Remember When: The Robbinsdale Fire Department Poem

On the First of February in Twenty-five
Many of you people are still alive,
And remember that night about one o’clock,
When you were in bed and the doors were locked
The Weird old sound of the siren blew,
And it wasn’t long till the whole town knew,
That the old fire Demon had come to town
And started a fire that’ll be remembered long
When first it started, the blaze was small,
And quickly the Firemen answered the call
It was forty below and the snow was deep
When from out of their beds they had to creep
But, with the equipment they had to put it out
It wasn’t long till you heard them shout
To get some equipment that was up to date
And to get it quick and not hesitate,
So they called Minneapolis, the nearest town.
And they sent five rigs without a frown
They pumped the water from Crystal Lake,
So you can imagine the hose It would take
To lay a line six blocks long
But the firemen did it with a song
The Kirkwood Garage and the Schuller Store.
The Bakery and several more
went up in smoke on that fateful night
And the flames were so high, it was like daylight
But the firemen worked the whole night through
And everyone talked, but there were few
Who wouldn’t admit and wouldn’t state
That we needed equipment that was up to date,
So the Firemen got busy and talked and talked
Both while they ate and while they walked.
They talked to the Council and Public, too,
Till they got a rig that was beat by few.
We’ve still got the rig at the old Fire barn
And it’s always in shape when we get an alarm
This old rig and the one bought last fall
Will take care of our fires, one and all.

Al Gorman, Fireman No. 6

Footnote- Minneapolls sent 5 pumps

On February 25, 1925 in a bitter sub-zero gale, a disastrous fire burned down one half of a block of the business district. Flames started in the rear of R. L. Schuller’s two-story farm implement, appliance and automobile store, the first brick building erected in Robbinsdale, 28 years previously. Schuller lived upstairs, smelled smoke and evacuated his parents and brother. Joseph Hommes’ hardware store was next to go with explosions from paint and hunting supplies. The Ole Olson Bakery and the William Loomis candy store went next. Towns people helped save almost fifty automobiles from the Main Garage run by Basil Hunter. Loss was limited to five businesses and the homes of Arthur Kirkwood and E. E. Wiklund which included a variety store. Forty-five firemen from Minneapolis helped Robbinsdale volunteers to keep the blaze from jumping the main street.

They had to chop a hole in Crystal Lake and lay 3,000 feet of hose to bring water to the fire scene. Wind carried sparks and embers as far south as 3805 West Broadway. The fire burned out the half block between Crystal Lake Avenue and Hubbard and 41st Avenues south of the hotel. Loss was estimated at $150,000.  The following year the village council approved the purchase of a locally built, Nott Universal Fire Truck. The purchase resulted in lower fire insurance rates all over town. An addition to the old Village Hall, built  to accommodate the shiny new rig was completed the same year.