History of the Santa Barbara Fire Department, 1874-1910

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Vol, XV, No. 2

Spring, 1969

Fnurl/i oj July parade, }P>85. Looking: north on State street from new “Clock Building." Recently acquired .steamer (extreme left). Pioneer pumper A'o. / in center, pulled by 20 volunteer firemen.

A HISTORY OF THE SANTA BARBARA FIRE DEPARTMENT, 1874-1910 E. L. Dartanner

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First horse-drawn fire tva{fon in Santa Barbara shown in front of the Old City Hall in De la Guerra Plaza.

The history of tlie Santa Barbara City Fire Department dates back less than a century but Santa Barbara didn’t need an organized fire brigade for many years.

Unlike cities throughout much of the United States, including Northern California, the quiet pueblo of Santa Barbara was not subject to major con flagrations. The principle construction of the buildings in the City was largely fire resistive adobe. Structures were not crowded together, and, with the yeararuund mild climate, the need for supplemental heating systems was not great.

Bv comparison, without fire protection, the average life of California towns with dense populations and was but four years

poorly constructed and crowded structures

Then the gringo came to Santa Barbara. With his coming he introduced the flimsy wooden structures. By 1870 State Street was a solid line of highly combustible structures, built with little regard for fire safety. There was no water supply for fire fighting purposes and there was no organized bucket brigade, much less an equipped fire department.

The first major fire in the City was recorded in the 1830’s when Captain Alpheus B. Thompson had constructed a store of redwood on State Street. ^John J. Haggerty, “Santa Barbara Fire Department History from 1874 to 1929” (un published thesis), p. I. —1—

The very day it was completed it was set afire by a mentally-ill paisano brickniaker. He saw a threat to his job with the introduction of wooden building materials. The store burned to the ground.^ The public was aroused when the American Hotel and an adjacent adobe house of Caspar Orena was burned in 1871, this being the first fire in six years.2 During the next year a volunteer fire company was formed, but it had no equipment and little organization. Complaints were loudly voiced by the populace in 1873 when only five volunteers responded to a fire call.^ An arsonist made unsuccessful attempts to fire the Court House on the nights of February 20 and 21, 1872. Six months later the Supervisors were aroused enough to offer a reward for the culprits, and decided to move the wood piled against the Court House walls.*’

Pioneer pumper No. 1, with Miss Belle Otl os Queen. Admission Day parade, September 9th, 1901. Photo from collection of Isaac Bonilla. ^ffalker A. Tompkins, “Santa Barbara Yesterdays: ’74 Blaze Began Fire Dcp't,” Santa Barbara News-Press, July I, I9f>2. ^Oiven H. O’Neill, History of Santa Barbara County (Santa Barbara: Meier Publishers, 1939).

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FIRST FIRE COMPANY The first fire company was formed in January, 1874, after leading citizens realized the need for an organized fire force. J. W. Rich was named foreman, and other officers included Olio Kaeding, first assistant, W. R. C. Brown, second assistant; Clarence Gray, president: W. H. Brady, secretary; and F. Salomon, treasurer. Their name; Pioneer Fire Company No. 1.

On March 15, 1874, an awe-struck populace watched helplessly as the new'ly completed St. Vincent’s Orphanage at Carrillo and De la Vina Streets burned to the ground. There was no equipment or water available to fight a fire. The Index truly reported that the newly organized fire company “brought nothing but anxious hearts and willing hands.”^ The townspeople joined together to help the Sisters of Charity rebuild the orphanage on the same spot, this time of brick. The building still stands and houses the Knights of Columbus and a dancing school.

Meanwhile, the Index and other local newspapers made timely appeals for adequate fire protection. Public opinion thus aroused, Mayor Cook was appointed to act as purchasing agent for the City with instructions to buy a fire pumper. The City Council also agreed to build an engine house, while some of the members of the fire company formed an amateur theatrical class to raise money for uniforms and other equipment. The acting may have been far from professional, but it was for a good cause, so performances were well-attended.^ THE UNIFORMS ARRIVE On October 5, the uniforms arrived. The members of the fire company were as eager as children at Christmas to don their red shirts with blue shields and badges with a figure “1” on them. Black trousers with black belts with the numeral on the buckle, and black caps with glazed covering completed the uniform.^ Then, on October 23, the KALORAMA from San Francisco slipped into port with the engine and hose carriage, purchased from Button and Blake of Watertown, New York. These were stored with great secrecy at the Wharf until November 6.'* The entire town turned out for the unveiling of the apparatus that fine Friday. The firemen met at Cook’s Hall in their new uniforms, and marched behind Signor Jose Lobero’s brass band to the Wharf, where the anxious residents waited.

The equipment was turned over to the firemen in official ceremonies.

The traditional speeches were made, including one by the Honorable Judge Maguire, who also presented the fire laddies with a silk banner as a gift mid.

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from the ladies of Santa Barbara^ Following the rites, all hands fell to be hind the brass band and they pulled their new fire engine home. A gala banquet followed, but not before the equipment was secure in its temporary home below the cabinet shop at 1218 State Street. 'I'he City Hall building was not yet finished.^ A few months later the equipment was moved to the newly completed City Hall, which included permanent facilities for the fire department. The next summer the City installed a huge fire bell in the tower of the City Hall at a cost of $347.^ For many years this bell not only summoned the firemen to an alarm, but it rang the 9 o’clock curfew to signal the youngsters home.

PIONEER COMPANY ESTABLISHES DRILLS Especially during its first few years, the Pioneer Company showed a great deal of enthusiasm and hard work. They held drills and meetings and, like most volunteer fire departments of the time, the company was also a social organization. Members were voted into membership, officers elected, and meetings usually ended in a game of cards. When they had a fire alarm, they displayed an eagerness and ingenuity that was unmatched, exemplified by a story told by Caesar Latsillade, a Company member, and handed down from generation to generation.

