F is for Fire Escape: Inventions by Women A-Z

Anna Connelly invented a fire escape that was patented in 1887. Very little is known about her personally, but from the patent, we do know she resided in Pennsylvania. According to one source, her filing was the first patent registered for a woman after the Civil War. (But I would add, it was maybe one of the first, since there were certainly other women with patents prior to 1887). It would be interesting to research her story using primary resources (hmm....a book opportunity for someone?). 

1860 New York City Tenement Fire

 We do know that fire escapes were either missing or inferior in American cities in the late 19th century (and likely elsewhere in the world). Without building codes, fire outbreaks had become a serious threat to lives and property. With more and more apartments (tenement housing), and multi-level business buildings and factories being built, increasingly in wood, news of workers and families trapped inside their workplaces and homes was becoming commonplace. 

One tenement fire in 1860 made the headlines that caused alarm when people had to jump from the burning building. Fortunately, that particular fire and others like it brought attention to the problem. There was a sharp increase in fire escape inventions during the period 1877-1895. 

Thirty-three of the inventions filed were by women. 

Anna Connelly's invention was an improvement over the classic fire escape that wound down the side of a building. Her invention allowed people to escape via an "iron railed bridge" that  connected adjacent roof tops and buildings. Two trap doors at both ends of the bridge made access easy. 

The diagram in the patent

An example of how it worked

Anna's invention led to the first building codes ever established in New York City, which stated that a second means of escape in a fire was mandatory. The fire escape did not require remodeling of the building, so it was very cost effective, and helped fire fighters get water to the fire faster. The new fire escape also had staircases with platforms between levels, preventing people from falling. 

Anna's invention was not the first fire escape patent filed. In 1766 another patent had been filed for a much cruder set-up involving a pulley system with a wicker basket, whereas Anna's fire escape with all its improvements, became the prototype for the modern fire escape we know today. Thousands of lives have been saved as a result.



 
Sources:
http://americacomesalive.com/newsletter-archive/important-inventions-women-may-2014/
http://www.thetalleygroup.com/tag/anna-connelly/
http://eastcoastfireescapes.com/fire-escapes-and-eminism-the-irst-ire-escape-invented-by-a-woman/#.VQDTyY6UbYg  

Copyright 2015 © Sharon Marie Himsl

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
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