VIDEO: Congresswoman Clark Reads About America's First Woman Firefighter to Framingham Kindergarteners

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Molly Williams was the first known female firefighter in the United States.

Monday, during Black History Month, Congresswoman Katherine Clark read the book Molly, by Golly to two different kindergarten classes at Wilson International Baccalaureate School in Framingham.

The book, written by Dianne Ochiltree, tells the story about Molly Williams, an African-American woman who during the height of an influenza outbreak and in the middle of a blizzard helped pull a pumper through snow drifts to save a house and a town.

Williams was part of a New York City firehouse helping as a cook, but when few call firefighters arrived to battle the blaze, she jumped into action to help.

Clark talked to the students in Paula Cruz’s kindergarten class about the seasons and pets, as there was a dog and a cat featured in the book.

She also interacted with students about how there was no radio, television, or cell phones to notify people about fires back in Molly’s life.

In Shedya Flisher and Renee Barbary-Tibbert’s kindergarten class she talked about what it was like to be a firefighter in Molly’s time with no firetrucks and using leather buckets to fill with water.

“Molly raced to the fire equipment shed,” read Rep. Clark. “She took a quick count. Never had she seen so few men answer the call.”

“These hands can do much more than bake,” read Rep. Clark.

Molly took her place on the ropes, and helped rolled the pumper engine to the fire, continued reading Rep. Clark.

Rep. Clark donated a copy of Molly, By Golly to each classroom.

Superintendent of School Stacy Scott, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano, and School Committee Chair Beverly Hugo attended the story time with Congresswoman Clark, as did Wilson IB School Vice Principal Michelle da Costa.

Clark also during her visit to Framingham on Monday, Feb. 22, donated two bags of books to McCarthy Elementary. The school suffered major damage to 9 classrooms over school vacation week, when a pipe burst and flooded a wing of the school.

McCarthy was one of four schools that had pipes burst in the district.

For photos of the Rep. Clark’s visit to the kindergarten classes at Wilson IB School, click here.

Photos and video courtesy of Petroni Media Company

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First published on Feb. 22. Updated on Feb. 23 with links and more photos.