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Post by richard on Nov 7, 2006 20:18:32 GMT -5
This picture is the ‘old’ Columbus Fire Department station number two. The station is still standing at Thirteenth and Hutchins Streets. This view is looking to the northeast from Thirteenth Street.
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Post by richard on Nov 7, 2006 20:19:49 GMT -5
This view is looking to the northwest from Thirteenth Street. I hope the bricks in the intersection can be seen in this posting. For a time Columbus used bricks at various locations downtown as well as the rework of Thirteenth Street.
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Post by richard on Nov 7, 2006 20:21:56 GMT -5
Now located on the Central Avenue side of the present Columbus Fire Department station number two is the Fire Bell from the Thirteenth Street ‘old' station number two that George mentioned a short time ago. Also at that location is the Memorial Stone of, Fire Dog, Sergeant Little George.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2006 21:07:17 GMT -5
Richard,
Thanks for the great pictures, Dad and I were stationed at both stations, sure brings back a lot of fine memory's. The dog was the greatest, he made every fire run for over ten years. His picture is in the Nov. 1967 Life Magazine along with a article about Columbus.
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Post by richard on Nov 7, 2006 21:43:46 GMT -5
George, I see the old style Cummins Engine Company trademark on the side of that Stuz. Is that the Fire Truck that is believed to have been the first Diesel Powered Fire Truck in the United States?
Wasn’t there a Dalmatian Fire Dog at the number three station at some point? Was that fire dog named Nick? Also, were George and Nick the only fire dogs that served the Columbus Fire Department in recent years?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2006 23:16:31 GMT -5
Richard, you are right about the 1937 Stutz, it had a Cummins engine and was the first diesel powered fire engine in the United States and it toured the country before it was put in service. It was put in service at old station # 1 on 5th St. and latter moved to the new station # 1 at 11th and Washington St. when it was completed in Nov. 1941. I believe the Stutz was moved to old station # 2 at 13th and Hutchins in 1951, at which time the city bought a new engine for station # 1 on Washington St. When the new station # 2 was built in 1963 the Stutz was moved to that station along with the 1939 International tank truck. The dog Nick at station # 3 was about a year or two before my time on the dept., I really don't know much about Nick. We had a dalmatian at station # 4 for awhile, but he just didn't work out, he was just to high strung, maybe with the right training he would have been OK, his name was Pago. A lady brought little George in the station around cheer fund time for the cheer fund, but everyone took a liking to him so we just kept him.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Nov 22, 2006 10:09:47 GMT -5
According to Fire Chief Gary Henderson, when Fire Station 2 is relocated to the Columbus Municipal Airport next year, Sgt Little George (a beagle mascot) and his marker will be moved from his present gravesite to the new fire station. Little George lived from 1965 to 1976. (Information provided in Republic, 11-22-06 by reporter Paul Minnis)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2006 19:44:47 GMT -5
I was very glad to hear that good news, there will soon be forthcoming a story about Little George's life at fire station #2 in the Republic news paper. I guess that I could fill a book on his life at the station, but we will let the paper tell the story, I have supplied them with information and pictures and it should make a great story.
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Rhonda
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Post by Rhonda on Nov 23, 2006 6:59:49 GMT -5
Will someone please save me a copy of the Sgt. Little George article? I am the one who wrote the question in to Paul at the paper!! I missed his reply yesterday, but am thrilled to hear the answer!
Rhonda Bolner aka "RB" in the "Ask Paul" column.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Nov 23, 2006 8:48:43 GMT -5
Rhonda, I did the posting on the site and will save the little article for you. In fact, I will try and remember to send it home with my brother today and he can drop it over to you. If this doesn't work out (or if my memory fails me) I will put it in an envelope and mail it to you. The article is already cut out from yesterday's paper.
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Post by David Sechrest on Dec 11, 2006 16:55:46 GMT -5
I happened to see the front page of the Republic yesteryday (Sunday), and George's picture! I hope that someone will post the article concerning "SGT Little George" here in the near future!
George, anything you care to share that the paper didn't cover?
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Dec 11, 2006 22:36:42 GMT -5
David, I posted the article about Sgt Little George and George Kelly on Sunday, but I posted it in Columbus Indiana today. Please move it to the Fire Department if that is where you want it. Sorry I didn't think about putting it there in the first place.
