Museum hours at the
Northwood Fire Station
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
1 p.m - 4 p.m
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
1 p.m - 4 p.m
The Northwood Fire Station
was opened in 1928, seven years after The Village of
Royal Oak became a city. Built at a cost of $65,000 it
was the best city owned building for many years. The
building site located at the corner of Webster and
Crooks roads was donated by the Northwood Development
Association, and the building was designed by their
architects.
Lieutenant George cook was the first to take charge of the station with Lieutenant Frank Winter second in command. A 1923 American LaFrance pumper and a new 1928 Dodge truck were moved into the station and five firemen were assigned to each unit. A Gamewell fire alarm system was installed with alarm boxes and telephone system.
The Northwood fire district included answering alarms west of Rochester Road, from Catalpa to 14 Mile, all alarms north of Catalpa to the city line, and all alarms west of Woodward from Webster to 14 Mile Road.
Lieutenant George cook was the first to take charge of the station with Lieutenant Frank Winter second in command. A 1923 American LaFrance pumper and a new 1928 Dodge truck were moved into the station and five firemen were assigned to each unit. A Gamewell fire alarm system was installed with alarm boxes and telephone system.
The Northwood fire district included answering alarms west of Rochester Road, from Catalpa to 14 Mile, all alarms north of Catalpa to the city line, and all alarms west of Woodward from Webster to 14 Mile Road.
Royal Oaks First Fire Department.
1908-1912
Established in 1908 at the
home of undertaker William Sullivan, Royal Oak's first
fire department was composed of a group of unorganized
volunteers. Sullivan was elected the fire chief, and other
members included Harry Anderson, William J. Folland,
Robert McClure, Ralph Bourgeois, William A. Wheeler, Mark
and Lee Halsey, Roy Gass, Freeman Robbins, Edward Roy and
Edward W. Joyce. Arthur L. Lawson would ring the bell at
St. Mary's Church whenever a fire broke out to summon the
men.
Fire on Main Street in 1912 .
Main
Street
before the 1912 fire .
In 1912, a fire claimed the entire midsection of the block on the east side of Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. Although, the firemen were able to control and extinguish the massive blaze, Royal Oak merchants felt it was necessary to expand and organize the department. A new volunteer department was formalized and put into service on February 13, 1913 and it's membership expanded to include Roy Wing, James Allen, William West, Carlos Marshall, Delbert Geyer, Homer Ebling, George J. Scott, Julius Pobar, J. Frank Codling and Harry Brace. William Folland han been appointed fire chief in April of 1912.
In 1912, a fire claimed the entire midsection of the block on the east side of Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. Although, the firemen were able to control and extinguish the massive blaze, Royal Oak merchants felt it was necessary to expand and organize the department. A new volunteer department was formalized and put into service on February 13, 1913 and it's membership expanded to include Roy Wing, James Allen, William West, Carlos Marshall, Delbert Geyer, Homer Ebling, George J. Scott, Julius Pobar, J. Frank Codling and Harry Brace. William Folland han been appointed fire chief in April of 1912.