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New Waynesboro Firemen's Hall cost $8,500 in 1900
Last week we spent some time looking at the loss of the Wolff Block in 1900. The fire devastated the businesses and offices held in that structure, with over $100,000 in losses, partially covered by insurance.
Today, I thought we'd pay tribute to the firemen who fought the fire by sharing the story of their new building completed in that same year.
The cut attached with this story is of our new Firemen's Hall, the first that has yet appeared in print. It is from a photograph made by W.W. Alrich, the jeweler and amateur photographer, this city.
This pretty building is now completed, with the exception of putting the gates on the stalls, fixing racks for the harness and stalls, making a trap door for the manure and a manhole for the Mechanics side of the belfry.
The building was erected by the American Mfg. Co. after designs made by Architect Woltz. The contract was awarded to this company August 4, 1899, the taxpayers having previously voted to increase the bonded debt of the borough for the purpose. Work began at once demolishing the old one story building and excavating for the foundation. The work was pushed vigorously forward and was practically completed early this season.
The building is 45 by 90 feet and 55 feet to top of belfry. The basement is arranged for storing wagons, feed for horses, etc. The first floor is divided into two apparatus rooms 20½ feet wide and running the length of the building. The room on the north is for the Mechanics Fire Co. and is provided with stalls for four horses in the rear. The second story is divided into two meeting rooms, front 18½ feet by 29 feet, two toilet rooms 8 by 16 feet, two cloak rooms 5 by 12 feet, and an assembly room back 42 by 49 feet.
The building is of brick with heavy walls and supports. The front is buff pressed brick with Indiana limestone trimmings.
The belfry is of attractive design and mounted thereon is a 1000-pound steel bell or gong for the fire alarm. This has been partially tested. As soon as the ropes are on the gong will be further tested. Preliminary tests are quite satisfactory, the gong being plainly heard all over town.
The building cost about $7,000, exclusive of the heating, lighting and other odds and ends. The lot cost $1,200, making a total expenditure, including everything, of about $8500.
The Am. Mfg. Co. are now fixing the stalls, trap doors, etc., and the firemen will be ready to take possession of their new quarters in a week or ten days.
The new hall will be formally dedicated with a grand firemen's parade some time this fall, presumably the first part of October. The movement to that end will begin with a meeting of the committee this evening.
Thus we are reaching the end of a movement that started first in an editorial in ZEPHYR December 31, 1898, and which was followed with prompt and unanimous action by council and by the hearty co-operation and support of the public in voting the necessary appropriation.
'Once Upon Our Times' is written by the Rev. Lee E. Daywalt, administrator of Preserving Our Heritage Archives & Museum, 11191 South Mountain Road, Fayetteville. It is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. until noon. For more information contact, him at archivesmuseum@hotmail. com or 717-762-2367.
This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: New Waynesboro Firemen's Building finished in 1900
