Rex and Laurel Fire Companies
You think traffic gets obstructed today by double parking and delivery vehicles? At least no one, as far as I know, has constructed a building smack dab on the street since 1908. How did the Rex Fire Truck end up residing there for two weeks?
Click here to read about one of the fires to which the Rex truck responded.
From the January 1, 1908 York Gazette:
“NEW REX TRUCK HOUSE BUILT IN THE STREET. APPARATUS WILL BE STORED HERE WHILE NEW FLOOR IS BEING LAID.
A fire truck house built out in the street is a unique thing for York just now. The work of laying a new floor in the Rex Truck house was begun yesterday by workmen employed by Contractor A. B. Kraft, and during the progress of this work, it will be necessary to keep the truck outside the regular truck room. There does not seem to be another available place and yesterday a temporary building was constructed on Duke street just outside the curb line and near the truck house, so that in case of emergency the truck men can readily hitch up and get to the scene of the fire.
The emergency truck house is frame with a canvass cover and it presents an odd sight to persons who pass that way. Several were heard to remark humorously yesterday that this is a city of curious things...the city can build a house out on the paved streets.
The new floor will be of asphalt, laid by William Crouse and Company, of Philadelphia, under the supervision of Mr. Craft, who was employed with that firm sixteen years. There will be a solid foundation of concrete. Over the cellar portion there will be strong eyebeams, a layer of concrete and then a layer of asphalt.
When it is done, inside of two weeks, the Rex boys will not only have a safe and substantial floor, but one which will enable them to scrub the truck without removing the heavy apparatus.”
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