Old Joe, Newberry's Famous Fire Horse Died
contributed by Edith Greisser

The death of 'Old Joe', Newberry's renowned fire horse, has caused much comment from various individuals throughout the state. 'Old Joe' was loved by all who knew him and it is perhaps fitting that the two following letters should be published concerning him at this time. One is from Dr. Vance Smith, who all of Newberry knows, and he states that he is gratified that he was chairman of the committee that secured 'Old Joe' for our town. The second letter is written by US Sen. Cole L. Blease to Malcolm Lessene, keeper of 'Old Joe' while he lived, and it is most touching. The letters follow.
Beaufort, SC
May 15, 1930
Dear Earhardt,
It does not make me blush to say that the news of Joe's death gives me in a way, akin to actual bereavement. Not so far from 30 years ago we bought Joe from T. J. McCrary for the magnificent sum of $200.
There was a sort of dignity and nobility of character observant in Joe that I never saw in any other horse.
If Joe had a weakness, it was pride, for if I ever saw conscious superiority in an animal, it was shown by him when the crowds looked on in admiring wonderment as he passed by.
It was most fitting that he was honored by the people he had served so long and well.
If there can be such a thing as a horse, having a soul and future state then Joe is browsing in green pastures - although he did dearly love to go through a fire.
It has always been a matter of gratification that I was chairman of the committee that secured 'Joe' for our town and I know that you are proud that he was bought during your administration as Mayor.
Joe was truly an equine aristocrat.   Sincerely
       Van Smith
Washington DC
May 13, 1930
Malcolm Lessene
Newberry Fire Department
Newberry, South Carolina
Well, Malcolm, I notice by the Columbia State that you and your old partner have parted company.
I remember well when old Joe was brought to Newberry and when he went into the fire department and the many tournaments that I attended where you and Joe were in the races. Particularly, I remember at Abbeville, when I was governor, and I still have the picture that we had made there that day. While I was Mayor, I remember the tournament in which you and Joe took part.
I know how faithful and devoted you were to your old friend and how careful and painstaking you always were to him. If he had been your child, you could not have been more true and faithful in your service and I know that if he could have spoken, he would have said, "Goodbye daddy Malcolm. I thank you for all you have done for me and hope that God will bless you for it." Sometimes I believe that animals with the intelligence of 'Old Joe' have more love and appreciation for those who have loved and cared for them than some human beings.
I hope that you will live a long time yet to be with your other friends and comrades in the fire department.
Your friend,
Cole L. Blease       Observer 5/23/1930, p1

On May 23rd 1930 at the fire station in the city of Columbia the firemen of that city unveiled a bronze tablet commemorating the founders of the South Carolina State Firemen's Association. The inscription on the tablet read:
In Commemoration Of The Founders Of The South Carolina State Firemen's Association Organized On May 30, 1905 At Columbia.
Among the names of the founders of the Association, representing various fire departments of the state at the time, inscribed on the tablet is that of Thomas O. Stewart of Newberry.
Observer 5/27/1930, p1

The Newberry Fire Department is to be represented this week at the 25th annual meeting of the South Carolina State Firemen's Association at Beaufort SC. Some members of the department left 6/8/1930 for Beaufort SC and the department will be represented in all the contests, foot races, hose truck race and hand reel race and the boys have gone down expecting to bring home some of the prize money. Observer 6/10/1930, p1A

The 25th annual convention of the State Firemen's Association, marking the Jubilee celebration was brought to a close on June 11, 1930, with the tournament races as the feature of the third day of the gathering. A large number of the more than 400 visitors as well as local citizens witnessed the more than two dozen events.
The program of the day was started at 10 o'clock with the hand-reel race. Teams from Orangeburg, Newberry, The State Hospital in Columbia participated with first being captured by the Columbia entry, their time being 21.2 seconds. The State Hospital came second, being a fifth of a second behind. The other two teams were separated by a fifth of a second.
The grab reel race attracted an unusual amount of attention. Columbia, state hospital in Newberry, were the only entries in this event with first honors going to Columbia, the time being 20 seconds even. Newberry lost first place by a fifth of a second.
The hundred yard foot race - was run in fast time considering the conditions. Six men: Caldwell and Whitaker of Newberry; Nelly and B. B. More of Columbia and Dickens and Young of The State Hospital made the race. The two Newberry entries took first and second place; first honors going to Caldwell, who ran the distance in 10.2 seconds.
