Historic Hood River
Chemical Engine
Notes
That chemical engine that we looked at yesterday deserves another look. This angle offers is a clear view of the apparatus: the two liquids mix, generating pressure as indicated on the needle of the gauge, and the pressurized liquid exits through the hose to extinguish the fire. There are two ladders and two axes for handy access by the firemen.
I suspect the photographer was standing directly in the garage bay of the fire station looking out across 4th Street. The garage was added to the City Hall Building after the purchase of this engine. City council records indicate the City Hall building was contracted to John Wallin on March 1903 for $675. These expenses to add the garage for the fire engine were incurred in early 1905: $86.82 for lumber, $4.00 for excavation, $ 0.55 for shingles, and $33.75 for labor.
I also found record of a February 1906 city payment of $2 to Fashion Stable for pulling the engine to fires. I guess you couldn’t just leave horses sitting around the fire station waiting for a fire. Probably on hearing the alarm someone would fetch a couple of horses from the stable on Oak Street, hitch them to the chemical wagon, and drag it to the fire.
By 1909 the Sanborn map records the station housed one hose cart, this chemical wagon, and a hook and ladder truck. It had a 50 foot bell tower just to the north.
The rear entrance to the Paris Fair Building has a small sign on it which says “IOOF” for Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Can someone fill us in on the history of the IOOF in Hood River?
Tags: 1900s, 4th Street, Coe, fire, fire engine, horses, IOOF, Oak Street, Paris Fair
Bill Seaton
In order to prime the pump a bit to get the IOOF history flowing, I will offer this tiny bit of IOOF history that I have first hand knowledge of. Over Christmas vacation of 1958, there was a dance held in the IOOF Hall. I was at the dance and could see from the furnishings of the Hall, that it was still an active site for IOOF meetings. One of the highlights of that evening was a dance contest, which was won by Steve Butterfield and Judy Kanable.
Arthur
Corrected post: IOOF is Independent Order of Odd Fellows, not "International". From their website: Odd Fellows got our name from a comment made during the 1700’s that "it is odd that a person might help another and expect nothing in return".
Jay
The upstairs room in the Paris Fair Building has exposed wood beams in the ceiling, on which is scrawled (for lack of a better word) "IOOF" in several places.
I know this from practicing yoga up there, and would see it when lying on my back!
Norma Jubitz Simpson
Bill: I also remember that dance. Lee and I won second place. Surprised you remembered it.