Spotted: 1899 Fire House being moved to its new location in Menlo Park

We were in downtown Menlo Park at the right time this morning and saw the top portion of Menlo Park Fire District’s 1899 Fire House being moved to its new home near Fire Station 6 on Oak Grove Ave. The 119-year-old “Carriage House” is one of the oldest Fire Houses in California.

The Fire House was located behind the Fire District Headquarters Station 1, located at 300 Middlefield Road since 1955.

Explains Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman: “The little Fire House was built in 1899 by the Volunteer Firefighters in preparation for a Bell and horse drawn Hose Wagon, both acquired in 1900. Its original location was along the Southern Pacific Rail Line on Merrill Street.

“Its first relocation occurred in 1918 when it was moved across and down Merrill Street to make room for the expansion of the Menlo Rail Station during World War I and the building of the Army’s Camp Fremont in Menlo Park.

“The 1899 Carriage House is one of 18 remaining Menlo Park buildings built in the 1800’s. The Bell and horse drawn Hose Wagon will follow when the building is moved, reassembled, upgraded with a new sprinkler system and repainted.”

Photo by Linda Hubbard (c) 2018