A much larger crowd was on hand for the afternoon races of the trucks. Nine teams placed entries clipped a fifth of a second off of Florence, state hospital, Orangeburg, Darlington, Columbia, Batesburg, and Newberry. Florence won first place with the speed for the hundred yards of 15.5 seconds. Newberry came second with the speed of 16.4 seconds. Four teams, our Orangeburg, Darlington, Columbia and Batesburg may the same speed and for a long time, it looked as if there would have to be a race between these entries for second honors but Newberry, running last clipped the fifth of the second off of this time to capture the place and eliminated the necessity for a second race. All of the contestants use the same wagon and driver.
The members voted to accept the invitation extended by Aiken as the convention city for 1931. Many of the visitors remained over Wednesday night, a good number taking fishing trips today.
Observer 6/13/1930, p1A

Newberry Firemen had a busy time on the night of July 28, 1930, when one of the worst electrical storms in the history of this community paid Newberry a lengthy visit. Beginning at 8 PM the storm grew in intensity with severe lightning flashes, intermingled with a hard rain. The lightning eventually caused much trouble as the fire bell continued to boom its terrible warning at intervals for about an hour or more.
The first alarm was caused by the lightning which struck the home of Commodore Bobb at West End. The fire cause considerable damage. The second alarm was caused by fire at J. J. Senn's store at Mollohon. The third by a transformer burning out at Dr. W. E. Lakes home on Harrington Street. The fourth alarm was caused by a fire at Oakland, caused by radio wiring. This fire was handled without the firemen's assistance. The fifth alarm was caused by two transformers burning at the Newberry cotton mills.
The firemen were busy taking care of all the fires and they did excellent work in keeping them down. It was a new experience to have so many calls at one time and took different crews to handle them all.
At the home of Mrs. Ed Senn near Newberry the chimney was blown down and fell through breaking the roof and falling on the bed, crushing the bed, which had just been vacated by Mrs. Senn who rose to see what was happening.
Several other accidents are reported as having been caused by the severe lightning flashes. Numbers of English sparrows were drowned by the terrific downpour of the rain.
Observer 8/1/1930, p1

OLD JOE
By Bernard Cheney in the Nashville Banner
Striking a strange note in the clatter and din of this machine age comes the story of a horse that lived worthily and died grieved by a whole town.
Of a horse that won a race through sheer pride.
Of a horse that was a town's boast and the recipient of its affection.
Of a horse whose name was a household word among children of the town.
Of a horse that was a town's boast and over whose grave on a main street of the town there is soon to be erected a monument and his death brought a letter of condolence from a United States Sen.
Of a horse that is grieved for by an aging and gray-haired colored man who has lost his best and closest friend.
Such is the saga of Old Joe, famous fire horse, and for nearly 30 years the property of the city of Newberry, which lies among the pleasant hills of South Carolina's Piedmont.
Nor are these all of the extraordinary incidents told of Old Joe's life. He possessed a bank account in his own name that at the time of his death amounts of $3500. And leaving this estate without will at his death, Old Joe is to receive the benefits of it in a monument paid for from his funds.
Those are the facts from the history of 'Old Joe' as anyone will tell you on the streets of Newberry. Chronologically, the story is, as I gathered it, goes back to the year 1902, when a livestock freight car billed to J. H. Summer was shunted off on a siding. Among its five occupants was a large bay gelding that wore three stocking feet and a blaze on his face. The big bay stood 16 hands high and weighed 1300 pounds. He was the Kentucky horse and said to be good blood. There was, however, nothing particularly distinguishing about this animal saved to those who believe in the intelligence of horses. And such one might have discovered looking into the mild, meditative, brown eyes of this beast that light that marks mentality.
So came Old Joe to the town of Newberry, where he was a little later to take up his career as a fire horse. The next two years saw him changed hands twice and finally become the property of the town fire department. Though nine years old at the time, Joe - he was then without the title that year's conferred upon him - was green and entirely untrained as a fire horse.
And it was this fact that first brought Joe into contact with Malcolm Lessene, more frequently known as 'Mac' a young colored firemen who had a way with horses. And it was then that the friendship was born that lasted for life and always remained a remarkable friendship between man and beast.