TOO MUCH enthusiasm: The Company’s magnificent disregard for all obstacles in the path to a fire response was shown when an alarm sounded for a fire on East Haley Street. The winter season had been a wet, rainy one and State Street had become a long strip of gooey mud, impassible for the heavy fire engine. Un daunted by the sight of the muck, the firemen dragged the equipment onto the board sidewalk and clattered noisily and wildly toward the blaze. Pedes trians scattered in all directions, as did projecting veranda posts, overhanging signs, and outside merchandise that was unfortunate enough to be in the way. The golden eagle adorning the front of the engine was broken off and lost in the shuffle, but the flames were doused with no extensive damage resulting from the fire.'* However, time and lack of activity began to take its toll and interest in the company began to lag. By 1881 there was little organized activity.

“Whereas, the City of Santa Barbara is now without an organized fire department, and whereas, we deem such an organization highly important and necessary for the safety and security of our citizens and property holders, we the undersigned residents of said city hereby agree to form and organize ourselves into a volunteer fire company.”^

mid. interview with I. A. Bonilla, Santa Barbara Historical Society, Santa Barbara, California, December 13, 1968. ^O'Neill. ^Tompkins, Santa Barbara News-Presi. maggerty, p. 3.

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FALSE ALARMS The Department had its share of false alarms, as was shown on the evening of March 15, 1883. At about 8 p.m. a red light illuminated the sky in the direction of the court house and immediately afterward alarm of fire was sounded. The light grew much brighter and the Fire Company boys hastened to the engine house and were proceeding with all speed to the scene of the disaster.- Crowds began filling the streets and people hurried to the rescue. But, nearing the location of the flame, they found that a peace ful citizen was burning some rubbish and had no intention of creating the excitement which he did. Everyone was breathless when stopped and told there was no danger. The Fire Department returned chagrined. The next day it was difficult to get anyone to acknowledge that there was a fire^ In November of 1884 a group of 25 young men called a meeting to organize a hook and laddercompany. They petitioned the Common Council for use of the truck then stored in the City Hall and not being used. They became the “Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder Company.”^ A few days before Christmas in 1884 a case of incendiarism occurred when someone attempted to destroy the Wells Fargo Company office. Prompt response by the fire crews saved the building, although many important papers were lost.^ Adam Ott, fire chief, wanted to revolutionize the Department by having a horse draw the hose cart.** This practice had been established by many Eastern Departments in the 1850’s.

WASHINGTON CO. DAYS SERVE WITHOUT PAY “The Washington Company occasionally would lose a house or store, but we never lost a lot,” recalled John De Ponce, one of the volunteers. “There was no pay, but insurance companies would get big-hearted once in a while ”5 and send us a box of cigars or a couple of barrels of beer.

The City Council, after the volunteer firemen threatened to disband, agreed to set aside 8100 per month to be divided among the men of the De partment.® This was certainly an incentive to remain active, as the volunteers were given a small sum for each drill and fire they attended.® On August 15, 1887, a new piece of equipment was delivered to the Washington Company. It arrived on the SANTA ROSA and was a hose cart that was made in San Francisco for exhibition at the Mechanic’s Institute Fair. Since Santa Barbara was in need of the cart, it was sold to the City before the fair. The two-wheel cart was painted red with gilt stripes and nickel-plated trimmings, and carried 800 feet of hose.^ 1“75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, March 15, 1958. ^“75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, Nov. 25, 1959. y‘75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barba'a News-Press, Dec. 22, 1958. ^‘^City Fire Groups' Histories Reveal Volunteers’ Spirit,” Santa Barbara News-Press, June 29, 1960. ^Article, Santa Barbara News-Press, April 25, 1954. ^Haggerty, p. 9.

7“7S Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, August 16, 1962.

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WASHINGTON CO. NO. 2 ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 22, 1882 The Preamble of the Constitution of the Washington Fire Company No. 2 denotes a rekindling of interest in the fire department.

The charter members of the George Washington Company No. 2, formed on Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1882, were the following well-known early-day Santa Barbarans: E. C. Boeder, president; Adam Ott, fire chief; J. J. Eddleman, D. Frank Hunt, J. T. Johnson, E. Gillitte, G. W. Canada, William Sprowl, G. W. Leland, Mr. Cisto, C. Valensuella, George Helmer, C. H. Kelton, and R. C. Ord, members.

Following this reorganization, the City acquired a new piece of fire fighting apparatus, an American La France steam pumper from Schenectady, New York.

Typical of the rules governing the fire fighters was Article 3 of the By-Laws of the Washington Company. It read, “In case of fire the first two members arriving at the engine house shall be entitled to the pipes.” Many oldtimers can recall the rivalry and resulting battles that were caused by this regulation; often the fighting over the nozzle positions went on while the fire in question burned out of controP The Washington Company’s parade uniforms were blue shirts, black trousers, white and red leather belts with the name of the company on the back, and black leather helmets adorned with a gold eagle on the front. These uniforms were reserved for festive occasions and holiday parades, and rarely worn to actual fires.^ WOODEN WATER MAINS A water system, of sorts, had been installed in about 1880, using wooden water mains fed from the Old Mission’s reservoir.^ Eventually, a series of cisterns and wells provided water sources for fire fighting purposes.

