This ribbon commemorating the seventh annual Excursion of Washington Engine Company No. 1 of Morristown, New Jersey to Paterson, New Jersey was made by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey in 1898. The tan ribbon has a gilt metal pin at the top, and a circular metal photo of a steam engine embedded in the center of the ribbon. The ribbon is embossed with gold letters that read “MEMBER/7th ANNUAL EXCURSION/OF/WASHINGTON/ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 1,/OF/MORRISTOWN, N.J./TO/PATERSON, N.J./OCTOBER 4, 1898. The Washington Engine Company No. 1 was founded in 1867 and reorganized in 1872. It purchased an American steam engine in 1895, likely the engine depicted in the photograph. Fire companies would often took excursions to visit other companies to celebrate their common bond and engage in some friendly competition. They commemorated these trips with ribbons, medals, trumpets, and trophies.
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