Neighbors within the Virginia-Highland community gathered to honor and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire Station 19, serving as Atlanta’s longest operating fire station.
Dalmatians jumped through hoops as kids ran around in firefighter hats with leftover frosting crowding their faces on Oct. 6. This lively community event highlighted the station’s history, fire safety education and speakers including Atlanta City Councilman District 6 Alex Wan, who addressed the crowd to honor the impact the station has created.
“I have had so many conversations [about] this particular station and how special it is to Virginia-Highland,” Wan said during his speech. “It is interesting because you see it when we do things like this and the community comes out. You see it on a day where they are helping people make sure their car seats are secured correctly. You see it when we’re distributing car safety measures. Most importantly, you saw it when there was conversation about a decade ago about this possibly not being here. The community said, ‘No it will be.’ … What you see today is the result of that. We’ve done it together. It’s because this is how you build community. This is what is so key to a vibrant and safe community.”
Fire Station 19 was chartered in 1924, finishing construction and opening its doors to the community in 1925. However, the station’s history began long before, when the Atlanta City Council was investigating issues with fire safety, leading to the charter of Atlanta Fire Company 1 by the Georgia General Assembly. Although they went into service in 1851, Fire Company 1 chartered Atlanta Fire Rescue in 1848.
“[Fire Station 19] is only three miles from downtown,” Virginia-Highland neighbor and Associate Vice Provost for Museums, Archives and Rare Books and Libraries at Kennesaw State, Dr. Catherine Lewis said. “So the idea was that it was going to be a suburban neighborhood for a lot of middle class families in their bungalow houses that were created. By about the 1880s the neighborhood started to develop and really the build out was through the turn of the century into the 1930s. Now it’s over 600 acres and it’s one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city. So, we really felt like preserving an anchor institution was essential.”
Since the station opened, it has served the community through a variety of Atlanta’s historic moments over the past 100 years. Dr. Lewis said Fire Station 19 is an important pillar in the community that reflects a living piece of history.
“It’s wonderful because Atlanta does not have a record of preservation,” Dr. Lewis said. “They tend to tear things down and then rebuild. So, the fact that we have this station that’s been here for a century is a testament to the neighborhood and its real interest in preservation and service.”
When concerns about the size and modernity of the station were looming, the Virginia-Highland Conservation League inspired the Atlanta City Council to approve funding to restore the fire station in 2015. After decade-long efforts to raise the needed funds by the community, the station raised enough to preserve and renovate the historic landmark. Virginia-Highland neighbor for the past 26 years Paige Hewell only lives two blocks from the station. Hewell said the community values the preservation of the station as it provides reminiscence of the past.
“I think it’s pretty amazing that it’s still standing, especially considering how much Atlanta’s grown,” Hewell said. “Just within the last 25 years, Atlanta has just exploded. The fact that we were able to still have this fire station here and get it updated so that anybody can reek of the benefits of an updated fire station is just phenomenal.”
Along with reflecting on the history of Fire Station 19, the celebration was also meant to highlight the service firefighters have provided the community over the past century.
“[Fire Station 19 is] really a crown jewel of Atlanta,” Midtown parent and Secretary of Virginia-Highland Civic Association Karri Hobson-Pape said. “Whether it’s the children participating in story hour, the fire truck’s involvement in local parades, parents getting car seats fitted or support for the unsheltered, they serve the community in many different ways. So, we really wanted to honor them.”
Assistant Chief David Bohatch has served as a firefighter for 23 years, 9 of them serving as an Assistant Chief filling in at station 19. He said the station represents more than just the history of the building, but the people who have been serving the community.
“I think just the simple fact that you’ve had an organization like the fire rescue that’s been serving the community and its needs for a minimum of 100 years,” Bohatch said. “That’s just the significance of the building. That’s not the true significance of the men and women who for hundreds of years have been responding in different ways that we really don’t even recall.”
While the community learned about the historical landmark within their neighborhood, the event also took the opportunity to teach fire safety education and connect with the surrounding community.
“We always want to promote Atlanta Fire Rescue and the work they do,” Dr. Lewis said. “There’s been a puppet show about the fire station, so that’s certainly been a part of introducing Atlanta Fire Rescue to the community. It’s also to tour the building and see the renovation, but also just to enjoy singing happy birthday to the station and getting cupcakes, taking a picture at the station, meeting the dalmatians, really just a community celebration.”
Part of the celebration included a dalmatian performance presented by the Dalmatian Club of Greater Atlanta. President of the Dalmatian Club for 10 years, Anita Tate’s goal was for the kids to have fun while petting the dogs and lining the curbs to watch the show.
“First of all it’s a historical moment, and second of all I just think that the dogs can bring joy to people,” Tate said. “Dalmatians have been with the fire department for a long time. If you look at the history of dalmatians, they were coach dogs alongside a horse drawn carriage to clear the way and to guard the coach. They became the dog that actually rode by the firetruck even when it was a horse driven truck and they would guard the fire truck. Then it progressed to them being the mascot because of their endurance and also being a great protection dog.”
Hewell has volunteered at a variety of events within her community, including Fire Station 19’s anniversary celebration. While helping run a table with crafts on fire safety measures, Hewell said the event served as a great education opportunity for all age groups.
“It’s a celebration that we have this piece of history here, and it’s an actual functional piece of history,” Hewell said. “This neighborhood is very community related. It’s another good excuse to bring people out, get them to know some of the people that are in the neighborhood, get them to know the fire departments and the procedures they might not be aware of.”
While honoring the history of the longest serving station in Atlanta, Chief of Atlanta Fire Rescue Roderick Smith dedicated a moment while finishing his speech to reflect on the future of Fire Station 19, announcing that it will be the first station on the east coast to have a hybrid fire engine expecting to arrive within the next year.
“We do more than just [put out] fires,” Smith said. “Consider us a friend and we will always be here for another 100 years to come.”
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