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Time Traveller: Here's a North Van fire station more than 100 years ago

The all-volunteer fire brigade back in 1915 included several high school boys who were quick to respond if it got them out of class.
North Van fire station

This photo from 1915 shows the District of North Vancouver Fire Hose Station for the North Lonsdale Fire Brigade. It was located on St. James at Lonsdale Avenue. You can see the base of the hose tower at the left of the photograph. Hose towers were used for hanging fire hoses to dry after use.

The then all-volunteer fire brigade had several older school boys (teens) on its roster. One of its volunteers recalled, “we were a very efficient brigade, largely because it got us out of school when the fire-bell rang.”

At the time of this photo, J. Newton Sykes was the fire chief. 

Visit the MONOVA website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to plan your visit to MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, now open at 115 West Esplanade in The Shipyards.

Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver ,at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley, is open by appointment only. Contact: [email protected]

Navigate culture on the North Shore by using the North Shore Culture Compass.