And it was the now gray-headed Mac, himself, who told me of his training Joe - told me briefly a little grimly. I could not draw him out, though he was proud enough of his old friend and named the prizes he had won.
But, details - they were to intimate - touched the quick. That was evident even behind the impassive mask of the old driver.
There had been nothing much to training Joe. He caught on in a flash, and was always amendable to reasonable treatment - he took to the fire bell like a duck to water. But the care and patience with which he was trained, are evidenced in the story that he was never struck with a whip.
And it was not many fires after Joe had been allowed to pull a fire wagon about the streets of Newberry, that Mac discovered that there was something uncommon in the way in which he got to the blaze. The whole fire department got to know it - back in those days when personalities counted for more in the fire department, both in men and horse.
So it was decided that Joe was to represent Newberry in the horse tournaments - keen sporting events among South Carolina cities of that day and events that involve not merely the pride of the driver or a department, but the civic pride of the whole city.
Joe was outstanding from the first, and as the years came the string of medals grew on the wall of the old fire Hall and the procedure Newberry was spread abroad, not merely in the hills of the Piedmont but in the low state as far as Charleston.
Regularly Joe made the rounds. Wherever there was a fire horse tournament Joe bore the colors of Newberry. To Darlington, to Florence, to Sumter, to Anderson, to Greenville, to Columbia, to Greenwood, to Abbeville, to Charleston - and always to victory - almost.
By 1911 Joe held the record of having won more first monies than any other fire horse in the South. And what was the secret people asked - what was his wizardry.? It has been proven that there had frequently been faster horses entered in tournaments. He was not the fastest fire horse that the state had seen yet he always won!
Mac's explanation was brief: "He just out-minded them". And some of his story of success must be explained in the great chest and iron haunches for in the fire horse race each entry pulled a full load - it called for power as much as speed.
The citizens of Newberry generally agreed with Mac - it was his intelligence. Joe was just about human they said. Joe always knew exactly what to do. He never needed a whip, he really did not need a driver, for if Joe were given a free rein, he always came in ahead, said his fellow citizens. He saw and took every advantage in a race.
And it was a 1911 that Joe swept into the summit of his fame. It happened at the summer tournament at Rock Hill against a field of fast horse-contenders. Joe was the old reliable still, but 18 years old - more years than most horses can bear onto a race track.
The fire wagon left mark with a great jerk and jump and it look like a bad day for Joe for just a moment. As a great day chest swung against the harness and the iron haunches stretched out beneath the wagon, Joe came to the forefront and he was leading clear when he passed the line.
The timekeepers new it was fast time, but when they checked their watches they were surprised - Joe had stepped the 200 yard stretch carrying a full wagonload in 12.4 seconds.
He had broken the all-time record for the stats and came within a fifth of a second of tying the world's record.
The crown went on an Old Joe's head- he had become Old Joe now - and it fitted there well for there never was a prouder horse. And there was no one to cavil or carp about it for everyone agreed that it was his and was proud of him. Needless to say he received the thanks of a grateful people in the hometown.
It was a great moment in Old Joe's life - it would have been a great moment in any horses life - but it was not to be the greatest moment. Old Joe would know.
Three or four more years passed and added their weight upon the limbs of the proud old horse, who in the judgment of horsemen should have been off the track long ago. The big Abbeville tournament was approaching in the Newberry fire department shook its collective head. All Joe had been a wonder, but he was really too old to consider now. Newberry could not trust its chances on a worn-out nag, whatever his record may have been.
It was definitely decided that all Joe could not make it - all were agreed - that is all save Mac, but Mac was getting too old too and he was outvoted.
So the horsemen picked out a likely young horse known for its speed and began training for the race. What all Joe thought as he looked on from his stable - just a 'has-been' - could not have been known or felt by the trainers of the new hope. But, whatever their troubles they went forward with their training and got the new entry ready for the race.
They were ready on the day, though evidently none too confident for at Mac's insistence they allowed Old Joe to be carried to Abbeville along with the entry - just as a sort of unnecessary precaution.
The crowds were there. Firemen bustled about. Red fire wagons with brass polished like mirrors were all lined up. Drivers walked nervously in and out the crowd. Stable boys were giving horses final unnecessary attention. Excitement was high.
You have the picture - the race was at hand!
Old Joe was on the sideline - impatiently, unwillingly, but there.