The Washington Company was to remain active and eventually become the City Fire Department we know today. The volunteer firemen of the Washington Company held frequent drills, usually in the evening and fre quently witnessed by a sizeable group of townspeople. The steam engine could throw a stream of water over a building half a block away but being practical people, the firemen put the sessions to good use by using the water to wash off the sidewalks and wet down the dusty streets — especially the corner of State and Ortega Streets, where the deep dust had long been an annoyance. ^ These drills were not without casualties, either. During a drill held in mid-August, 1884, two firemen received injuries: one man got his left hand caught in the cog-wheels of the hose carriage, causing a few bruises to his hand, and another man was struck across the bridge of the nose by a lever of the same vehicle.^ "^Haggerty, p. 4.

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*^“75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, June 29, 1960.

5‘75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, Aug. 21, 1959.

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Old City IlalL located in the center of what ha^ become De la Guerra Plaza.

Contained Police Department, Fire Department and Council Chambers. Built in 1872 and demolished in 1924.

The issue of the need for horses to speed the delivery of fire equipment to fires was again called to public attention by the Press after a fire on Cota Street in April, 1888. More than half an hour had elapsed between the time the alarm was sounded and the steamer reached the scene of the Fire. By this lime the building had burned to the ground and all the firemen could save was the lot. The loss by this one fire would buy a team of horses and pay their keep for many years. A steam engine, without any means of getting it to the scene of the fire, is of very little use,” the Press reported.^ Before the engine could be moved, it was necessary to recruit enough musclepower to drag it to the fire and often the firemen were exhausted by the time they reached the blaze. It was not an uncommon sight to see the big steamer pulled by Chinamen and other non-firemen who had come to the call for aid.^ HORSES TO DRAW EQUIPMENT As a result of the public arousal the City did purchase a team of white horses to pull the equipment. Teamsters and express companies, which waited at State and Ortega Streets to make pick-ups and deliveries at the wharf, were encouraged to accept free lodging at the firehouse in return for the use of their horses to pull the hook and ladder or hose cart. If no team was 1“75 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, April 28, 1968. ^Haggerty, p. 4.

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available the first transfer company or livery stable team to arrive at the station would be given the job of pulling the rest of the equipment^ In 1891 the Department had 54 members. This figure would fluctuate, as members could be dropped from the rolls for non-attendance at fires or drills, as well as for disciplinary purposes.^ In 1895 the Department logged a dozen calls, and this number nearly doubled the next year.^ CITY’S FIRST FIRE ALARM SYSTEM The City’s first fire alarm system was placed in service in February, 1891. There were eight alarm boxes and keys to the boxes for turning in an alarm were kept at the three houses or stores nearest the boxes. These boxes were connected electrically to the City Hall. By 1903 the Gamewell electric alarm system had 34 station boxes, serving a population of 8,500.'* In 1906 the first record of a fully organized fire department can be found. The Department had a chief, John R. Dugan; an assistant chief, a captain, a lieutenant, a driver, and 14 hosemen.^ During this year provisions were made to have three men sleep in the fire station, providing for the first time a crew of men housed in the station at all times. Prior to this time teamsters were encouraged to stay in the station, in return for the use of their horses.^ The Department had on inventory a steam engine, two hose wagons, two hose carts, one hook and ladder truck, two horses, plus mis cellaneous fire equipment and furniture, including 2,500 feet of hose and six fire extinguishers.^ Drills were still held by the volunteers and the elapsed time between the sounding of the alarm and the arrival of the crew was remarkably fast, varying from two and one-half to five minutes. However, old-timers recall, with a twinkle in their eyes, that the volunteers were usually warned of the day picked for the drill and they made it a point to gather at the corner of State and De la Guerra Streets. As soon as the bell sounded, they would dash the half-block to the engine house.® The Fire Department journals of this time show that a majority of the fires resulted from faulty heating furnaces and coal oil stoves, over-turned lamps, and, most commonly, accumulations of soot in chimneys and flues.

Clumps of pampas grass, growing abundantly in various parts of the City, were continually catching fire, necessitating numerous calls. "^Bonilla,

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^Haggerty, p. 6. ^Article, El Barbareno (Santa Barbara), February 1, 1896. ^Haggerty.

Haggerty, p. 6.

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In 1909 the first district fire station was estal)lished when llie Oak Park Fire Station was opened at Castillo and Padre Streets. It was manned by volunteer.s and the City Department was able to donate some ecpiipment. including a hose cart and miscellaneous fire appliances.^ ARLINGTON HOTEL BURNS On a warm summer evening, Sunday, August 15, 1909, Santa Barbara residents heard the call of “FIRE” to summon them to the great Arlington Hotel. Since 1875 this hotel had been the hub of Santa Barbara’s elite tourist society. It stood on State Street between Victoria and Sola Streets — a threestory, 90-room hostelry which was famous all over America. The volunteer firemen worked frantically under Chief John Dugan’s direction to strip the ground floor lobby, foyer, banquet hall, and bar and billiard rooms of their valuable contents,^ for the fire had such headway little attempt was made to extinguish it. The estimated loss was $69,000, but the hotel was subse quently rebuilt, and continued to rein as “Queen of Pacific Coast Hotels” until the earthquake of June, 1925, when it was totally destroyed.^ The presence of the Fire Department in the City Hall was to cause a few problems during this era. Police Judge E. A. Rizor recommended to the City Council that alterations be made to the City Hall and that the courts be given separate facilities. As it was, the Fire Department was located on the other side of the partition from the court room and whenever the alarm sounded the “fire team is hitched up and makes a clatter that forces sus pension of court proceedings and tries the nerves of the lawyers and magis trate.”'’ It was also noted that “the department will need more room for ex pansion when the new automobile combination chemical and hose truck arrives.”5 In 1910 the beginning of a new era began for the City Fire Department.

