The roster of 45 volunteer Firemen whose companies still carried the names of the old Engine Company Number 1, Hose Company Number 1, and Hook and Ladder Company Number 1, began to dwindle. Eventually, the remaining Stutz and the 1917 American LaFrance ended up in The Texas Fireman’s Museum in Grand Prairie.ġ971 – Volunteer Firemen Begin to Dwindleīy 1971, the Department employed nine Firemen and a Fire Marshal. One of the old Stutz Engines was sold and the other kept by the department. 1963 saw the pair of Stutz Engines placed out to pasture as another new American LaFrance Engine backed in the station doors on Palo Pinto Street. In 1955, a new American LaFrance Engine took its place next to the old and tired Stutz Engines. The 1950’s saw additional firefighters placed “On Duty” on a 24-hour basis. The new address was 119 Palo Pinto Street.Īs time passed, trucks, members, and employees came and went. The old 1911 station was replaced and the new station was built just 50 feet west of the 1911 station location. The location of the new station was still on Palo Pinto Street.
In 1933, a new City Hall and Fire Station were built on the property donated by the Fire Department. Currently, the remaining 1924 Stutz is being restored to running condition and will once again take its place along side the 1917 American LaFrance. The Stutz and its crew drove the Old Mineral Wells Highway to assist in fighting a large blaze in downtown Mineral Wells and covered the course in record time. The most notable story about one of the Stutz trucks has to do with a very late night response to Mineral Wells. The need to keep the trucks and equipment in good running order had become apparent to all.īy 1924, the City purchased a pair of consecutive serial-numbered Stutz Triple Combination Pumpers. In the early 20’s, the Fire Department and the City placed the first of many firemen on the payroll to protect the citizens of the community. The 1917 American LaFrance fought its last fire in 1951 when the Kuteman Building burned. The 1917 American LaFrance has remained with the department to this day.
This probably occurred because the 1914 American LaFrance was so quickly replaced due to its inadequacy. Many of the older firemen often confused the two different American LaFrance trucks in relating their tales of fires fought in the late teens and early twenties. The department used the 1914 truck as a trade-in on the truck delivered in 1917.
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