Take a look at the most recent photo of the "Columbia Public Mural Project" currently underway by muralist/artist Michael Colley Fine Art. Once compete, the city's first public mural includes artistic remembrance and historic imagery of particular interest to the history of the Columbia Fire Department. Among the powerful images shown on Colley's developing mural, John Hackney is painted in action driving a horse drown, steam powered fire engine. A little known fact is that the Columbia Fire Department, Tennessee was an integrated department going back to the first decade in the 20th century. Hackney was the city's first African-American firefighter who, according to historic documents preserved and maintained by the department, served in the Columbia Fire Department for approximately three decades. According to records retained by the city, Hackney had been promoted to the position of driver, which like fire service today, drivers are promotion positions with an accompanying pay increase above the position of firefighter. An original photo taken in or around 1910 shows John Hackney photoed with the rest of the fire company at the time featuring a horse drawn engine inspiring the mural imagery telling the story of Hackney's service to the community over 100 years ago. #Art4Columbia #ColumbiaMural #ColumbiaPublicArt #ColumbiaFireMural #Muletown #MuletownExperience #ColumbiaTN (at City of Columbia Arts District)