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Post by David Sechrest on Feb 27, 2007 15:46:15 GMT -5
George, I moved this from Columbus Today: 12/10/2006 Fighting fires in spirit Fire dog stays loyal as grave move to new Station 2 in ’07
By Paul Minnis Reporter
Sgt. Little George would spring into action when the fire alarm blared at Columbus Fire Station 2.
He'd dash from one side of the building to the other, jump into the fire truck's front seat and wag his stubby tail eagerly until his human friends arrived.
Little George, the Station 2 mascot from 1966 to 1976, accompanied firefighters on runs daily for the better part of 10 years.
Some 30 years after his death, the beagle is about to make one last run with a new generation of firefighters - to a new burial site.
An infant-sized burial vault that holds the dog's remains will be dug from its plot by the old fire bell in front of Station 2 at Central Avenue and 27th Street, said Fire Chief Gary Henderson.
The vault will be reburied on Columbus Municipal Airport property where a new Station 2 is scheduled to be built in 2007, he said.
A grave marker at the plot also will be transplanted. It reads:
Sgt. Little George
Fire Dog
1966-1976
"He was everybody's pet," said "Big" George Kelly, who retired from the department in 1978 and was the dog's primary caretaker.
"Everybody thought a lot of him."
A woman looking for homes for her dog's litter of puppies brought a tiny beagle to the fire station in December 1965 in the hope that firefighters could find it a home.
Kelly, who loves dogs and still owns one at his 1830 Clover Court residence, convinced his comrades to keep the dog as a mascot.
They named the energetic little canine Sgt. Little George, a take on Kelly's "Big George" nickname.
Part of the team
The dog quickly became one of the fellas, Kelly said. Each time the alarm sounded, Little George jumped into the truck and howled all the way to the fire scene.
A story dated Aug. 31, 1976, talked about the day Fire Chief Ed Harris tried to use the radio in the station's pumper truck, but Little George would not let him close.
The dog never allowed anyone but the men from his home station near the engine, Kelly said.
Neighborhood children knew Little George. Station firefighters often brought him along on talks at schools, and the children delighted in the little dog's company.
As Little George got older, he had a harder time jumping into the fire truck. But he was still a puppy at heart, and that was his undoing.
He was killed Oct. 8, 1976, when he chased after a departing fire truck and was hit by a car.
Reed and Jewell Funeral Home donated an infant coffin. Barnaby's Flowers donated a floral tribute that was used in a brief service on what would have been the dog's 11th birthday.
Little George's obituary was carried by the Louisville Courier-Journal and Times, a story states.
"It was a loss," Kelly said. "He was such a good-natured dog."
A burial site at the new Station 2 grounds has not been selected.
(Above copied from the Republic, December 10, 2006, referring to Little George, the famous beagle of Station 2 and our own George Kelly!) [/size]
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Post by richard on Mar 25, 2007 21:14:46 GMT -5
Below is member George standing in the kitchen of the Third Fire House in the City of Columbus. It was located at 2501 Indiana Avenue and was opened after the City of Columbus annexed East Columbus. The picture is dated April 1959.
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Post by richard on Mar 25, 2007 21:15:51 GMT -5
Another picture of member George in the lounge of the first Station #3. Station Three was located at 2501 Indiana Avenue and was opened after the City of Columbus annexed East Columbus. The picture is dated April 1959.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 18:46:15 GMT -5
Harvey Hacker and Don Perry standing by the gamewell alarm system at old station #3, the year was 1956. Picture courtesy of Richard Bray
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 19:19:03 GMT -5
The cab of the 1937 Stutz at station #3, the year was 1956. The Stutz was put in service November , 1939 at Station #1 on 5th St. next to City Hall. . Note the siren control on the floorboard for the driver. Picture courtesy Richard Bray
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2007 20:04:05 GMT -5
Don Perry, Wendel Sweeney and Floyd Bay in the kitchen at old #3 station, the year is 1956. Picture courtesy of Richard Bray
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2007 14:01:05 GMT -5
Don Cloud at old #3 station, and engine 3 in 1956. Engine 3 at that time was a late 1940's Ford built by the firemen at old station #2. Picture courtesy of Richard Bray
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2007 18:49:24 GMT -5
Joe Sexton in the kitchen at old #3 station in 1956. Picture courtesy of Richard Bray
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