On June 15, 1925, Barney, Gene, and Tom Made the Last Run of the Horses for the DC Fire Department.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Published June 19, 2012

Last Fire Horses for D.C. Fire Department: Three Things You Didn’t Know

Learn the stories of the last three fire horses for the District of Columbia Fire Department. Read about their last run, retirement floral tribute, and the sad tale of their final days.

In my call for suggestions last week, GoDCer Rych emailed a request to look into the last fire horses for the District fire department. John Kelly did a piece a few years back in the Post which is an excellent read.

To put a true Ghosts of DC spin on Rych’s story idea, we’re going to do a “Three Things…” post on the final trio of fire horses, Barney, Gene and Tom.


1925 fire run with Barney, Gene and Tom

1. Last run thrills three old fire horses

Below is an article on the final run, albeit for show, of the last three fire horses. The article was published on June 10th, 1925 in the Washington Post. [This run was for filming. The real last run was on June 15, 1925.]

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Washington, D.C., circa 1914. “Three-horse team pulling water tower.” A fire truck racing past the Tea Cup Inn on F Street. Harris & Ewing

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washingtonpost.com > Metro
John Kelly's Washington

John Kelly: On a Burning Quest to Find the Monument to D.C.'s Last Fire Horse


Barney, Gene and Tom, who were the last fire horses with the D.C. Fire Department, make a run shortly before they were retired in 1925. (The Washington Post)

By John Kelly
Sunday, July 19, 2009

On June 25, 1937, an interesting assortment of people gathered on a gentle rise near the southernmost tip of the District of Columbia. The group comprised firemen, animal lovers and children. Firemen because the occasion was to honor one of their own. Animal lovers because the honoree happened to be a horse. And children because, well, what other group possesses a greater love for firemen and horses? ... The occasion was to mourn the death of Tom, the last fire horse of Washington.

A large monument of Indiana limestone had been hoisted into place over Tom's grave, its surface engraved with "In Memory of Tom, Last Horse in the D.C.F.D." Tom had died a few weeks earlier, 12 years after retiring to pasture at Blue Plains, then a rural enclave that included an old folks' home, a paupers' burial ground and fields that ran down to the Potomac and Oxon Cove.

Miss Virginia W. Sargent, president of the city's Animal Protective Association, was the principal speaker. Her group had spearheaded the effort to remember Tom. She lauded the horse's gentleness, courage and loyalty. Capt. Raymond E. Oden of No. 25 Firehouse praised Tom's long service. Private E. M. King sounded a final tribute: 27 notes on a fire engine gong, one for each year of Tom's life.

We know this happened because it was covered by all the local papers. Photographs show children pressed up against a metal railing, firefighters saluting. What we don't know is exactly where that monument was. And that makes this week's column a little more "Question Man" than "Answer Man." The question: Do you know where the monument to Washington's last fire horse is? ... Lt. T. "Cosgrove" Jones is obsessed with finding it.

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The D.C. fire department got its first motorcar in 1910. A year later, Engine Co. 24 opened on Georgia Avenue. It was the first station built without a stable or manure pit. It had a motorized pumper. The horse era was ending. ... The last horse team -- Barney, Gene and Tom -- made its final ceremonial run in 1925. An earlier run was captured by a film crew from the Department of Agriculture. With the help of Dan Lech of the National Agricultural Library, Answer Man was able to track down this rare film and watch it at the University of Maryland with Lt. Jones. To see it, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/metro. (Gene and Barney are misnamed Dick and Harry in the film.)

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2025 Running of the Horses

DC Fire and EMS
1.68K subscribers

Jun 17, 2025
HORSE DRAWN STEAM FIRE ENGINE TO GALLOP ON CAPITOL HILL

Re-enactment of the Last Run of the Fire Horses on 100th Anniversary

(Washington, DC) – One hundred years ago, on June 15, 1925, the DC Fire Department held a ceremonial Last Run of the Horses. The purpose of the event was to commemorate the service of these great fire horses, who pulled the equipment for decades but were no longer needed due to the advent of motorized fire apparatus.
Re-live the excitement of that occasion this Sunday June 15th, at 1 PM, as three mighty steeds will once again pull a cosmetically preserved 1905 American LaFrance horse-drawn steam fire engine down a DC Avenue.

The horse-drawn engine will run from the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center at 635 North Carolina Ave, SE, to Lincoln Park, where there will be a community reception immediately following the procession.

This event is organized by the DC Fire and EMS Department in partnership with the Friendship Fire Association and the DC Fire & EMS Foundation.

https://www.tiktok.com/@c10clubmaryland/video/7516353214246063390

[StarryNite]

1. A very nice tribute to Barney, Gene and Tom and all the other

horses and humans who worked to save lives and buildings from fires during that time period.

Thank you so much for sharing this interesting piece of history.