Firehouse #77 -- August 8, 2014

On our recent trip to New Orleans, we took the New Orleans Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour.  We went around twice because it rained a lot the first time.  The guide on our first trip said that this retired firehouse at 1043 Magazine Street in the Warehouse District is where Muhammad Ali trained for his second fight with Leon Spinks.  The guide on the second circuit did not mention it. 

Ali had lost his title to Spinks on 15-February-1978.  Ali had not taken Spinks seriously.  Ali trained well for the rematch at the Superdome in New Orleans on 15-September-1978, scoring a unanimous decision and winning the heavyweight championship for the third and last time.  We didn't know it then, but it was Ali's last victory. 

Read more about our trip:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-saturday-july-19-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-sunday-july-20-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-monday-july-21-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-tuesday-july-22-2014.html
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-orleans-wednesday-july-23-2014.html

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/07/to-relieve-poor-sick-and-provide.html

Firehouse #76 -- July 7, 2014

I took this photo of Menlo Park Fire Protection District Station One as I rode by in an auto on Middlefield Road on 29-June-2014. 

Firehouse #75 -- January 6, 2014

Company 13 (Engine 35, Truck 13, Engine 13) at Sansome and Clay, mildly decorated for Christmas.  Before the growth of the South of Market area, it was the busiest firehouse in the city. I took this photo on 23-January-2013. 

I have not featured it in this series since 2008:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2008/01/firehouse-3-january-3-2008.html

Firehouse #74 -- December 3, 2013

San Bruno Fire Department Station 52 is on Earl Avenue near the top of Sneath Lane. I took the photo on 02-December-2013. The station is decorated with Christmas lights, but it is hard to tell in this cell phone photo. 

Firehouse #73 -- November 4, 2013

The house of Americus Engine Company #6, a volunteer fire company at 269 Henry Street in Manhattan.

From Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies and Volunteer Fire Departments of New York and Brooklyn by J Frank Kernan, 1885.

Firehouse #72 -- October 3, 2013

The New York Tribune of 05-September-1910 published the design of a new type of standardized firehouse for New York City. 

STANDARDIZES FIREHOUSES

Department Prepares to Erect 20 Fireproof Buildings.

Plans for the standard pattern flrehouses to be erected in the most congested districts shown by the late census are complete and Fire Commissioner Waldo is ready to begin work any day this week. Eighteen will be erected as soon as possible and two others somewhat later.

These new firehouses will be fireproof and built without wood. By standardizing the new houses Commissioner Waldo expects to save money. The new houses will cost about $30,000 to $40,000 for the small and $50,000 to $60,000 for the larger ones.

The sites of the new houses follow:

Manhattan — 111th street and Second avenue, 50th street and Lexington avenue, 181st street between Amsterdam and Audubon avenues, and No. 191 Fulton street
The Bronx — Morris avenue, between 168th and 169th streets, Prospect avenue and 152nd street, and Bailey avenue and Albany Road, Unionport.
Richmond — Sarah Ann and Hanna streets, Tompkinsvile.
Brooklyn — Nos 499 and 491 St. Johns Place, Twelfth avenue and 42d streets No. 582 Knickerbocker avenue, Nos. 244 and 246 Loraine street, Metropolitan avenue and Varick street, and Seventh avenue and 50th street.
Queens — Spruce street and Atlantic avenue, and Central and Mott avenues.

The designs for the new houses show a basement simply treated in stone, and above this and extending up through the remaining stories of the building a series of windows, with pilaster treatment on either side.

The only ornamental feature of the front consists of the arms of the city in low relief panel at the second story level. 

Firehouse #71 -- September 6, 2013

Engine 35 poses in front of Station 35 on the Embarcadero, which also the home of San Francisco's two fireboats, the Phoenix and the Guardian.  I took the photo on 27-August-2013.

Firehouse #70 -- August 5, 2013

San Francisco native Ruth Asawa has placed many of her sculptures around the city.  One of the favorites with many people is the fountain in the plaza of the Hyatt Union Square Hotel.  The fountain, installed in 1973, was formed using baker's clay, with help from friends and school kids who created some of the people, animals and autos.  It was then cast in bronze.  Unfortunately, the fountain has been threatened by Apple, which wants to replace the building at Post and Stockton with an ugly Apple Store which would displace the fountain.

This section of the fountain depicts Engine 12 on Stanyan Street.  I imagine her helpers created the fire truck and the dog.  

