrey. Above the name, is an inverted wreath with an inverted Torch and in bold relief is the word Phoenix.
A painting by Mr. John Woodside, of the monument, was commissioned by Mr. Philip Eisenbrey, Esq., father of the decease. This painting was presented by him to the Phoenix Hose Co. to be displayed in their hall in memory of his son.
In 1950, when the Ronaldson’s Cemetery was closed, George Eisenbrey’s remains were moved to the Forest Hill Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County PA.
Career History
Volunteer with the Phoenix Hose Company