MANOR FIRE DEPARTMENT

On the other hand, it was probably these same kind of occurrences that led to the formation of the Manor Fire Company.

And so it was, that not long afterward, Manor's first official fire department was up and running and involved in more than just fire-fighting. This article from the August 11, 1892 edition of the Austin Weekly Statesman details grand events planned for the community.

The Austin Daily Statesman of March 22, 1894, in a story which referred to Manor as "THE STAR OF TRAVIS COUNTY", described it's fire department like this:

Five years later, The Austin Daily Statesman writing about "Beautiful, Prosperous, Progressive Manor" said this about the fire department:

The Sanborn Fire Insurance map for 1900 shows that the Fire Company's hand engine and hose cart were stationed at a "Hose House" in the center of the intersection of Lexington and Parsons Streets, along with a 400 gallon underground cistern and a fire alarm bell on a tower.

The map for 1905 shows the fire equipment still in the same location but adds that there is 500 feet of 2 inch hose. It also states that the cistern is supplied by the natural flow of water from Manor's artesian well.

By 1910 the description has been changed to "400 ft of 2 inch cotton hose in fair condition."

By 1916 it appears that quite a few improvements have been made in the capabilities of the Manor Fire Department. The map shows a slate or tin roof Fire Dept. building located approximately one-half block west of the previous location on the north side of Parsons Street. (this would be across the street from Duett's Automotive Repair shop today)

By 1925, the Fire Department had moved to an apparently larger building on the south side of Boyce Street about half-way between Lexington and Burnet streets. (this would be approximately between the present-day buildings housing Ann's Private Cuts salon and the old Post Office building)

Another upgrade to the fire-fighting equipment occurred in 1930. The February 23rd edition of The Austin American recorded the purchase of new trucks.

Without this level of fire-fighting ability, it appears that the entire downtown section of the city of Manor might have burned to the ground only five months later.

A story in the Sunday edition of The Austin American on August 24, 1930 gave the details.

"FLAMES THREATEN ENTIRE BUSINESS AREA OF TOWN"

"Manor’s biggest building and the G. K. Anderson store, one of the principal stores, were completely destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon.
The flames threatened an entire block of business houses, but was held to the one structure.

Loss could not be estimated accurately, but was believed in excess of $100,000.

Goods from other stores were piled out into the streets. Families stood ready to move their house-hold goods out while the fire threatened to spread beyond the business block.

The fire caught in an upstairs room back of Dr. Roy Reed’s office in the Anderson building. Dr. Reed, while attending a patient saw the smoke and flames. He and the patient rushed out of the building, notified the Anderson merchants below of the flames. The fire was discovered about 3:20 and within 10 minutes the entire two-story brick building was covered by flames. The upper structure caved through into the Anderson store and practically nothing was saved.

No one was injured.

Austin fire equipment rushed to Manor, making the trip from Austin in 18 minutes. The pumpers were hooked up to the mains here, and water was sprayed on roofs of adjoining buildings to prevent sparks catching them.

Everybody in town turned out as volunteer fire fighters, and crews of men were on the roofs to put out fires from sparks. They stuck by the job until firemen ordered them back and took it over.

The telephone exchange here, in a building close to the burning structure continued its work through oppressive heat from the flames.

The smoke could be seen more than 20 miles and flames could be seen as far away as Kimbro, eight miles.

As the flames smouldered at 6 o’clock the main street of Manor had the strange aspect of being piled from one end to the other with merchandise from the stores in the threatened block. Crews of over 100 men and women had rushed in and out of the buildings, carrying the goods away from the buildings which seemed certain to be burned.

The J. F. Nagle building, occupied by A. K. Hage’s general store, was next to the Anderson building, but apparently suffered no damage. Next to this was the Manor Café, then Mayor W. H. Wentland’s drug store, H. W. Clem’s grocery store and E. L. Kouri’s stores.

Mayor Wentland slammed the door of his drug store and took charge of the volunteer fire fighters in laying hose to the widely scattered fire hydrants, and in protecting other building as well as possible from ignition.

Through efforts of volunteers and the Austin fire fighters, the danger that threatened the principal business block was averted when the flames were held to the one building. City Mgr. Adam Johnson of Austin came with the firemen.

Origin of the fire could not be accounted for. With its building still smouldering late Saturday, the Anderson firm had not indicated whether it will rebuild its large brick structure, and had made no announcement as to reopening of its mercantile business."