HISTORY AT A GLANCE

Immediately after the Savoy Hotel was destroyed by fire in September 1925, the Shelton Kiwanis Club, the Active Club and the town council held a meeting to discuss the need for better firefighting capabilities. At that time, Shelton had three hose carts, which had been delayed in arriving at the fire due to lack of practice on the part of the firefighting volunteers. It was decided that the town needed to acquire better equipment, including a motorized apparatus and a larger supply of hose, and that the volunteers should be reorganized.

Early in March 1927, Mayor Pritchard and the town council made a trip to Portland, Oregon, to investigate various makes and prices of firefighting apparatus. They specifically wanted a machine that was a combination chemical and pumper, with a 350-gallon tank and the hose and ladders needed for quick action. They also looked into several makes of fire alarm sirens, intending to have an alarm system installed when the new fire truck arrived in Shelton.

On March 4, Journal owner/editor Grant Angle wrote, "When the bright new fire apparatus comes to town, there will be many volunteers glad to 'run with the machine,' and reorganization of the volunteer workers will be in order. The American Legion, with members employed in each of the local garages, will have a number of men instructed in the care and operation of the new equipment to ensure a competent man within reach at all times."

In late March, the city received six bids to supply Shelton with its new firefighting equipment, ranging from $4,550 to $13,000, "the latter being the class which cities buy and out of the question for Shelton." The matter was referred to the Fire, Light, and Water Committee for study. Angle wrote that "Because Shelton has a good gravity pressure with which it has gotten along fairly well to date, it is thought that only moderate power will be required, and if the machine purchased will develop a throw of 300 gallons per minute or better, it will be sufficient to entitle this community to a 20 percent reduction in its insurance rates. Sufficient power is required in the motor to make any of the streets to the higher districts in good time and also to pump a good stream under the lighter pressure."

At a meeting four days later, the town council decided on a firetruck made by the Howard Cooper Company, costing $6,200. The machine would be specially built and delivered to Shelton in 45 days. It would include a standard pump rated at from 400 to 500 gallons a minute according to water supply, a special chassis, a 100-gallon water tank for emergency supply (instead of a chemical supply), ladders, hand chemicals, and other equipment to complete a first-class firefighting outfit.

Shelton's first fire truck, "the last word in modern fire-fighting apparatus," arrived on the evening of Thursday, June 23, brought by two representatives of the Howard Cooper Co., who stayed to supervise the breaking in and instruct the Legion men in the handling of the new truck. On Thursday, the machine underwent "a rigid six-hour test at the Shelton Spring and passed all of the tests, which were conducted by representatives of the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau."

The truck was equipped with a 48-horsepower motor that had a dual capacity for locomotion and pumping. Its pumping capacity of 500 gallons per minute was clearly brought out in the tests, the power engine throwing as high as 575 gallons. The truck bed accommodated 1,000 feet of 1½ inch hose. Twelve- and 24-four-foot extension ladders, two electric lanterns and four hand extinguishers completed the specified requirements, and with the arrival of a new electric fire alarm, Shelton's firefighting equipment was complete. The engine was put in the hands of the American Legion, and a crew was appointed to care for and operate it.

In July, Inspector Brawn from the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau of Seattle inspected and rechecked the local firefighting equipment. Water pressure in hydrants was found to be good in all locations. Mr. Brawn stated that Shelton was well-equipped to handle any fire call and that with all modern and up-to-date equipment, the fire hazard in the city and adjacent residential areas was greatly lessened.

Later in July, the "powerful electric siren with a raucous squawk that will surely wake everybody for miles around" was installed on the roof of the Peninsular machine shops. The volunteer fire department was out every Thursday evening with the new fire pumper and had made the rounds of all city hydrants to make sure everything was in order in case of fire in any direction.

In August, the old city jail on Cota between First and Second Streets was remodeled into an up-to-date fire station. Concrete partitioned cells were torn out to make one large room. "Double spring doors, with trap action, will be part of the new equipment and will conform with the latest ideas in station construction." The roof was remodeled to accommodate a skylight and a hose tower. Fire Chief Hans Jensen would have an office in the rear of the building.

At the end of September, fire broke out in the woodshed of a property on South Hill (Angleside) and very quickly spread to adjoining buildings including the house. The first warning was sounded by "the big whistle at the powerhouse," as well as locomotive whistles from the train yard. A slight defect in the button control of the new electric siren resulted in its delayed functioning, and the fire apparatus was already enroute to the fire when it sounded.

Although the fast-burning fire destroyed every building on the property, the new firetruck performed as expected and "Fire Chief Jensen and 15 volunteers soon had the flames under control."

■ Jan Parker is a researcher for the Mason County Historical Museum. She can be reached at [email protected]. Membership in the Mason County Historical Society is $25 per year. For a limited time, new members will receive a free copy of the book "Shelton, the First Century Plus Ten."