Postcard History

Fire hydrants are historic in many ways. Even the word “hydrant” has a splendid history.

First used in English in the very late seventeenth century, “hydrant” was the name given to a device that would allow water to flow freely from a cistern or a water main. The word is a combination of two romance language words: the Latin word “hydor,” (water), and the French word “rante,” (to rant, flow, or gush).

Over time, the term “hydrant” evolved to describe not just the device itself, but also the pipe that connects the device to the water source. The later use is also used today to refer to a valve or a faucet that allows water to flow. In its current context “hydrant” did not enjoy common usage until urban planning and development became commonplace. That was, throughout the United States, after the Civil War and into the late nineteenth century.

Interestingly, the word “hydrant” has also been used in other contexts, such as in hydraulics, where it refers to any device that controls the flow of fluid or gas.

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In America in 1805, a rudimentary type of fire hydrant was invented by the Hartford, Connecticut, Fire Department. This design allowed firemen to access local water systems. The Hartford design enjoyed widespread usage because of its efficiency and speed (water pressure). As cities continued to grow and the threat of devastating fires became more pronounced, the need for improved fire-fighting infrastructure became critical.

The first invention resembling a modern fire hydrant was patented in 1901 by a New York City doctor and water treatment engineer, John Leal. Leal’s design, although rudimentary, marked a significant leap in providing firefighters with direct access to water supplies. Prior to Leal’s hydrant, most urban fire responders relied on bucket brigades or hand-operated pumps that were often ineffective and could not quickly supply a sufficient volume of water. John Leal is also noteworthy for his work, patented in 1908, in the science of water purification by using chlorine.

Just four years later, Leal’s device was supplemented by a significant design innovation called a “pumper” or “standpipe” hydrant, which could be connected directly to fire engines and deliver water under pressure.

Throughout the twentieth century, fire hydrants have evolved with the introduction of standardized designs and color coding, which in many ways have helped improve communication among firefighters. The colors represented varying levels of water pressure and flow rates, allowing firefighters to quickly access the best hydrants for the job at hand.

Across America, cities are continually working to integrate technology that will monitor hydrant functionality and detect leaks. Most interesting is the community development software that assesses needs and recommends hydrant placement.

Such software has aided, but it has not necessarily been an end all-solution. For decades hydrants have been installed in thousands of cities in critical locations, like

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Last, but not least, we need to mention the difference fire hydrants have made in the lives of our pets. Designers and manufacturers of fire hydrants have, unknowingly, been making comfort stations for dogs around the world.

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And may it be, that we look at those in our hobby who collect PCs showing fire hydrants: they are special and few. Their collections include some of the most unusual postcards ever seen. Some are the ones where hydrants are seen in very unusual places – ones that are not serving as a crucial links to public safety but are aesthetically beautiful and entertaining.