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.