It received its first piece of motorized apparatus, a Pope-Hartford hose wagon, carrying forty gallons of chemical (soda and acid solution similar to that used in hand fire extinguishers today), several small hand fire ex tinguishers, and hose. This truck remained in service until 1929.^ The days of the hand-drawn hose cart and horse-drawn steamer were rapidly coming to an end in Santa Barbara. Many an “old-timer” fought the gasoline powered appartus, but it was here to stay. The modern Santa Bar bara Fire Department, with its fleet of polished fire engines and its crew of highly trained professionals, is a far cry from the City Fire Department of yesteryear — a far cry from the fire bells, white horses, and leather helmets. "^Ibid, p. 7. ^Walker A. Tompkins, Santa Barbara Yesterdays (Santa Barbara: Heritage Printers, Inc., 1962), p. 55. ^Haggerty, p. 8. ^“50 Years Ago Today,” Santa Barbara News-Press, Jan. 16, 1960.

5Ibid. ^Haggerty, p. 9.

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A'eu’ Fire Station, personnel and equipment, Chapala street near Carrillo, September, 1923. Personnel, L. to R.: Chief A. H. Cooley, D. H. “Pop” Allen, Joe Phillis, Bill Jamison, Frank Stronach, Louie Corp, Vincent Leyva, Hoivard Hunter. E. P. Mitchell, and “Shorty” Durlin. Equipment: Dodpe, I^ope Hart ford, American La France, Seagrave pumper, and Seagrave 65-foot aerial.

J^hoto from collection of Isaac Bonilla.

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SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF A RETIRED DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF

By Isaac A. Bonilla What was it like to be a Santa Barbara fireman back in the early 1920’s?

Well it was both thrilling and hard work. Hard work because as always we never had the manpower we needed when the going was rough. When the fire and excitement was over the mopping up was to be done, all the willing hands that are present at the outbreak of a fire have gone home to get dry. Not so with the boys on the end of the hoses. Mopping-up operations to prevent a rekindle is always a dirty and unglamorous job. Cold and often times wet to the skin, aching in every muscle, it was necessary to stay with it all night and often into the next day.

I became a “Fire Buff’ in 1916 when, as a young boy, I had a job as a messenger boy for Postal Telegraph. The telegraph office backed up to De la Guerra Plaza, and as the City Hall, Fire Department and Police De partment were all in our backyard, so to speak, it was natural for the boys at Postal to be in the firemen’s way most of the time.

I was particularly enamoured of the shiny red “Pope-Hartford” hose and chemical wagon. The ladder truck, (65 ft. Seagrave) and triple combi nation pumper, (also a Seagrave), were painted white and did not interest me near as much as the old, red Pope-Hartford. All engines in those days had open exhaust pipes and would go roaring down the street spewing flame and smoke like demons. Besides a bell that was rung by one of the men on the rear, a hand operated siren was operated by a man up front, either the captain or an extra man riding beside him.

My first position when I went to work steady on the Fire Department was to ride the side of the large pumper and wind this siren. If we saw when we pulled out of the station that the fire was a worker, that is, billowing smoke, I would wind that siren so hard often-times that I would be exhausted when we finally arrived at the fire.

WORKED AS “FIRE BUFF As a “Buff” before joining the department as a paid employee I had worked many large fires and real good “workers.” One of my first dangerous fires was “Ewings” sporting goods in the 900 block of State Street where Bill Jamison and I had a line on the roof and under us the ammunition started to explode. Another wild one was at the corner of De la Guerra and State streets, where the Balboa Building is now. There were drugs and chem icals on fire there and the fumes were very bad. That was one where we were wet and cold and I remember Mr. Leo Parma brought us some hot coffee and doughnuts. This fire took out a quarter of the block and was stopped at Parma’s. Of course the real big worker we fire “Buffs” remember was the Potter. I watched the old Arlington Hotel burn down but I was too young to participate in that one.

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IIOTFX POTTER BlIRNS The Potter was a slow fire; that is, it started at tlie top and ])unied down for some time, and then after getting into the elevator shafts it really started to go good. I was delivering groceries when I saw that fire start. I parked ray truck on Montecito street and the railroad tracks and started in the back way. I wonder to this day that witli an open truck loaded with groceries that I never lost one package. I was there until the early evening.

I had grabed a one-quart Pyrene extinguisher off my truck and though I helped remove countless art objects from the galleries in the lobby, I never laid the extinguisher down and still had it after some three hours of hard work. What I intended doing with that little thing I never could figure out.

I worked a large number of forest fires before I became a regular fire man. When forest fires broke out in those days all the able bodied young men would sign up to go out on the line and help out. I even quit my job once to fight a fire in the upper Oso that had jumped the river and was coming back towards the city.

Fire fighting had done its work and by 1925 when we had our earthquake, I was determined to somehow to become a fireman. I was very thin, then, only 117 pounds, but I was tall and I thought if I could put on weight I could make it. I applied to Chief Cooley and he in his gruff voice told me to forget it. The Chief said however he would keep me in mind and if an opening came up he would call me in for an interview. Two years went by and the produce house 1 was working for went broke. This was in 1927 and the council had allowed the Fire Department four new men. Chief Cooley called me up and asked me if I was still interested in being a fireman. I was on cloud nine.

FIRST DUTY IN 1927 I went on duty July 1st, 1927, at Central Station, (brand new then at 921 Chapala St.) on B” shift. I was assigned to ride siren on the pumper and my first worker was a fire out on the wharf. This was a hard fire to get to and was my initiation into what was to become a profession with me.

