More than 200 attendees were on hand at the Northampton Fire Department, 4 Lerchenmiller Drive, as the department held its first purse bingo Feb. 25.

The event was held in the large area in the fire station. Captain Michael Booke noted there was room for even more bingo and purse enthusiasts.

Volunteer firefighter Lt. Ed Boshell, firefighter Noah Hassler and Booke ran the registration area. They were surprised with the good turnout, citing a large number of attendees did not preregister, but rather arrived as walk-ins.

Food and refreshments were served. Fire department volunteers William and Rebecca Csaszar, of Whitehall, staffed the cash boxes at the food stand. They said the food was good and selling fast. They were enjoying cheeseburgers, fries and pierogies.

The bingo caller, Safety Officer Chris Crush, used a microphone to yell out the bingo numbers.

Quality purses of varying size and colors were offered, with firefighter Colyn Gerstenberg doing an excellent job “modeling” the prizes.

Purses have been in use for about 5,000 years, mostly by men in early history. In 1991, a prehistoric mummy named Otzi the Iceman was found in the Alps with a purse made of chamois and with a strap attached.

By the early Middle Ages, it was common for both men and women to carry a purse. With the invention of pockets on men’s clothing, male use of purses declined.

The fire department was established in 1902 as the Siegfried Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. Three villages - Siegfried, Newport and Stemton - merged in 1902 to form what was then called Alliance. Siegfried Village was named after Revolutionary War hero Colonel John Siegfried.

In 1909, Alliance’s name was changed to Northampton. Shortly after, the Siegfried fire department was referred to as the Northampton Fire Department No. 1.

It took time to have all the small fire departments in the borough consolidate into the current fire department.

Based on the attendance and the satisfaction of the attendees, firefighters and other volunteers working the event, it appears more purse bingo events may be on the horizon for the benefit of the Northampton Fire Department.