When and where did the first Salvation Army bellringer and kettle appear?

The first Salvation Army "kettle" was set up in San Francisco in 1891 by an officer who had pledged to provide Christmas dinner for the area's poor. Six years later, the practice had spread all the way to the East Coast, and made enough money nation-wide to buy 150,000 meals for the needy.

(Unofficially, the first person to contribute is reputed to be one Dorian Greyed who then negotiated for a turkey, and refused to share.)

Salvation Army

You are awfull Dennis......Really ?

Of course, Dennis is right, and he also remembers well. After all, he was the turkey.


"It was December 1891 when a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco, Joseph McFee, determined to provide a free Christmas dinner to the poor in the area. The question was how to finance it.
The answer came when he recalled his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, and a large pot, called "Simpson's pot," at Stage Landing where passersby dropped charitable contributions.
He asked for and received permission from the authorities to place a similar pot in a conspicuous place at the Oakland ferry landing. For good measure he also placed a brass urn for contributions in the waiting room." - Oakridger.com

"The Salvation Army Captain in San Francisco had resolved, in December of 1891, to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor persons. But how would he pay for the food.?
As he went about his daily tasks, the question stayed in his mind. Suddenly, his thought went back to his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. On the Stage Landing he was a large pot, called "Simpson's pot" into which charitable donations were thrown by passers-by.
On the next morning, he secured permission from the authorities to place a similar pot at the Oakland ferry landing, at the foot of Market Street. No time was lost in securing the pot and placing it in a conspicuous position, so that it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferry boats. In addition, a brass urn was placed on a stand in the waiting room for the same purpose." - Salvation Army Milwaukee.org

"By Christmas 1895, thirty Salvation Army corps in the West Coast area used the kettle. That year, The Sacramento Bee published a description of the Army's Christmas activities and mentioned the contributions. Two young Salvation Army officers, William A. McIntyre and N.J. Lewis, instrumental in the original use of the kettle, took the idea to the East Coast. In 1897, McIntyre prepared his Christmas plans for Boston around the kettle." - RedKettles.org