Let’s look at the history of a second engine at Durham Station 2. In 1928, was surveyed by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Among the findings was that the city needed more fire stations. It noted that while fire companies were closed grouped for protection of the main mercantile and manufacturing districts, additional engine companies were needed in other areas of the city. For the next number of years, the city considered expanding the fire department.
In June 1934, a plan was announced to add an additional engine company, but house them at an existing fire station. Eight men would be hired and the company would be assigned one of two new Seagrave pumpers that had been ordered. Housed at Station 2 on West Main Street, the new company would be assigned a specific response area, and would also serve as a relief company, to assist other companies when “fighting stubborn and dangerous fires.”
On December 24, 1934, the Durham Sun reported that eight new firefighters started work that day. They were assigned to Station 2 and would man the new engine company. Was the new engine activated on that date? To be determined.
The new engine company was named Engine 5, as it was cited in the city directory for 1935 and later editions.
Also at that time, the aerial ladder truck company was reactivated as a staffed unit, reported the Durham Morning Herald on December 23, 1934. Those personnel had been laid off during the peak of the depression. TBD on the date on its reactivation.
How long did the second engine operate out of Station 2? It was gone by September 1950. That month, DFD relocated to a new Station 2 on Ninth Street. It housed three active units, an engine, a service ladder, and an auxiliary truck, along with a reserve pumper and the antique steamer. The latter is still on the department’s roster!
Second Engine Returns – 1952 To 1955
In June 1952, the DFD shop built their own engine, a 1952? Ford/Darley/shop pumper, 600/400, that cost about $7,000, versus $11,000 for a new pumper. It replaced one of the two 1942 auxiliary trucks. It was initially housed at Station 1 and responded to call types like grass fires and car fires, as well as building fires in residential districts to the south and east of the city. Source: DS, 6/24/52.
The Hill’s city directory for 1952 listed these companies and locations:
Engine 1 – Sta 1
Engine 6 – Sta 1
County Engine – Sta 1
Aerial 9 – Sta 1
Engine 2 – Sta 2
Ladder 10 – Sta 2
Engine 3 – Sta 2
Engine 4 – Sta 4
By May 1955, the shop pumper had been moved to Station 2. It was named Engine 7, reported that year’s National Board of Fire Underwriters report.
But the shop pumper may have been moved to Station 2 as early as the summer of 1952. That year, both the city’s auxiliary trucks were sold and the shop pumper was their apparent replacement.
In January 1954, the fire chief reported to council that DFD had four companies at Station 1 and three companies at Station 2. Those most likely were: Station 1 with city engine, county engine, aerial truck, and rescue; and Station 2 with Engine 2, Engine 7, and service ladder.
Unfortunately, there are no digital copies of city directories available for 1953 and 1954. And the Hill’s city directory for 1955 no longer contained a summary of fire companies. Looks like a physical visit to the downtown library is needed.
Sources: DS, 6/24/52; DS, 12/13/52; DS, 1/26/54; Hill’s city directory, 1952
Later Decades
What was the status of the second engine during later decades? It was presumably in continuous service until 1990. Here are some data points.
In November 1965, a newspaper story on a fire-police merger noted that Station 2 had two engine companies. [DMH, 11/2/65]
In July 1971, Station 3 had three fire companies, cited a story about fire department staffing. [DS, 9/8/71]
In February 1973, a news story about a building fire listed Engine 22, the designation for a public safety company, as one of the responding units. [DMH, 2/1/73]
In December 1975, a news story noted the proposal to relocate a pumper company from Station 2 to the new Fire Station 10. [DS, 12/31/75]
On March 1, 1978, a news story cited Engine 22 as the second engine at Station 2. It was a public safety company and was planned to be assigned to new Fire Station 10 as Engine 10, but the station’s opening was delayed. [DMH, 3/1/78]
In April 1984, a report on the public safety program listed all apparatus, including Engine 20 and Engine 22 at Station 2.
In June 1990, Engine 11 was activated at the new Station 11 on Cornwallis Road. The second engine at Station 2 was moved to the new station and placed in service there. [DFD 1996]
And thus ended the legacy of the second engine at Station 2.