As is the usual procedure I was put on probation for the first six months and as I was well known to most of the fellows my hazing was a pleasure to most of them. This hazing was all in good fun and is a necessary thing to weed out the soreheads and those who couldn’t take it. When working as a team of only three men and each life depended on the other it was of great importance that the crew be in one accord. We had to think alike, work alike, and talk alike.

Some of the tricks I can tell about but most of them were for men only.

Firemen in those days were made up of a real tough breed of men. We had ex-coal miners, G.I.’s, boxers, horse wranglers and truck drivers. These fel lows, as I look back now, were the real salt of the earth. They had hearts of — 12 —

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gold and were as rough as ihev come. I remember wlien I became acting Captain in one of the stations I had a disagreement with one of my men who had been a circus man and was an amateur boxer. We had come to lihnvs and I received a large “goose-egg” on my forehead, we siiook liamls and went on about our business and who should walk into the station but the Chief. Chief Cooley had a way of always knowing when trouble was afoot.

The Chief said “what the hell has been going on down liere.” I answered, U

nothing at all Chief, we just had a friendly discussion.” (Friendly, willi a knot on my head the size of an egg). Chief Cooley chewed his pipe for a second, (he always had a pipe in his mouth), “well,” he said, “why in Indl didn’t you wait for me to get here before you settled your discussion. I would of liked to seen it; now get to work all of you and polish that rig from one end to tiie other,” this for punishment for fighting on the job. of course.

COULD SENSE A FIRE One got so he could sense a good fire either from the tone of voice of the caller or from the weather. One day it started blowing real hot from the east and “Ole” Hunter and I were working on a gun in the shop when U

Ole” said, “Ike we’re going to get a good one this afternoon.” Sure enough within an hour we rolled on a red buster, and when the Captain said “lay in!” you could see her going through the roofs of a string of six garages with cars in them.

The practice before the job of firefighting became an art, was to bust open the door and go in with a big line if any smoke was showing at all, wave the nozzle around inside and when you felt water running out ankledeep around you, you figured the fire was out. This led to embarrassment at times. One incident I remember w'as on lower Anacapa street. I was on Engine Co. No. 2, out of Haley St. station and when we arrived the black smoke was rolling out the front door. We laid a line and broke down the door and went in. Was I shocked w’hen I shut down the line and found out the fire was in a waste basket made of some rubber-like substance that emitted a lot of smoke but no fire!

Another humorous incident that I remember well was that of a bad fire on the lower west side. A woman had been smoking and set fire to her bed. The fire was going good and Karl Saunders and I were first in. We had to argue with a dog to get into the room where the fire was centered and when we got there, a woman, quite heavy, was unconscious on the bed. We had to lift her over the burning bed and to make it more difficult she was plumb naked. Her body was covered with perspiration and was very slippery.

It was a struggle to get her out and I felt W'e were lucky she was still alive.

We laid her on the front lawn and proceeded to give her oxygen. There was no one we could send for a blanket as the rest of the crew were busy getting — 13 —

the fire under control. After about five minutes of treatment the woman came 99 U

to and said to me, “my gosh but I am cold,

You ought to be,” I said, “you

haven’t got a stitch on.” She looked up at me and what a look! All she could say was “my gosh! what will the neighbors say!”

MANY ACTS OF HEROISM There were many acts of heroism performed by my comrades in the everyday job of putting out fires that went unnoticed and unheralded. I well remember Roland Wilder going into a house on Mission Street looking for a fire victim and coming out with his fire coal burned off his back. I think one of the real acts of bravery I remember best was when I was a rookie seeing Chief Cooley go into the buildings of Chinatown, when it burned, to make sure all of the old Chinamen were out. Chinatown had been more or less abandoned when it was set off three times in succession before it finally went, but some of the real old timers had refused to leave.

I saw my fill of tragedies too., what with suicides with gas that would explode and children playing with matches.

My memories of the worst fire to fight were the city dump fires and the pampas fires. I have worked on a dump fire where Laguna Park is now for three weeks and I bet if one was to dig down deep under the ballpark right now you would find it still burning. We pumped water from the De la Guerra wells at 750 gallons per minute for three weeks on that fire and never did get it out! It w’as finally covered with sand to put it out. The pampas grass was another hard one to extinguish. The area bounded by Chino and Gillespie, Micheltorena and Valerio was all in pampas grass and a haven for rats. About once a year kids playing with matches, so they said, would set this area off. It was probably the people in the neighborhood who were trying to get rid of the rats, and not the kids, that set it off.

Firefighting becomes a challenge to one after a while and though the picture is the same on all “workers” the frame is different and no two fires are alike. Soon the challenge becomes a personal thing and one looked for ward to a good worker, not for the thrill of the fire but the satisfaction of being able to cope with it and beating it at its own game.

Firefighting has become a science now and today’s firefighter is a college man. He sizes up a worker now from a standpoint of a chemical re action taking place whereby the flame is nothing more than the visible effect of a chain reaction starting with oxidation.

To me, the fellow on the end of the nozzle where the fire is the hottest, will always be tobacco-chewing Louie Corp, an old hard rock miner, or “Pop” Allen, so tough he used to shave every morning with cold water. These were men, real men; men that really stood above the clouds of everyday life and could be counted on at any time.

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A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF SOME MAJOR FIRES IN SANTA BARBARA

By J. J. Haggerty 1874, March 15. St. Vincent’s School, an orphanage built in 1869, caught fire and was totally destroyed. The building stood near the corner of Carrillo and De la Vina streets.

1908. The Elks Club building, at the corner of Figueroa and State street, was heavily damaged by a fire that taxed the facilities of the crew of volun teers and callmen that composed the Fire Department of that period.