Firehouse #69 -- July 5, 2013

This plaque hangs outside old Engine 2 at 460 Bush Street, which was built in 1908 and used by the Fire Department until 1970. I took the photo on 29-March-2013.

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2009/08/firehouse-22-august-3-2009.html

Firehouse #68 -- June 5, 2013

On May 13, I took a lunchtime walk by Third and Howard, where I used to work.  I found that former Station One, which had been the busiest station in the city, had been torn down.  The white building to the right of the hole will also be torn down to make way for an extension of the Museum of Modern Art, which looms in the background.  The Museum closed yesterday for two years.  I'm sad to see the station gone since I worked across the street for nearly twenty years and often had a window overlooking Howard Street.  . 

Firehouse #67 -- May 6, 2013

I worked across the street from Station One on Howard Street for almost 20 years.  During that time it became the busiest firehouse in San Francisco, and one of the busiest in the country.  The Museum of Modern Art wants to expand, so they built a new firehouse for Station One on Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  The Alley Cats moved in March.  I walked by on 01-April-2013 and found the old station was closed, with all exterior signs removed. The ghost of 1/SFFD remains above the center door. 

Firehouse #66 -- April 4, 2013

I worked across the street from Station One on Howard Street for almost 20 years.  During that time it became the busiest firehouse in San Francisco, and one of the busiest in the country.  The Museum of Modern Art wants to expand, so they built a new firehouse for Station One on Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  The Alley Cats moved in March.  I walked by Monday and the old station was closed, with all exterior signs removed.  A truck left the new station right after I walked by. 

Last night the Giants beat the Dodgers, taking two of the three games at Dodger Stadium.  Lincecum managed to go five innings and got the win.  

Firehouse #65 -- March 4, 2013

Station 33 on Capitol Street replaced old Station 33 (http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2012/11/firehouse-61-november-5-2012.html).  I took the photo on 10-January-2011.  

Firehouse #64 -- February 6, 2013

Pumping Station 1, at Second and Townsend, was built as part of the Auxiliary Water Supply System, which was designed to provide water to firefighters even if regular water mains broke, as they had during the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Pumping Station 1, along with Pumping Station 2 at the foot of Van Ness were built to supply bay water to the system if it was needed. Pumping Station 1 is also the headquarters of the San Francisco Fire Department. I took the photo on 24-March-2008.

Firehouse #63 -- January 6, 2013

Sacramento Number 3 was built in 1853. It was used as a firehouse until 1921. It is now a nice restaurant in Old Sacramento. I took the photo during our visit in July, 2012.

Firehouse #62 -- December 9, 2012

Daly City Fire Station 91 sits across Lake Merced Boulevard from Westlake Joe's.  The station was built in 1952.  I took the photo on Christmas Day, 2011. 

Firehouse #61 -- November 5, 2012

Engine 33 on Broad Street served as a firehouse from 1896 to 1974.  Note the hose drying tower.  Later it housed Fire Engine Tours (http://www.fireenginetours.com/). 

I took the photo on 10-January-2011.

It was very warm today.  

Firehouse #60 -- October 5, 2012

This year the firetruck was back in front of Disneyland's Toontown firehouse.  I like the dog that pops up in one of the windows.  I took the photo during our visit in July.

The Blue Angels were practicing yesterday and today.  We can't see much from the new office. 

The Cardinals were playing the Braves in Atlanta for the new one-game wild card playoff.  With two on and one out, a Brave hit a fly ball to the outfield.  Two Cardinal outfielders let it drop between them.  The crowd cheered until an umpire called the batter out.  The umpire on the left field line had called the infield fly rule.  The fans threw things on the field.  I'm surprised the Atlanta manager didn't get thrown out.  The Braves filed a protest.  Chipper Jones got an official scorer-aided infield hit in his last at bat.  The Cardinals won.  

Firehouse #59 -- September 5, 2012

My office is moving from the building I have been in for the past 20 years to another location closer to Market Street.  Each morning this week I have been walking a different route.  I will miss cutting through the alleys behind the Palace Hotel.  I will miss Yerba Buena Gardens.  I will miss working near Station One, the busiest firehouse in the city.  I took the photo this morning on my way to work. 

Firehouse #58 -- August 5, 2012

The town of Radiator Springs is the center of the new Cars Land in Disney California Adventure.  This structure, behind the statue of town founder Stanley, houses the traffic courts, the fire department, and the sheriff.  Red the Fire Truck moves around Cars Land.  Cars Land was fun.  I particularly enjoyed Luigi's Flying Tires.  I took the photo during our July visit.