WPBFD History

The old Central Fire Station just before closing in 1948. Note the Flagler Alert Bell on roof. The original building had a concrete dome-like structure protecting the bell. This was damaged in a hurricane and removed.

Station built in 1905. Austin Bennett remembered the old station fondly, "It was crowded and it was dirty and it was a mess, but I liked it anyway. We had a lot of fun there because there was a lot of people all around." Fran- ces Miller had a different view, ". . . we lived at that one at Datura and Dixie and ugh, that was nothing but an old building. Course, . . . that was there forever." In May of 1947 the Florida Legislature passed a bill reducing the maximum number of hours a fireman could work during each two week period from 168 to 144 hours. The bill, which had been initiated by local firemen, had the approval of the West Palm Beach City Commission. A new law concerning fire safety in hotels, apart- ment houses, rooming houses, and restaurants more than two stories in height was enacted by the State of Florida in the summer of 1947. The legislation specified that all occupancies of these types have at least two exits and fire escapes leading to ground level. West Palm Beach proposed a new charter in Sep- tember of 1947. One of the changes, removal of depart- ment heads from civil service status, precipitated Chief Sadler to turn in his resignation, effective September 30. The fireman's pension stated that "all members of the fire department who are members of the civil service as now, or as hereafter constituted, shall participate in the said fund." Sadler was concerned that his removal from civil

prosperity on the horizon for the entire nation. The city was rising to the occasion with plans for a new govern- ment center adjacent to the county courthouse in down- town West Palm Beach. An entire block between North Dixie Highway and North Olive Avenue from 1st Court to 2nd Street was cleared for the project. By 1947, the new Police Department and Municipal Court building had been completed at the east end of the block. City Hall was to be located in the middle of the block and a new Central Fire Station at the west end. When the new Central Station was first planned, Chief Sadler was either left out or his ideas were not well received. After being snubbed he would have nothing to do with the new station, even though he had been recom- mending one for twenty years. The chief stayed clear of the site while construction was underway. According to Frances Miller, "about the only time he went by there was when we moved in." The result was an improperly designed station that would require major changes over the years. When the department purchased a new Snorkel aerial truck in 1960, it was discovered that the apparatus was too tall to fit in the overhead door. The problem was solved by breaking up the concrete floor and lowering it six inches to obtain the necessary clearance. There were mixed emotions about the old Central

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