At the last moment the Newberry crowd found their worst fears to be true. The new horse was frightened, nervous and could not be controlled.
Of course, the story is a familiar one, but it really happened, and sameness robs Old Joe of no glory.
Mac was there with the word for his horse, "You'll have to put in all Joe" - and it finally became plain that if Newberry was represented at all it would be the old Bay horse.
His backers may have been downhearted, but not so with the crowd. The crowd was with him. It still believed in him. And when the old champion came out with his head held high, stretching his long flanks before the wagon - one imagines he can hear echoes from those straining throats now - "Old Joe! Old Joe!"
And Old Joe knew - the people of Newberry, who were sure he knew - it was his chance - the odds be hanged! For there was never a horse was such pride or sense as Old Joe, they say.
There is no record of the time he made - he was not making records, he was winning a race. And age may have stiffened his legs, but it had not dimmed his brain or touched his pride. Of course, he never missed a cue were struck a false step. But it was out of pride they say, sheer pride that brought the great bay chest heaving across the line ahead of the field that day - and into the arms of immortality.
All Joe had won his place among the immortals of his city, but neither his place, nor his service was to end there.
He was to live on many years and reap a harvest of devotion from firemen, affection from children of the town and respect from everyone.
The old fire horse took kindly to the children apparently and appreciated their regard, for he became the special property of the Boy Scouts. It was their privilege to curry, feed and keep him and many was the scout who won the badge in horsemanship through Old Joe.
He may have been just an old worn out plug to some, but not to these boys.
And the verity of this became established after the quaint fashion of this section, where Southern oratory abounds and sentiment still has its place in public life; be it horses or hearthstones.
For the town tightwad, so the story is told, moved the council to dispose of the old horse, now years beyond the age of usefulness, and thereby eliminate the cost of his feeding care from municipal expenses.
Old Joe had an immediate champion. The mayor himself came to his defense and told the economizing councilmen, in glowing periods, that Newberry could dispense with councilmen, mayors or even budgets more readily than it could Old Joe.
And the emotional Mayor closed his vindication with a proposal that the Councilman lay his motion before the children. Old Joe's right to municipal support was never again questioned, it is said.
But the first light of a new May morning this spring revealed that Joe had eaten his last troughful of municipal oats - Old Joe was found dead in his stall. Mac found him for Mac cared for him every day since he had come to the department.
The news spread and the town was stirred - Old Joe was dead!
Mac wanted it and it was the department's request that Old Joe be planted by the side of the City Fire Hall. So, there it lies on a main thoroughfare of the town - an earthen mound freshly decorated with flowers.
But Newberry would not see Old Joe put away without paying its respects. The Newberry Observer, a local paper carries this account:
When the death of the statewide famous horse was announced, numbers of citizens went to the firehouse to pay their last respects and at his burial up to 250 or 300 people were present. Old Joe was buried in a grave 10 feet deep by the side of the firehouse on Harrington Street on Friday evening at 3:30 PM and as he was buried the fire alarm tolled 35 times, one for each year of the famous quadrupeds life. Old Joe's record stands as a monument to his service, and to our city.
At his death, Malcolm Lessesne the faithful color driver, who have cared for him since he first assisted in unloading him when shipped here, shed tears and if carefully noted, others might have been seen to dry away their eyes.
And as the news of the famous horse's death spread abroad, there came letters of condolence, climaxing with that of a United States Sen.
One former citizen of the town who had to do with Joe's purchase and had known the horse paid him this tribute:
"… There was a sort of dignity and nobility of character observant in Joe that I never saw in any other horse. If Joe had a weakness, it was pride for if I ever saw a conscious superiority in an animal, it was shown by him when the crowds flocked on in admiring wonderment as he passed by. If there can be such a thing as a horse having a soul and future state, then Joe is browsing in green pastures - although he did dearly love to go to a fire."
U. S. Senator Cole L. Blease concluded his letter of sympathy to Malcolm Lessesne: "… For sometimes I believe that animals with the intelligence of Old Joe have more love and appreciation for those who have loved and cared for them than some human beings."
So, Old Joe was buried with the pomp and ceremony befitting a king of horses and the last chapter ended as it should.
But not quite the last - I cannot forget the image of Mac, his gray head bent over a plot. He would not leave off cleaning as I plied him with questions he did not answer. Observer 10/31/1930, p1, 4