Our art deco fire station
A LOOK BACK
It has not been long since I wrote about the oil well fires that
plagued Huntington Beach in its early years.
It was in 1935 that Huntington Beach Fire Chief J.K. Sargent said,
“While there has been a material reduction in the nation’s losses due
to fire, the yearly destruction of life and property is still of such
serious proportions as to require intensive and concerted action.”
Little did Sargent know then, but that concerted action would
result in the creation of a new fire station for him, his crew and
for the community of Huntington Beach.
It was during 1938 that the suggestion of a new and modern fire
station came up and this early concept was handed over to City
Engineer Harry Overmyer to bring to fruition. His first step would be
to choose a location for the new station and with the help of local
leaders, a site was chosen in an area known as Triangle Park. Most of
that park is gone today, chopped up for development, but our Main
Street Library still sits on what is left of Triangle Park on Main
Street.
Working hard on the project, Overmyer came up with plans and
specifications for a thoroughly modern fire station that would cost
$33,000. Much of the labor would come from the local area as a Public
Works Administration project of the federal government, which would
provide $24,000. The state-of-the-art fire station would then cost
the city only $9,000 to build. The station would be built in the Art
Deco-Moderne style that was so popular at that period of time and by
September of 1938 the plans were ready for city approval.
With suggestions from Sargent, Overmyer and his staff completed
working plans for the building.
Construction began in early 1939. This building would reflect not
only a modern look, but would also incorporate the latest comforts
for the men of the station.
It would have a new fire alarm system, three outside roll up doors
to allow the trucks to exit faster and a special drying tower outside
to drain the hoses after a fire.
The upstairs contained a recreation room and modern sleeping
quarters for the men. The new building would also house the office of
the fire chief.
Work progressed rapidly and by November 1939 the fire department
occupied its new home. The chief’s two-door coupe and ‘ole No. 1, the
city’s 1922 Seagrave pumper, were brought over to their new home.
In later years old No. 1 would be kept there and brought out for
parades.
The station’s art deco look blended perfectly with the City Hall
and Memorial Hall nearby.
Proud of their new station, Sargent, his assistant chief Del Burry
and members of the regular and volunteer staff held an open house for
the general public on Nov. 15, 1939.
Huntington Beach Mayor Marcus McCallen formally dedicated the
station. On hand were Councilman Arndt Henrickson, chairman of the
council’s fire committee, Works Progress Administration official
Bruce Scott, Frank Bundy from our Chamber of Commerce and with other
civic leaders. Members of the ladies’ fire auxiliary helped with the
refreshments. Young boys from the Huntington Beach DeMolay also
helped during the open house.
At this very time, the DeMolays were having a “Civic Day” in which
the boys trade job with the city officials for one day. So for one
day Sargent was replaced by a young man named Roy Watts and Sargent’s
firemen were replaced by DeMolay boys David Kirkpatrick, Leonard
Cooper, David McGlothlin and Bruce Worthy.
The art deco station served our community for more than 40 years
until it was demolished for earthquake reasons during redevelopment
in the early 1980s. The fire station at Lake Street and Frankfort
Avenue is a continuation today of that beautiful art deco station.
* JERRY PERSON is a local historian and longtime Huntington
Beach resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at
P.O. Box 7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.
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