Reply #13: Not that ususual, actually

[Stinky The Clown]

I lived north of Chattanooga (in Hixon, if anyone knows the area) back in the 70s. The volunteer fire company was our only protection and they were by subscription. If a fire broke out at a non subscriber's house, they would respond only to protect the covered houses.

We also paid for garbage collection and similar services.

Taxes, of course, were dirt cheap.

Subscriber fire brigades are an old tradition. Many old houses still have the fire subscriber metal plaques on them.