1909. On a warm summer evening, the 15th of August, the world-famous Arlington Hotel was partly destroyed by a fire that broke out at 7 o’clock, and kept the horse and buggy firemen of that day engaged until far into the night.

1913, March 27. Los Banos del Mar was destroyed by fire as recorded in the Fire Department log book of that day.

Santa Barbara’s famous “Los Banos del Mar,” bath house built at the foot of Castillo Street at West Cabrillo Blvd. near the site of today’s Munici pal plunge, was for years the center of attraction for tourists as well as the townsfolk. Here was housed a large bowling alley and a sumptuous swim ming pool. The elaborate band stand built in the front of this edifice was one of the building’s best features, for from this stand some of the nation’s most prominent military bands gave concerts for the listening pleasure of early day Santa Barbarans.

1920, May 26. Johnston’s Cafeteria in the 900 block of State street broke out in a blaze that threatened the entire block. Ewing’s Sporting Goods Store with its stock of live ammunition exploded! Santa Barbara’s two small fire companies worked, with the aid of hundreds of civilian volunteers, until late into the night quelling this costly fire.

1921, April 13. The famous old luxury hotel, the Potter, later called the Ambassador, caught fire during an off-shore gale in the afternoon and was totally destroyed, bringing to an end its nearly 20 years of dominance among the fine tourist hotels of California. While two exposure fires were started from embers blown on to Stearns wharf by the wind, it was fortunate that the gale was not from the south or the southeast, for if it had been so, it is likely that the entire city would have been consumed by flames. Considering that the Fire Department consisted of but two engines at the time, the men did a remarkable job in preventing the fire from consuming scores of build ings nearby.

1922. Early on the morning of October 22, the Williams building at De la Guerra and State street was destroyed by a spectacular fire which taxed the fire-fighting force of that day to its limit.

1923, Fel)ruary 17. The Fire Department dispatched a pumping company to the assistance of Gaviota, where the Associated Oil company plant was on fire. Soda and acid chemical were used and the fireman’s clothes suffered.

Associated Oil Co. replaced the crew’s turnouts and shoes.

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1924, November 15. This was a sad day for the Santa Barbara Transfer company at De la Guerra between Chapala and State street, when their buildings were destroyed with a loss of approximately 3100,000. A large quantity of matches was stored here, which fed the flames.

1927. The Santa Barbara Lumber company, at the foot of State street, was destroyed by a fire with a loss of $90,000.

1928. In November, the Congregational Church at the corner of State and Sola streets caught fire and burned to the ground destroying one of Santa Barbara’s beautiful old landmarks.

1932. Santa Barbara’s skating rink on lower Castillo street was completelv leveled by an early afternoon fire. Fortunately there was no one in the building and there were no injuries, but the structure was beyond salvaging even when the fire was discovered.

1941. Four days after the entrance of the United States into World War II. Santa Barbara firemen were called to control a fire in the Ambrose Lumber Co. yard which started under mysterious circumstances the night of Decem ber 11th, while the City was shrouded in one of its first “blackouts.”

John. D. (JaeJe) Ross, son, of Police Chief James Ross (later Sheriff) taken at the age of 11 years, in 1917. His first law-enforcement job was with the County-State traffic division (later abandoned) in 1925, at the age of 19.

He ivas hired by his father, the late James Ross, then Sheriff, as Under Sheriff, in 1927. In January of 1946 he became Sheriff, in which position he served until 1962 when he retired.

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SANTA BARBARA’S EARLY LAW ENFORCEMENT 1800 TO 1900 HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPARTMENT 1900 TO 1960

By Lt. John M. Murphy The first known records of Santa Barbara’s law enforcement problems was when the pirate, Captain Hippolyle de Bouchard, anchored off Santa Barbara after attacking and plundering Monterey in 1818. They left after two days when Don Jose de la Guerra, the Commandant, made a display of strength by gathering several men and marching them back and forth on the beach.

The next major incident was when a retired army man named Jack Powers turned bandit making his home in Santa Barbara and passing off as a respectable man, when he was a California robber, working from San Diego to San Francisco.

After the Powers incident, the story reached Santa Barbara that a band of men killed a family of thirteen who had some mined gold at the Mission San Miguel and were headed this way. A posse of men from Santa Barbara captured the murderers in Sumerland after they shot and killed one of the posse, Jose Jesus Rodriquez. The murderers confessed their guilt and were taken to Santa Barbara and shot on the West side of State Street near Canon Perdido Street.

Later there was trouble with the Indians from the Tulares where Bakers field now stands, who stole cattle and horses in the Santa Barbara area.

The Santa Barbara crime problems were taken care of for many years by a Town Marshal.

FIRST POLICE FORCE On January 1st, 1900, the first police force was formed when Mayor Charles A. Storke appointed Daniel W. Martin the first Santa Barbara Police Chief. Some of the first men to serve on the police force at that time were Jack Fullington, Charles Ruiz, Arthur Stevens, Floyd Stewart, Pat Wood and Joe Wiley. For transportation they had one bicycle and a horse and buggy. Chief Martin had been Town Marshal before he was appointed Chief.

He died in office February 8, 1902.

On April 1, 1902, Mayor George Edwards appointed James Ross Chief of Police. Ross served as Chief until December 31, 1917, when he was ap pointed Sheriff. In 1914 the Police Department got its first automobile, a Ford touring car. Some of the men who served with Ross were Anthony Lima, T. Lavery, Nels Wade and Sgt. McGillivray as well as the aforementioned officers.

