Fire station No. 9, May 13, 1939
Our old Fire Station No. 9 at 3917 Long Beach Blvd. has been in the news lately. Concerns about mold have shuttered the station and the Long Beach City Council has agreed to try and renovate the existing station or relocate it. In the meantime, the hunt is on for a site to temporarily house the firefighters and equipment. But this is not the first time in our history that Long Beach’s Fire Station No. 9 has been closed, housed in temporary facilities and then relocated. In fact, our old Fire Station No. 9 at one time was our NEW Fire Station No. 9. On May 13, 1939, the new Fire Station No. 9 at 3917 Long Beach Boulevard was formally opened. What was called a Tudor-style cottage had been constructed by the Works Project Administration (WPA).
But this new station was not the City’s first Fire Station No. 9. The original Fire Station No. 9 was located at the corner of Broadway and Belmont and like many other structures in Long Beach had been damaged by the 1933 earthquake. Below is a picture of Fire Station No. 9 in 1925.
Earthquake damage, especially to the back of the station was severe enough to require complete demolition of the building.
The City was in a bind. How could they house the Fire Station No 9 crew and equipment until a new station No. 9 could be built? Fortunately the circus came to town. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus loaned the city a tent which was used as a temporary fire station until a more “permanent” temporary station could be built.
Temporary Fire Station No. 9. Firefighters in front of their circus tent station. Pictured are : ‘Dyke’ ?, Jim Kennedy, Sam Miller, Capt. Jack Hadsell, Jack Price and Pete Halland (in seat), Gomer M. Wilhite (on battery box), Lawrence (beside Hadsell), Capt. Geo Coombs.
It was not unusual after the 1933 earthquake to see make-shift operations, including tents being used to continue providing services and teaching students. The WPA built many buildings in Long Beach after the earthquake including many of our schools. Improvements by the WPA were also made to the grounds at the Los Cerritos School. See https://livingnewdeal.org/us/ca/long-beach-ca/ for a listing of WPA projects in Long Beach.
The new Fire Station No. 9 has had many upgrades over the course of its 80-year history. It was originally constructed with an air raid siren but two years later, the city changed out the sirens for horns. The horn could be heard for 30 blocks and a two-minute blast of the horn was a signal to black-out.
So too has the Circus industry changed. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus closed in 2017. Maybe some tents are still available?
Appreciation to the Gerth Archives at CSU Dominguez Hills, http://digitalcollections.archives.csudh.edu/digital/collection/LBFiremen
The station from LBB looks way better in the old picture. The current light / bland paint scheme is not good.
Plus, bars on the doors and windows. I guess criminals can easily tell when the station is empty because the 2 pieces of equipment go on calls.
What a wonderful story — such a good reminder that we stand on the shoulders of so many brave and resourceful people who have come before. Our family home at 3808 Cedar Avenue slid off its foundation in the 1933 earthquake. Family members lived in a tent for a number of weeks as they waited for the cranes to move around Long Beach, pulling many houses back into place. Brave and resourceful people, all.
Hi Ellen- nice to know you are still following the blog. I keep hoping to do this more often! Geraldine
Hi, Geraldine! Glad you are still enjoying reporting on Los Cerritos history — it’s much appreciated! My niece and I met with our ranch cousins in April — she’s now the 5th generation on the Board! Very grateful for our historic role models!
Great history tid bit as always – thank you for your research.
Very timely piece! Thank you.