Old Fire House #1 located on Elm Street behind the old City Building at Central Park. Approximately the area of the parking lot now. Built 1895 and demolished in 1970.
Henderson Evening Journal • Sun, Dec 15, 1895
The new fire barn which is to be dedicated Wednesday night with feasting and merrymaking is one of the handsomest buildings of the kind in the State.
The stone front will be washed off and the Structure turned over to the city. A short description of the building will not come amiss at this time. It is two stories high, with a tower running up more than seventy feet, in which the big fire alarm bell will be placed. The ground floor is 60 by 79 feet in the clear and contains besides the chemical engine the new truck, hose wagons and other apparatus, six stalls for the fire horses. The floor itself is of four-inch oak flooring laid edgewise This gives it the greatest possible solidity, besides which it will be as durable as sheet iron. The ceiling, stalls and magnificent central
central stairway are of yellow pine, highly polished
and very handsome. Two big doors open on Elm street. They are kept latched together. When it is necessary to open them this latch is lifted and the doors slide back automatically.
This automatic business is continued as far as possible throughout the building. The feed for the horses is mixed automatically as it passes through galvanized iron chutes on the way to the feed boxes in the stalls.
Conducted by Contractor Nieton and Charley Gantner I passed up the stairway leading to the second floor.
Turning to the left we entered the big room where the firemen will sleep. This room is finished handsomely enough to serve as a parlor for any man in Henderson. Three big double windows overlook Elm street. Six closets built into the south wall form roomy recesses for the men to hang their equipments in. At the north end is the entrance to the bath room. This is fitted with a handsome tub and three bowls. Hot and cold water appliances are now in position. A description of the firemen’s sleeping quarters is incomplete without some notice of the handsome “graining” done on the doors and window casings. Originally this wood was of ordinary white pine. Now, thanks to Charles B. Gantner’s artistic touch, it has all the appearance of quartered oak, even to the most critical eye.
“Come along,” said Contractor Nieton, let’s go up into the tower.” Up into the tower we climed. First a ladder had to be traversed, then a stair case so steep it was almost perpendicular and then, we were at the top. A bright December day was drawing to a close. Through the gathering twilight the roofs of numberless homes could be seen in every direction. Down on the street, seventy feet below, citizens were hurrying to supper and to rest after the day’s toil. It was a brave sight. Far away over the river, the sunset glow touched the Indiana hills, bare limbed trees waved gaunt arms in the light wind and closer, down near the shore, straggling willow sprigs stood huddled in clusters as if to keep warm. The bosom of the silent river was here and there dotted with a lone fisherman in his skiff. But such sights must be seen to be appreciated. Climb up into the tower and look for yourself. It is worth the effort.
The entre building is perfect in all its details. It is built with an eye to strength and stability as well as beauty. Both these aims have been accomplished. The stone work, which was done by Eugene Geissler is not the least beautiful part of the structure. Wednesday night on the first floor the tables for the dedicatory banquet will be arranged. The fatted ‘possum will be killed and everybody will have a merry time. Speeches will be made and everybody’s health drunk. All honor to the brave men who fight fires for us without recompense or reward. They deserve all the good things this life has to give and after death, well, if they are still fond of fighting fre, here’s hoping they’ll have a chance.
