This week, Engine 2 moved into temporary quarters at the old city radio/signals/sign shop on South Wilmington Street, in preparation for the renovation of their Pecan Road engine house. See this earlier blog post for information on the “down to the walls” rebuild. This makes the fifth location for Station 2 since the career fire department …
What have been the worst wildfires in our state’s history? Either in recent decades or way back when? Below is a “worst one” from 1985. Let’s look back at another series of huge wildfires in western North Carolina. From the Raleigh Times on April 5, 1984, found while doing some local fire department research. List format, …
On July 28, 1965, the Steer Steak House at 1625 Louisburg Road burned. Or as the road was later named, North Boulevard, and even later named, Capital Boulevard. Fire was reported at 3:55 a.m. by a passing motorist. Crews battled the blaze in a heavy rainstorm. The one-story structure (plus basement) suffered extensive damage and …
Continue reading ‘The Steer Steak House, Johnny’s Motor Lodge, and the Capital Inn’ »
Bought this on eBay, an old brochure from the Fire House Museum of Old Salem, NC. That’s the original half of Winston-Salem, and where the state’s first fire engines are still displayed. Delivered in 1785, the two hand-pulled, hand-powered pumping engines were built one year after the town’s tavern burned. The metal parts were purchased …
Continue reading ‘Vintage Brochure – Fire House Museum of Old Salem’ »
Found for sale on eBay, a vintage photo scanned from a 35mm slide, of West Mecklenburg Fire Department’s old Tanker 3, which was a 1964 Ford F-700/Irvin’s Body Shop (!), 500/1000. Originally served Moores Chapel FD, which merged with Wilkinson Boulevard FD in 1984. The new entity was named West Mecklenburg FD. Click to enlarge: …
Continue reading ‘Vintage Photo of West Mecklenburg 1964 Ford Tanker… And Other Old Photos’ »
Found for sale on eBay, vintage magazine advertisement from 1944, of Stateville’s Dodge/Oren pumper. Speaking of SFD, they have a bit of history on their official web site. See that page. Interesting bit: they sold their last fire horse to Morehead City in 1917. Anyway, click to enlarge:
On Tuesday night, October 13, 1964, a restaurant building at the fairgrounds was destroyed during a busy night at the North Carolina State Fair. Thousands were attending the fair, and watched with rapt attention as a “portable” restaurant was consumed by flames. The $100,000 structure was a loss, and the blaze likely inspired the creation …
Continue reading ‘Restaurant Burns During Busy Night at NC State Fair, October 1964’ »
From a report received around June 1, 1957, and probably covering the prior fiscal year. Rural fire departments established in ten communities in Wake County: Zebulon Apex Cary Garner Fuquay-Varina Morrisville Knightdale Wake Forest Six Forks Wendell. Others are in the process of organizing, and some are about ready to begin purchasing equipment. These departments …
Continue reading ‘Wake County Rural Fire Protection Progress Report – 1956 to 1957’ »
Diagram of the first original locations of the Six Forks Fire Department. They were organized in 1956, and incorporated on June 5. Their first fire engine was a 1956 Ford/American/Barton pumper housed in a converted barn behind Howell’s Store at 4129 Six Forks Road. The structure was begin used as such by September 1956. Their …
Continue reading ‘Mapping the Original Locations of the Six Forks Fire Department’ »
For your Sunday evening enjoyment, here’s a grab bag of historical bits, about fire station closures and fire department mergers in Raleigh and Wake County. There have been but a handful of note. Closures (Not counting station re-locations within 2.5 miles) 1960 – Western Boulevard FD 1982 – Wake Forest FD #2 ca. 1992 – …
Continue reading ‘Wake County Fire History – Closures & Mergers’ »