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of Old Central Fire Station |
An old postcard pictures the Central Fire Station, built in 1908, just east of City Hall on William Street. Photo taken from the post card book, Peerless Princess of the Plains. |
Wichita Fire Department Station
No. 1 was first located at 220 N. Market, but in 1906 it was
moved to a new central station built next to the city building
on William Street. The two-story stone structure contained horses
and fire apparatus on the ground floor. The bunk room was housed
on the second floor along with the office of Wichita's first
fire chief, A. G. Walden.
It used horse-drawn apparatus until 1911, when motorized equipment
began to replace the horses. In 1918, the last two fire horses
were sold.
In 1934, the fire department moved to new quarters, and the
building became the headquarters of the Wichita Police Department
and location of the city jail until the 1970s. The Sandra movie
theater was located next door east for many years.
The building was demolished in 1976 to make room for the present
Heritage Park.
Heritage Park now occupies the area that once was the site of the Central Fire Station and later the Wichita Police Department. |