MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
SUNDAY. MARCH 17, 1963
Old Landmark of Yreka Is Being Torn Down
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COMING DOWN This old lire hall in Yreka originally
built In 1861 is being torn down. The above photo shows the
two-story hall before demolition work started. Robert Shultz
purchased the old station from the city and contracted Harold
Eddy to take it down.
By DORIS ROBINSON
Mail Tribune Correspondent
Yreka Another old land
mark of Yreka is being torn
down. It is the old fire hall
built in 1861 on West Miner
st., across the street from the
present fire hall.
A historical marker which
is placed in front of the old
hall reads: "No. 2 Engine
House was built in 1861 for
the Klamath Engine com
pany, one of three volunteer
fire companies in Yreka. This
building was used in 1931."
To go back in history, the
first organized effort to form
a fire fighting group for Yre
ka was in 1856. It was called
Siskiyou Hook and Ladder
company. This decision came
about after Yreka had suf
fered several disastrous fires,
one in 1852 which destroyed
most of the business district,
and another in 1854. There
was no water works or even
enough water to fight fires.
Organizes Department
The board of trustees orga
nized a fire department by
ordinance Sept. 7, 1857. The
fire company was able to
check another disastrous fire
on Miner St., and the grateful
citizens held a meeting and
decided to try and find fur
ther means of combating
fires.
The matter was taken up
with the city trustees and
they ordered a fire engine,
which was delivered early
that spring. The engine cost
$725, and 300 feet of hose cost
$600. The hook and ladder
company asked for the use of
the engine, but the board of
trustees decided to form
another company, So Yreka
Engine Company No. 1 was
formed Feb. 26, 1858.
The first officers of the fire
department were elected to
office for one year.
Fire Hall Burns
The fire hall burned in
May, 1859, and a new hall
was located on Fourth st. A
church bell was used to call
the fire company to a fire.
On Oct. 1, 1859, more hose
was purchased at a cost of
$226.87 plus four trumpets at
a cost of $48, then another
fire engine with two hose
carts and more hose which
cost $1,000 in freight charges
besides the purchase price.
In May, I860, Klamath En
gine Company No. 2 was or
ganized. A lot on Miner st
was purchased by the city in
December, 1860, for Engine
House No. 2. The fire bell
from Engine House No. 1 was
moved to No. 2. A tin roof
and belfry for the new bell
was built at a cost of $175.
Mrs. Pollock, curator of the
Siskiyou County museum,
lived as a child in a home
which adjoins the old fire
hall. She tells the story about
what a temptation it was for
her Jsimily to ring the fire
bell. The ropes were within
their reach and a few times
they were overcome by the
urge to ring the bell and a
tug on the rope caused a clang
of the bell and out came the
firemen. After that, the ropes
were put out of reach of small
hands.
Furniture Store
This home which adjoins
the fire hall was originally a
furniture store owned by Mrs.
Pollock's step - grandfather,
whose name was John Ram
mers. The Rammers lived in a
small residence on the east
and adjoining the store in
1875. Later the furniture
store was converted into the
Schultz home.
Mrs. Pollock's maiden name
was Schultz and her father
and all her brothers have
been firemen. Charles Schultz,
a brother, is the chief of the
Yreka Fire department at the
present time, and Robert
Schultz is a member of the
company.
The old fire companies had
mottos on silk flags. The mot
to for the Siskiyou Hook and
Ladder company was "We De-
story to Save." Motto for No.
1 company was "We Strive to
Save." Klamath Company No.
2 had as Its motto "When duty
calls we will obey."
Now this historic old build
ing is being torn down brick
by brick. Robert Schultz pur
chased it from the city and
has contracted Harold Eddy
to take it and the Schultz
home down since they have
deteriorated and become dan
gerous. The old historic items
from the fire hall have been
moved across the street to the
present fire hall. Some are on
display at the Siskiyou Coun
ty museum.
II
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PARTIALLY DEMOLISHED The old building on the right was once a furniture
Yreka fire hall is shown here as demolition store, but more recently was used as a resi-
work was in progress recently and the sec- dence.
ond story had been removed. The adjoining
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