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The next Chief was Sam Kelley who was appointed January I, 1918, and served to November 1, 1918; when Lester Desgrandchamp was appointed Chief and served until March 1, 1920; when William Wall was appointed and served until February 1, 1923, when he resigned and went to the Probation Department. Lester Desgrandchamp was again appointed Chief and served until November 18, 1926, when he resigned and went with the County High way Patrol, forerunner of the California Highway Patrol, where he served as Captain. Sam Kelley was again appointed Chief and served until November 19, 1927, when he retired on pension.

George Sloan was then appointed Chief by the first Police and Fire Commission, composed of Tom Dugan, George Giovanola and Francis Price.

This Commission as well as the first Police Pension came into being as a result of the charter change voted in on November 16, 1926.

The only bank robbery until the 1960’s occured on March 7, 1931, at 12:30 P.M. when the County National Bank was held up by an armed bandit who obtained $48.00 from Malcom Jones, a bank teller, at gun point. (Police case no. 17544). The bandit escaped East on Carrillo Street on foot and was eventually identified and caught.

FIRST RULES & REGULATIONS The first written rules and regulations were made up December 5, 1928, under the direction of the commissioners, Edward L. Abbott, George Giova nola and A. B. Watkins.

The first written examination was given October 24, 1928, and the first eligible list of available men who passed was set up on December 11, 1928, under the same Commission.

George Sloan served as Chief until March 15, 1934, and was replaced

by Jesse A. Butts, who served as Chief until June 1, 1935, when he was re moved from office at midnight by Mayor E. 0. Hansen, who also removed every department head in the City at the same time.

Marion M. Wilson, who was a Motorcycle Officer at the time, was put in office by Mayor Hansen and was later approved by Mayor Hansen’s Commission, namely: Mervin McGregor, Dr. Van Paingo and Harry Harris.

Marion Wilson was removed from office by Mayor Hanson on April, 1936, who at the same time appointed William J. Garrity. Garrity’s appoint ment was also confirmed by Mr. Hansen’s Commission comprised of Dudley Thompson, Jesse Carrillo and Mr. McCullogh.

William J. Garrity served as Chief until October 10, 1938, when he was replaced by Thomas H. Keating who got a temporary appointment until an examination could be held for Chief. F. Fred Hoelscher was appointed Chief on February 1, 1939, and served until July 17, 1943, when he joined — 18 —

tJie U.S. Army. L. R. Greeson was appoiiil(M] Ciiief on July UJ, 1943, and served unlil February 1, 1946, when Hoelscher relumed and was reapiiointed Chief, February 1, 1946. Hoelscher served until August 26, 1947, when he was replaced by Kodrich E. Noonan on that date. Noonan served as Chief until November 1, 1952, when he was replaced by R. W. Cooley, who served as Chief until January 23, 1959, when he took the job of Assistant Chief. He was replaced in the Chief’s Office by Don I. Gautliier.

Chief Gauthier served until August, 1961, and Reginal W. Cooley was appointed acting chief from August 21st, 1961 to February, 1962. William G. Hague (the first non-resident) was appointed Chief on February 1st, 1962. He was succeeded by Albert C. Wade who served from March, 1963 to July, 1964, when, on July 1st, the present (1969) Chief was appointed. Jack

C. Hawe.

A HOME FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS In 1851 the town Council found out that the Marshal was making no arrests because he had no jail to keep the prisoners, so the Council instructed the Marshal to rent some rooms to use as a jail and office.

At about the same time Governor Mason sent S500.00 to Santa Barbara

by Joaquin Carrillo to build a jail, but the town Council w'as never able to get the money from Carrillo as late as January 14th, 1860, they were still trying to collect but there is no record of it ever being collected or what happened to the S500.00.

The next home of law enforcement officers in Santa Barbara was the old City hall built in the late 1870s in the center of what is now De la Guerra Plaza. This was used until February 1st, 1924, when the police department moved into the basement of the present City Hall where they remained until December, 1960.

THE NEW POLICE BUILDING In May, 1957, a bond was voted by the people to build a new police building, the amount of the bond was for $817,000.00 and in 1959 a con struction contract was let to build at 215 East Figueroa Street.

The building was completed and occupied on December 8th, 1960, and dedicated on January 12th, 1961, the principal address being given by former Mayor John T. Rickard from the front steps of the new building. The Cali fornia Bear flag was presented by the N.D.G.W. and was raised by Officer Geo. W. Koehler and Lieut. John M. Murphy.

On December the 6lh, 1960, the building was blessed by Father Eugene Burnett OFM assisted by Father Thaddeus Kreye OFM of the Santa Barbara Old Mission; ushers for the occasion were Chief Don Gauthier and Sergeant Joe Correa.

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CHARLES RUIZ

ARTHUR STEVENS

PAT WOODS

FLOYD STEWART

JOE WILEY 1905 20

SANTA BARBARA POLICE CHIEFS Daniel W. Martin appointed as the first Santa Barbara Police Chief on January 1st, 1900, died in office February 8th, 1902. He had served as Town Marshal prior to being appointed Chief.

James Ross was appointed Chief April 1st, 1902; served as chief until December 31st, 1917, when he was appointed Santa Barbara County Sheriff.

Sam Kelley appointed January 1st, 1918, served until November 1st, 1918.

Lester Desgrandcharnp appointed November 1st, 1918, served to March 1st, 1921.

William Wall appointed March 1st, 1920, served to February 1st, 1923.

Lester Desgrandcharnp reappointed February 1st, 1923, served to No vember 18th, 1926.

Sam Kelley reappointed November 18th, 1926, until November 19th, 1927.

George Sloan appointed November 19th, 1927, served to March 15,1934.

Jess A. Butts appointed March 15th, 1934, served to June 1st, 1935.

Marion M. Wilson appointed June 1st, 1935, served to April 2nd, 1936.

