WPBFD History

ida Fireman magazine detailed some of the history and capabilities of the West Palm Beach Fire Department. Chief Ray Larrabee's picture was featured on the cover with three bathing beauties posing on Aerial 2 (T-42). The article included a photo of an old thirty foot "city ser- vice" ladder truck parked next to the new seventy-five foot ladder (T-42). First aid equipment mentioned as still in use were an Emerson Resuscitator, a H. H. Inhalator, and a W. J. Millikin Iron Lung. The Women's Auxiliary was active during the year with a membership of twenty-five firemen's wives. Some of their projects included a monthly covered dish supper, entering a float in the Seminole Sun Dance Parade (using Lamont Albertson’s swamp buggy), an Easter egg hunt, donations of food to needy families, a dance, and a Christmas party. The group adopted the motto, "Step by step you go a long way." In the early morning hours of December 12, 1950, firemen were called to a blaze at the Twin City Waste Paper Company located at 1133 North Railroad Avenue. The fire burned furiously resulting in a complete loss to the building and its contents. An adjacent packing plant also received fire and smoke damage despite the efforts of forty-two firemen at the scene. 1951 Firemen spent March 7, 1951, at the scene of a ma- jor train derailment on the Florida East Coast Railway. A southbound freight train hit an automobile at the 54th Street crossing and dragged it to 28th Street before stop- ping. Eighteen freight cars were derailed and cross ties were destroyed along the twenty-six blocks of railway. The Women’s Auxiliary provided drinks, sandwiches and cigarettes for the weary firemen on the scene. At 4:30 in the afternoon the women hurried home to prepare for the Seminole Sundance Parade. Celeste Ward, Iona Maynard, Marion West, Deborah Purdum and Bee Sloan rode on the float which won Honorable Mention. Another change in the pension was made in April of 1951. The legislative act, sponsored by the city, tied the employee contribution to a percentage of the salary of top fire firefighter. Monthly pension payments were: 20 years $75, or 40% top firefighter 21 years $85, or 45% 22 years $95, or 50% 23 years $105, or 55 % 24 years $115, or 60% 25 years or more $125, or 65% Annual salaries for the 1950-51 fiscal year were: Chief $4,200

cation, but his knowledge of the physics and hydraulics relative to the fire service was renowned. He had a natu- ral mechanical aptitude and became an expert in the intri- cate construction of fire apparatus. Engineers from major apparatus manufacturers sought his advice in the design of pumps and other equipment. He was a man of action plying his tactical skills both on the fire ground and in training sessions. His one weakness was an utter con- tempt for paperwork and other office routines that were now becoming a necessary part of the chief's duties. The new chief was a gentle man, unlike his prede- cessor who had been a stern disciplinarian. Larrabee managed to maintain discipline by setting an example for others to follow. He was popular in the community with close friends from all walks of life. His small stature did not keep him from participating in sports. He was an avid bowler and played a fair game of golf, although he was considered by some to be a "show boat." Even after turn- ing sixty, Larrabee astonished firemen and spectators alike with his firefighting skills. Climbing the fully ex- tended 75 foot aerial ladder, he would swing himself over the top, and then climb down the underside. Another of his stunts was jumping into the life net from the roof of the 48 foot tall training tower. Chief Larrabee didn't wait long after his appoint- ment to extol the virtues of the fire department and ask for additional equipment. In the October 7, 1949, edition of the Palm Beach Times he said that the local fire insurance rates were as low as any city of comparable size in the United States. He added that the rates "probably would be still lower if the department had more modern fire- fighting equipment, such as small hand equipment." During the period from 1949 to 1952 there were no major fires in the city, but Chief Larrabee, being train- ing oriented, did not let his troops sit idle. He put the old wooden training tower to good use with regular drills. Certainly the improved training of personnel was a con- tributing factor in preventing serious fire loss in the ensu- ing years. 1950 The fire stations were often a place where people would come to "shoot the breeze.” One who frequented North Station was the Florida Power & Light troubleman assigned to the north end of West Palm Beach. Accord- ing to Austin Bennett, “He used [North Station] kind of like headquarters, come in and sit down . . . and we'd all have sweet rolls and coffee." Bennett also recalled W. W. Windsor, publisher of the well known Popular Mechanics magazine, stopping by when he was in town. "One time [Windsor] came over . . . and he says you guys decide what's going to be in the magazine next month." An article in the November 1950 issue of the Flor-

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