Red Hot Hose Company

Red Hots take top honor in Warrenton.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 July 1949.

Though their longtime leader Ben Mincey was nearing death, the Wilson colored volunteer company, better known as the Red Hots, won top honors at the North Carolina colored fire association’s annual contest, securing silver belt.

The company:

The hose reel team:

  • Charles Artis
  • Fred Barnes
  • Mack McKeathan — Daniel “Mack” McKeithan
  • Chester Smith (who was high school-aged) — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1023 Roberson Street, Emma Smith, 44, cooks and cleans, and children Gloria, 24, Chester, 17, Emma E., 13, and Robert, 8.
  • Moses Worsley (who was in high school) — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1210 Carolina, David Worsley, 43, butler in service; wife Connie, 36, tobacco factory hanging room worker; and children John E., 17, Moses, 15, Elnora, 15, Lois Jean, 11, and Stoney, 9.
  • Joseph Meachen
  • Offie Clark (who was in high school)
  • Clarence Reid — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 705 East Green, Mabel Boney, 58, husband Calvin, 65, and son Floyd, 27, pool room manager; sister Isabelle Reid, 51; and lodgers Viney, 58, servant, and Clarence Reid, 19; yard cleaner Robert Lee King, 28, and wife Marjorie, 17; Raymond, 24, and Lester Hines, 21, delivery boy; and Neil Tucker, 60, barber.
  • Robert Dudley — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: construction carpenter Henry Dudley, 51; wife Della, 46; children James, 25, Minnie B., 22, cooks and cleans, and Bernard, 2; and grandson Robert L., 20.
  • Charles Rountree (who was in high school)– in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Raeford Rountree, 55; wife Mamie, 48; and children Raeford, 21, Mamie T., 19, Bessie M., 17, Charles, 16, Carrie M., 13, Nellie B., 10, Rosetta, 8, and Clarence F., 5.
  • Charlie Floyd — in the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Manda Floyd, 47; children Doretha, 23, hotel cook, and Charlie, 17; and grandson David E., 5, Alfonso, 4, and Nathaniel, 3.
  • Hubert Speight
  • William H. Kittrell

The spectators:

Red Hots territory.

Ben Mincey and the Red Hots responded to big fires all over the city, but their primary responsibility was for East Wilson. The 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map shows all the fire alarms  set up thoroughout the district.

Note the clusters in sections 17, 26, and 28 on the sites of industrial complexes. Also note the relative rarity of alarms on residential streets east of the tracks. If a house caught fire on, say, the corner of Carolina and Reid, some hard running was required to raise the alarm.

A close-up showing the alarm, marked F.A., at the junction of East Green and Elba Streets.