Site of Old City Hall and Firehouse
Site of Old City Hall and Firehouse (129 West Main Street)
Early photo of City Hall and Fire Department on West Main
The Carlinville Old City Hall was built in 1897 with offices upstairs along with the meeting room. Below held the Police Department in a long thin area that led to the cells. The firehouse was on the right side of the building and the doors swung open inside to allow the fire apparatus to leave. Early on, of course, they were water wagons with ladders led by horses. They backed the wagons into the building so the horses could be hitched up.
Early photo of horse drawn fire wagons on the Carlinville Square
In 1953, the Carlinville Moose Lodge volunteered to buy and furnish the city with a new and long desired siren. The new alarm system replaced the antiquated bell atop City Hall in sounding fire alarms and police calls. The original bell is on display outside the current firehouse.
After the police and fire departments moved out to their own buildings, the City moved its business end of things downstairs into the vacated space. The upstairs was used as a storage area for 20 cots, in case a temporary hospital needed to be set up, along with space to store police evidence.
Carlinville Fire Department from days gone by.
END OF TRAIL ONE