Photo: IAFF Local 2800 web site734 North George Mason Drive - July 5, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
HISTORY OF ENGINE 2
Old Wagon 2
Photos: acfd3.com and IAFF Local 2800 web site21st Century: At 1130 N. Randolph St. on July 2, 2008
Arlington County Fire Station No. 2 - home of Engine 102, Medic 102 and EMS 112 - traces its roots to a volunteer fire company organized in 1904.
According to a history of the Ballston Volunteer Fire Department:
``The first registered agent of the BVFD was Mr. John Ball, a direct descendent of the John Ball who established a farm on land deeded to him by his cousin, George Washington. The farm was located near a crossroads which became known as Balls Crossroads.
``The BVFD first operated out of a garage belonging to one of the members, where the members would assemble when the bell was sounded, to pull the hand-pumped engine to a fire. The bell was located atop a pole alongside the trolley tracks at the intersection of Ballston Avenue and Fairfax Drive.
``In 1921 the permanent station was built on Ballston Avenue. When the County renamed streets and numbered houses the station address became 911 North Stuart Street.
``When Arlington County formally established the Arlington County Fire Department in 1940, the Ballston Fire Station was designated as Arlington County Fire Station No. 2.
``In 1976, the entire block where Fire Station 2 was located became the site for the new Glebe Road" Metro Rail station. At that time, only the BVFD and the Ballston Baptist Church still used the Ballston community name.
``The BVFD's negotiation with Metro and Arlington County provided for the construction of the new Fire Station 2 at 4805 Wilson Boulevard.
``In addition, the BVFD required the changing of the name of the Metro stop from Glebe Road Station to Ballston.''
Friday, July 18, 2008
FIREHOUSE BOND
Photo: http://www.scripophily.com/In 1955, Arlington County issued bonds to finance the construction of fire stations.
Station No. 9, on South Walter Reed Drive, and Station No. 10, in Rosslyn, were the first stations actually owned and operated by the county government. The other stations were owned by volunteer companies.
Station No. 9 opened in 1957 and Station No. 10 opened in 1958.
Today, Station No. 3, in Cherrydale, is the last of the volunteer-owned firehouses in Arlington County.
'SALLY'
Photo: www.acfd3.comThe late Larry "Sally" Robey at the pump panel at a second alarm on South 8th Street in 1981. The 1977 GMC-Burco was part of a "two-piece" engine company - comprising a wagon and a pump - assigned to Station No. 9 on South Walter Reed Drive.
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