VULCAN HISTORY

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival was founded in 1886, and our first Fire King started that year. Colonel Delos A. Monfort was known as Fire King Coal. The first nine Fire King's battled alone without a Krewe against Boreas and his royal family.

Since 1886, approximately 380 people have officially worn the Vulcan Running Suit, representing the "HOT SIDE" of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Presently the Fire & Brimstone organization has around 225 former Fire King's and Krewe members active in the organization.

In 1940 E.R. Reiff was picked to be Vulcanus Rex VI, he chose a Krewe of six men to help him chase Boreas and his wintry ways out of town. He gave all six Krewe member names we still use today. In 1970 Joe Rogers, Vulcanus Rex XXXIII added a seventh member and another new name to the Krewe. We still use the same names today.

THE MEANING OF KREWE NAMES

The King of Fire.Vulcanus Rex is the TRUE KING of the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Vulcanus battles to end the cold of winter, and seeks to bring the warmth of summer back to the beautiful City of Saint Paul.

Baron Hot Sparkus Commander of the Lancer's Legion and the Stocker of Emotions. The "SPARK PLUG" of the Vulcan Krewe.

Grand Duke Fertilious Minister of Propaganda. The Propagator of Progeny. This Krewe member usually has the most offspring.

Count of Ashes The Raiser of Sleeping Spirits. The "SWINGER" of the Vulcan Krewe.

Count Embrious Fire King's Chancellor of the Exchequer. The young and romantic one. Embrious is usually the youngest member of the Krewe.

Duke of Klinker Fire King's Aide de Camp and the Herder of the Flock. A Klinker in a fire is the longest burning ember, that just never wants to go out.

General Flameous An Army Commander, the Administrator of Fire. The Keeper of the Flame. The legend of Flameous: if the Flame dies, the Fire King dies -- and it will be winter forever.

Prince of Soot The Recorder of Past Memories. The "LADIES MAN." Sooty is usually the oldest member of the Krewe.

VULCAN ATTIRE

THE FIRE KING RUNNING SUIT, THE UNIFORM
In the early Carnivals, when the Fire King ran alone, he wore typically kingly attire crown and all, with heavy emphasis on the color red in the rest of the costume. In 1916, Ron Stewart, Vulcanus Rex I, wore a warm blanket coat with a wide sash and a headpiece with devil-type horns on it. This attire continued through 1939.

Again, in 1940, Vulcanus Rex VI, E.R. Reiff, designed the basic running suit worn today. The horns were replaced by two feathers at the back of the head with a central fin running across the top of the head from front to back. In 1959 the feathers disappeared by order of Vulcanus Rex XXII, John Works.

There are six primary pieces to the current running suit: the hat, the running suit, the cape, boots, gloves, goggles, and of course grease.

THE KNIGHTING CEREMONY
These ceremonies have been around for almost sixty years. Every year, the Fire King knights literally hundreds of lucky individuals. Special people are singled out by the King and his Krewe t bestow this unique privilege on. A knighting certificate consists of a "title" being bestowed, and a certificate being presented. The title and the memory of this event last forever. Titles bestowed usually reflect the individual's special contribution to a community, company, club or organization, or family.

THE ROYAL CHARIOT
The present fire engine being used by the Krewe is a 1932 "Luverne". The engine was built in Laverne, Minnesota, and is believed to be the only one of its type left. The City of Saint Paul started to let the Krewe use this engine in the late 1950's, and have had to replace almost everything but the frame over the years. In 1996 Fire & Brimstone took over ownership and upkeep of the truck. This is a fragile old vehicle, please treat it with all due respect.

FIRE & BRIMSTONE
In the late forty's some of the former Krewe members thought it would be nice to have a group formed that included only former Vulcan's. This was a great idea but it took until 1958 before the right men would come along that would make it into a full-fledged incorporated organization.

Fire & Brimstone is run by a Board of Directors that is elected by the general membership at their annual meeting. This boards main objective is to assist the Council of Fire Kings in putting a new Krewe on the street every year, but also plans many activities and events for F&B members and their families to attend throughout the entire year.