William J. Garrity appointed April 2nd, 1936, served to October 10th, 1938.

Thomas fJ. Keating appointed October 10th, 1938, served to February 1, 1939.

F. Fred Hoelscher appointed February 1st, 1939, served to July 17th, 1943, when he went into the U.S. Army.

L. R. Greeson appointed July 18th, 1943, served to February 1st, 1946.

F. Fred Hoelscher reappointed February 1st served to August 26th, 1947.

R. E. Noonan appointed August 26th, 1947, served to November 1st, 1952.

R. W. Cooley appointed November 1st, 1952, served to January 23rd, 1959.

Don I. Gauthier appointed January 23rd, 1959, served to August 21st, 1961.

R. W. Cooley appointed (acting) August 21st, 1961 to February, 1962.

Wm. G. Hague appointed February 1st, 1962. (Hague was the first non resident to be appointed chief.)

Albert C. Wade appointed March, 1963 to July, 1964.

Jack C. Hawe appointed July 1st, 1964.

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ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS MISS LOU DARTANNER has made an exhaustive study of the Santa Barbara Fire Department, as is evident from her excellent article. She served as Secretary of the Fire Department under the late Chief C. L. Tenney and is now active with the Civil Air Patrol.

CAPTAIN JOHN J. HAGGERTY has contributed much valuable re source material on the Fire Department both to NOTICIAS and to the Museum Library. For years he has consistently taken photographs of the Department personnel and equipment. Though now retired, he has never lost his enthusiasm and keen interest in all things connected with his former associates and their business.

ISAAC BONILLA is a Santa Barbara pioneer whose ancestors have been involved in local affairs since the days of the Spaniards. A sixth gen eration Santa Barbaran, his personal reminescences as a professional fire fighter have lent color and charm to this issue of NOTICIAS. With his wife, Joy, sister of the late Fire Chief Tenney, he devotes endless hours as vol unteer in the Museum’s Gledhill Library.

LIEUTENANT JOHN M. MURPHY graciously agreed, to research the Police Department records and to submit for our publication the history of Law Enforcement in Santa Barbara. We are also indebted to him for the illustration accompanying his article. He joined the police force on November 1st, 1935, making 331/2 years of continuous service. He is currently in charge of patrolmen shifts from 4 a.m. to noon daily.

RUSSELL RUIZ is a 7th generation Santa Barbaran, being a direct descendant of Commandante Goycoechea, who ruled the Royal Presidio 1782-1802. An accomplished artist and historian, Mr. Ruiz is responsible for our cover illustrations in both the Winter and Spring issues of Noticias.

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INTERPRETERS PROGRAM The Junior League of Santa Barbara, true to the tradition of that or ganization, has contributed richly to the youth of the community by co sponsoring a project with the Historical Society, designed to make the Museum meaningful to children of the area.

Following many weeks of special training, some 20 members of the Junior League were declared ready to become tour guides for classes of school children from the public and private schools.

Half way through the project, training for which commenced in the fall of 1967, the former Curator of Education resigned to become a member of the faculty of Occidental College. Courtenay Monsen, Director of Public Relations for Old Spanish Days, was appointed the new Curator and Co ordinator of the project.

The group meets monthly with the Curator for discussions on Santa Barbara and California history and two of the “Interpreters” meet each school class that visits the Museum. The children, with their teachers are given an illustrated lecture on “The Presidio,” the “Way of Life” of the early residents of Santa Barbara, or “Transportation in the Early Days of the Community,” after which they arc taken through the Museum and later on a walking tour of the “Pueblo Viejo,” where they are shown El Quartel, the 200-year-old adobe, once the guard house of the Presidio, and the excava tions on the site of the old Presidio chapel.

WINTER - SPRING LECTURE SERIES. 1969 Tuesday Afternoons, 2 o’clock CovARRUBiAS Adobe — 715 Santa Barbara Street Open to members only, oiving to limited sealing capacity January 21

Russell Ruiz

Santa Barbara Beginnings

February 18

Horace Rupp

Rancheros Visitadores Treks

March 18

Paul Sweetser

Santa Barbara Memories

April 15

Selden Spaulding

Old Arlington Days

May 20

Jeremy Hass

Land Titles Since Ranchero Days

June 17

Kristina Wilkinson

An Explorer of the Old West

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SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS President

Paul G. Sweetser

First Vice President ..

.. Mrs. Wilson Forbes

Second Vice President

Hugh J. Weldon

Secretary

.. Mrs. Charles Cannon

Treasurer

John Gill

Past President

Thomas J. McDermott

DIRECTORS Rev. Virgil Cordano

Dr. Edward Lamb

Hobart Skofield

Mrs. Edwin Deuter

Mrs. Leo T. McMahon

Garrett Van Horne

Col. Henry de B. Forbes. Jr.

Mrs. Godwin Pelissero

John Galvin*

Mrs. W. Edwin Gledhill

Francis Price

Thomas M. Storke*

John Jordano, Jr.

William K. Serumgard

Mrs. Henry Griffiths

Acting Museum Director

Courtenay Monsen, Curator of Education .... Editor of Noticias

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS Classes of membership: Benefaclor, $5000.00 or more; Life, $1000.00; Patron, $500.00; Fellow, $100.00; Associate, $50.00; Contributing, $25.00; Sustaining, $10.00; Active, $7.50; Student, $5.00. Dues are tax deductible.

Mailing Address: 136 East De la Guerra Street

Santa Barbara, California 93101 ‘Honorary Directors

Non-Profit Org. QUARTERLY BULLETIN OF THE SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 136 EAST DE LA GUERRA STREET SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93101

U. S. Postage PAID Sonia Barbara, Calif.

Permit No. 534