Box 13

Box 13 Associates was formed on May 1, 1933, by a group of businesspeople and professionals who were interested in the operation, welfare, and public relations of the Cincinnati Fire Department.

Early in 1933 a Cincinnati newspaper reporter, Joseph R. Doran, had written a lengthy article on the firefighter’s courage and devotion to duty at a fire.  It was undoubtedly that news article that initiated the interest.

He wrote about the Newton Tea and Spice Company fire at 16-18 Second Street, on  January 17, 1920, that killed 4 firefighters.   Box 13 at Second and Walnut Streets was the call box for the fire.  .  Box 13 was struck 10 blows to indicate a general alarm.  The firefighters were working from the ramp to the Suspension Bridge with hose streams.  They were crushed when the east wall of the Newton Tea and Spice Company collapsed without warning following an explosion.  In addition to the four fatalities, fourteen other firefighters were injured when the wall collapsed.  Box13.org