![station 1]()
A LaPorte County Historical Society photo shows the northside fire station circa 1950s-1960s (looking southeast), with an Allis-Chalmers building visible to the left. (Click to enlarge)
By Fern Eddy Schultz, LaPorte County Historian
In early 2013, LaPorte’s northside fire station was razed. After 85 years of existence, there was no longer a need for the station. Let’s look back now to 1928, a time when there WAS a need, plans were being made to establish the station and the decision was made to construct it on the north side of LaPorte.
However, in March of 1928, the question arose as to exactly where the station would be built. The north side had grown considerably,
![Fern Eddy Schultz]()
Fern Eddy Schultz
partially due to the housing needs of Rumely Co. employees and also the construction of Riley School on Weller Avenue. Citizens as well as several council people were protesting against the choice of lots at Porter Street and Weller Avenue. The objection was that the site was too close to the school and posed potential danger to the children. Some firemen noted the lots were located at the foot of a hill; in the event of a call to the south, the equipment would be required to climb the hill from a dead stop.
The Porter/Weller site had been selected by the LaPorte Board of Public Safety because it was near LaPorte’s Washington Park and because of its price. It could be purchased for $760. Since spring was just around the corner, contractors were prepared to start construction. Their hopes were that the site would be chosen and contracts would be let soon. The protests against the site recommended by the Board of Public Safety were deferring this action.
The location of choice of several council members was on Madison Street at Truesdell Avenue on a tract of ground referred to as “the triangle” and owned by the Advance-Rumely Company. Some contended it was the logical location and would be an attractive addition to the community. The drawback was that the Advance-Rumely Company priced the tract at $4,200 when first contacted, and this price tag was far more than the Board of Works was willing to pay. One solution discussed was for the city to condemn the land and purchase it in that manner.
Mayor Line reported to the Board of Public Works at an April 1928 meeting that Advance-Rumely offered three alternatives: (1) 165-foot frontage on Madison Street for $3,500, (2) chance to rent the land so the company would get an annual return of 6% on
![A 2006 photo from the site indianafiretrucks.com. (Click to enlarge)]()
A 2006 photo from the site indianafiretrucks.com. The window boxes are still there at this point but the urns are gone. (Click to enlarge)
$3,500, or (3) condemn the area. At a meeting of the Board of Public Works, it was decided to condemn the property as the price was too high. The site location had been up for discussion for two months and to obtain the property in this manner meant it would be several months before the station would be built. The mayor had made efforts to have appraisers appointed by both entities to determine the value of the area, but this had failed.
After a campaign of years, an agreement was finally reached among property owners, fire officials and civic agencies for improved fire protection north of the New York Central Railroad tracks. A new station beyond the tracks would prevent delays in response as a result of being held up by a train. Arthur C. Steigley was selected as architect and Joseph Goodall as contractor.
The station was put into service on Sunday, June 30, 1929. The building was constructed of red brick, of colonial design with a sharp gabled, steep roof. There were six rooms on the first floor, the largest being the apparatus room. In the rear of the engine room on the south end was the kitchen, which reportedly “would delight the heart of any housewife.” Standing in front of the sink, one had access, without moving, to the gas range and oven, the ice box and rows of white metal cabinets and drawers. These were designed and built in one unit by the Cabranette Company, which had its factory in Michigan City. The bedroom had six beds and a roomy, comfortable parlor.
To beautify the facility, large stone flower urns were donated by Richard Laymon of Noble Street. These were set in place on either side of the driveway. They were three feet in height and manufactured by the donor. The Kaber Company donated a large number of flowers to be placed in the urns, including petunias, coleuses, geraniums, vinca vines and crysinas. They also provided flowers for the station’s window boxes.
The flower boxes were still in place when the structure was razed this year. It had, however, been a long time since they contained flowers. What happened to the urns?
After the construction of the new station further north, the question was often heard — What will happen to this building? That question was answered Monday, March 18, 2013.
FERN EDDY SCHULTZ is the official LaPorte County Historian. To learn more about the LaPorte County Historical Society and its museum, visit www.laportecountyhistory.org.
