Prior to the motorized fire trucks, the greatest invention for firefighters was the "harness-drop, an electrical apparatus" which was invented by R. J. Llhenny of Wilmington, North Carolina on June 15, 1885.

This apparatus was so arranged that when a fire alarm was sounded from City Hall, it was immediately transmitted to the truck house and repeated by telephone then to the electrical apparatus. This caused the gates of the two horse stalls to instantly unlock and fly open. The horses who were trained, rushed out and took their places under the horse-drop and in front of the trucks or wagons. The harness, spread and suspended above the horses, then dropped on their backs. It took only a few moments for the fireman to have them hitched and on their way.

They have one of the harness-drops in the Fireman's Museum at New Bern. If ever down New Bern way, take time to visit the museum.

Thought for the day: Man is the only animal that makes bargains; no other animal does this - no dog exchanges bones with another. (Adam Smith, Scottish political economist)