Fire Houses of Oregon

[Box 2565]

Milwaukie, Oregon - Fire station and City Hall.


Now here is a building that really defines the words 'Fire House'!  This beautiful little bungalow fits right in to a residential neighborhood.  Portland's Engine 18 would be barely noticeable when driving by.  That could be a very early (pre-1913 or so) American LaFrance in the bay.  See the big "18" that has been painted onto the grille.
Photo via eBay.

[Box 2565]

Portland - Engine 4 and Truck 2

[Box 2565]

Portland

Engine 1
1436 SW Montgomery Street
Constructed in 1911 as Engine 16's quarters.  Housed Engine 16 from 1911-1939, Truck 8 from 1939-1960, and Engine 1 from 1948-1963.  The pumper on the left is a Kenworth chassis that most likely has a locally built Heiser apparatus body.  The Seagrave aerial is a one-of-a-kind rig.  This is a 100' tractor-drawn aerial that was delivered in 1939.  What is unusual about the unit is that the tractor has an open cab, but is built in a 4-door configuration.

55 SW Ash Street
Constructed 1950 as Engine 21's quarters, became Engine 1's house in 1984.  Note the "Jay W. Stevens" disaster unit at the far end of the apparatus line-up.  Also, there is an alarm box mounted on a pedestal down at the corner.

Engine 4
511 SW College Steeet
Constructed in 1962.  Notice the Federal chassis rescue squad in the middle of the group.

[Box 2565]

Portland
Engine 20 - 8210 SE 13th Avenue
Constructed in 1907 as the quarters for Hose 4.  Engine 20 was organized in 1910, however the wood-frame firehouse only lasted until 1921 when a new station was built on the same site.

Engine 4 - 1233 SW 1st Avenue
Constructed in 1862 as the quarters of Protection Engine No. 4 of the volunteer department.  Other companies that operated from this house over the years were: Hose 2; Chemical 2; Engine 22; and Engine 4.  The deisgnation of the engine assigned here was changed from Engine 22 to Engine 4 in 1960.  The firehouse was closed in 1962.  Notice that the lettering over the doorway indicates that this is Engine 22.  A great looking house that has the "Downtown" look to it.

[mikefire32]

Another classic station from Portland.  Does anyone know what company this is?

This station, located at 5340 N. Interstate Avenue, was used by the city of Portland from 1911 until 1959 and housed Engine 24 and Truck 7. For the past 28 years, the building has been used by the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, but recently shut down due to budget concerns.

[mikefire32]

Yet another outstanding looking station in Portland.  Is the odd looking addition to the right side of the building the hose tower?  It has ventilation at the top, although I'm not 100% certain that it is actually attached to the firehouse.

This station, which is located at 5540 NE Sandy Boulevard, housed engine 28 from 1913 until 1984, when Portland closed it and moved into Multnomah County's station 40. Between 1984 and 2005, the station was used as a community center. About 10 years ago, Portland passed a bond to update, remodel or rebuild every station in the city, at which time they reclaimed this station and remodeled it, but added a new bay in order to mainain the historical significance of the station.

As for your question about the tower, it was something else located on the property next to the station.

Photo from Portland Fire & Rescue website

[mikefire32]

This is the Happy Valley Fire District (just outside of Portland), taken around 1961. The station, which was built by members of the community during the mid '50, is still used as Clackamas County Fire District #1 station 6. The station has gone through several remodels, including the removal of the hose tower, however the apparatus bay pretty much remains as is. In the picture is a Navy hi-pressure pumper, a 1942 Chevrolet, 1941 Ford, 1948 Packard hearse used as a first aid vehicle, a 1953 GMC tanker and a 1959 Ford station wagon chiefs car. My father was the chief at this time, and that was our family vehicle.

photo from Mike Beutler's collection

Clackamas County Fire District #1 station #6 as it appears today.

Photo from CCFD #1 website

[Box 2565]

St. Helens, Oregon.
Image from eBay.