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Home My WebLink About1976 07-07 "Retired" Russ Allen recalls fires gone by REVIEW Page 2 Wed.,July 7, 1976 THE REVIEW 'Fighting fires was just something I wanted to do' ) ..-a ? 1 • 1 e tyre Russ Allen and it's still there today. Paul finally said it could no longer handle by Kamy Ide Back in the 1940's, the St. Paul Fire the Gladstone area. "That kind of thing Russ Allen fought fires for 32 years. Department burst from a station at Payne doesn't leave you much choice, does it?" He says he didn't do it out of a sense of near Maryland to fight the Gladstone Allen asked. "You start to organize." duty or a feeling of obligation to his fires.But carrying 150 gallons of water all With the help of the North St. Paul fire community. He did it mostly because he over creation (no city had fire hydrants chief, George Hilpisch,work was begun. liked it. then) and the burden of covering such a Allen says,"That man really educated us "It was something to do," Allen said in large territory brought an end to that.St. in ever lived. He wanted the nicest hen who a recent interview."I myself can't figure alwaysvthere.".Ify anted to somewhat as why some people wantd to go bowling.hhave aOP coincidentally, fought fires for many They'll broken be on an team and they can have o years—32 to be exact—just like Allen. owfin leg and they'lleingl want too go Volunteers weren't too hard to come by do.bowling. It's just something they want me.to H back then. "Everyone was pretty much But I suppose they was just somethingobehind this," Allen said. The Gladstone- wanted fighting fires was I New Canada Township Board gave$150 or to do." From 1943 to 1975,Allen was a member v $200.Merchants who gave$10 or more had the honor of having their name painted on of the Gladstone Fire Department in the outside of the new brick fire barn, Maplewood.He helped organize it,he flew which consistedoof only two garaaen, from home to the station for many yearsaW Other donors,those who gave$1 or more, in that alarmingly fast race against time ,'` ` had their names painted on the inside and he remembers the good and bad of it µ walls of the garage. all. Even now, after "retirement," Allen - Those first two garage stalls now form helps at some fires where he is needed. I the south stalls of the Gladstone Fire guess you'd" say I'm hooked on it," Allen . Station on Clarence. Additions to the said. "I get a certain amount of � �" structure have been made twice since the satisfaction from this." first brick was set in place in 1943. Quickly,Alwrong.he ngHe'd you as soonn't get The department's first truck, "Old Russ Allen He'd just as got to Betsy" was purchased in 1943 for$1,000. a fire that really wasn't a fire, or a tiny "We were really wheeling when we got blaze in a garbage can than a house fire. that thing," Allen laughs. But firefighting somehow got in his blood Russ Allen t } ' � ', ,,,,, a ,t Ni.g 0. ,; 3 i i .� . * a az#' '4,* 'I .. r fns;Dz , AAs tea. F FORMER CHIEF—Al Schilla,former chief of the Gladstone Fire Department,eyes a new truck—a Pursch—purchased by the department in 1965. All of the depart- ment's trucks except one have been purchased with money raised by the firefighters and the department auxiliary. recalls fires gone by The department built its second truck answered calls for the department. explained. with the help of Willard Shopbell,a welder Eventually,things"got modern,"Allen Yet today, he will go to the scene of a who helped make the truck tank. "We said. A telephone was installed in the large fire at least to watch.Sometimes,if used to work night and day and Sunday on station so calls with the location of the fire the crew is light, he joins in the things for the department," Allen said. could be taken there. firefighting. Other times, he will wait at The Gladstone department like many in Another advancement was the use of the station, just a few blocks from his Minnesota is made up entirely of radios in firefighting, so the volunteers home, readying hoses which may be volunteers, as it has been since the could communicate with one another. needed, and generally lending a hand. beginning.Allen notes that one volunteer, Russ said the first engineer or man who "In a way,"Allen said, "I miss it all. I Al Schadt, is Maplewood's fire marshal, stayed at the truck to help keep pressure still enjoy going to drills to watch the new but says, "That's separate. He is a under controls (Allen has served in this techniques. There are still a few old volunteer fireman just like everyone capacity) and a man in the field would timers around and we still have else." communicate with hand signals. Up and something to talk about." Allen explained that for every paid down meant more water pressure was His wife,Agnes,has a brother who has firefighter in the state, there are three needed, from side to side meant less been on the St.Paul Fire Department for volunteer firemen in the state. pressure was desired.Lights moved in the many years,and he and Allen often`talk Maplewood's stations — East County same directions were used for night shop." Line, Parkside and the Gladstone signals. But, after all those years and all those department, which also includes the Now Allen's home is equipped with a fires,Allen still says he hasn't learned it Hazelwood station —are all manned by special telephone device. In case of a fire all about fires. He recalls the advice of volunteers. Those volunteers check the alarm, the phone rings constantly. If Hilpisch,who once told him, "If you ever trucks-each day and take part in ex- you're on the phone and there's an alarm, get to the point where you think you know' tensive training sessions to be good at a constant buzzing makes conversation all about fires, then you might as well their job. impossible.Allen also has had, since last quit. You'll never know it all." Over the years,Alien recalls a number Christmas, a citizens band radio to help Russ Allen adds, "I guess he's right. I of significant fires. A Gladstone him follow the action. "I keep it on fought fires a long time.And I sure don't firefighter has never been killed in the regularly when I'm in the house," Allen know it all." line of duty, Allen said. The burning of the Gem Store in 1966 . was "the biggest we ever had," Allen said. That structure was located at the present site of Warner Hardware. The blaze whic11 h destroyed it "was a real : working fire," Allen said. "That was a „ burner. , An oil fire at Beebe Laboratory was also " � difficult. "That one gave us a bad time a a because it was so confined." Wi ; A gas tanker which rolled over and . - - � :,,,,,,.7,..: , caught fire near North St.Paul also made problems for. the firefighters. After struggling aganst the blaze for hours,the _ firefighters were provided with a special ; :,i liquid called"light water,"which foamed ' T °' and smothered the flames. "The 3M ---- _ company gave us that,"Allen said."That ` , was the answer." , In older days,Allen recalls how firemen were called to the fire by one large siren in the city. They would mount the trucks and head for the home of one of four people who answered fire calls in the city. That person would hand the firemen a slip of paper with the address of the blaze and NO SPRING CHICKEN — This 1923 Pursch truck had seen off they'd go. Mrs. Alice Pfeiffer of better days when purchased by the Gladstone Fire Department Pfeiffer's Grocery on Frost Avenue; the back in 1943. The department's frist truck was named "Old Keller Grocery; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Betsy."Former firefighter Russ Allen explains,"We generally Freitag, who operate the St. Paul called her'Old Betsy,'though sometimes we said worse.Betsy Tourist Cabins and another local woman was her church name, I guess."