We are pleased to announce that The Los Angeles County Fire Museum had it’s grand opening on Saturday, July 14th, 2018, in Bellflower, California! This was an official celebration ceremony with special guests and visitors from both near and far. LAFD Museum houses one of the most extensive fire fighter-related collections we have ever seen (and we’ve been to several museums of this sort over the years). We spent nearly a half day wandering exhibits about local fire history, tributes to the brave men and women who served LA county, fire fighter technology, and numerous vehicles (and still couldn’t finish absorbing everything due to time constraints).
Among collections of this size, we are never surprised to find something Disney-related. One of the star attractions of Los Angeles County Fire Museum (and our tour today), is a certain Disney-related artifact. Please step this way, as we take a closer look at it!
“THE MANY ADVENTURES OF ENGINE NO. 63”
Ward’s 1916 American La France was originally designated engine no. 63 of Venice, California.
Venice Fire House once had a 1916 American La France engine, designated as Engine 63. The engine was a motorized “combination” engine with a pump and a hose. After roughly 25 years of service, the engine was retired during the 1940s. It was at this point that the engine changed hands several times.
According to Bob Gurr’s recollection, a chief Packard designer (Dick Teague) sold the truck to a Los Angeles doctor (Homer Wise). In turn, Doctor Wise sold the truck to another individual who would make good use of the vehicle in 1945!
Ward Kimball’s 1911 Maxwell Fire Chief’s car originally ran around the Grizzly Flats Railroad, but isn’t part of LACFM’s collection. Photo credit : Andy Blake (Horseless Carriage Club)
This 1913 Seagrave tractor is hitched to a 1910 Anderson City Service Truck (as it was during the 1920s). The tractor was retired during the 1930s, before being sold to animal trainer Louie Gobels. Louie in turn, sold it to Ward Kimball. The tractor was presented to Travel Town Museum before being loaned to the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society.
You might remember that Ward Kimball collected a whole lot of antique vehicles at his Grizzly Flats Railroad - antique steam engines, railroad passenger cars, and automobiles. From time-to-time we’ve encountered a few of these vehicles throughout other tours, like Ward Kimball’s antique Maxwell, a Seagrave Tractor, and an 1888 Silsby Steam Fire Engine (which was personally donated by the Kimball family to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum, after Ward’s passing).
Upon acquiring the 1916 American La France Engine (No.63) in 1945, Ward didn’t restore or alter much. But, he did add a personal touch - gold-leaf trim, and the words “Grizzly Flats Volunteer Fire Department” on the hood. Now Grizzly Flats Railroad had a fire engine to match his antique Maxwell Fire Chief’s car (see photograph above). The engine found it’s home inside a special fire house on Ward’s property, and would be used mostly for special occasions (like when members of the Horseless Carriage Club would meet at his home).
Ward’s Maxwell takes over this gag shot for cover of Horseless Carriage Gazette, May - June 1961. But take a closer look at what’s parked just behind the Maxwell, inside the Grizzly Flats Firehouse - it’s Ward’s Seagrave fire engine!
Most folks relate retirement with rest, but Ward’s little red engine was about to acquire quite a few miles! According to The Walt Disney Family Museum’s record, “By 1948, the band had indeed evolved into a seven-piece ensemble. That year, Ward and his wife Betty agreed that the band should join along on the Horseless Carriage Club Caravan from Los Angeles to San Diego. As Ward would be driving his antique fire engine - with the band piled behind wearing fire suits and helmets - the theme was set. The Fire House Five Plus Two was born.”
The Grizzly Flats Volunteer Fire Department!
“THE MAIN STREET FIRE HOUSE (PLUS TWO)!”
Many might remember that Ward was part of Firehouse Five Plus Two - a New Orleans-style Dixieland band. You might have seen photographs or record album covers with the band inside the 1916 American La France engine. If you were fortunate, you might even recall visiting Disneyland and seeing the Fire House Five Plus Two performing from various Disneyland attraction vehicles, like the teacups or the carousel horses. Surprisingly, the band didn’t perform from the 1916 American La France (but mostly marched on foot) for the Press Preview Day Parade (held July 17th, 1955).
On a few subsequent occasions (during their 22-year run), the band would perform routines in Disneyland with the help of this signature vehicle - most of the members playing from the hose bed portion of the engine. Most notable is the appearance of this American La France engine carrying all seven members (plus one driver) in the “Disneyland ‘59” Pageant and Parade (“Disneyland’s Second Opening”), held in honor of Disneyland’s newest adventures! They were followed by another antique horse-drawn fire engine, and (none other than) Horseless Carriages carrying celebrities!
FIRE HOUSE STOMP - Did you know that Ward’s Dixieland jazz band Firehouse Five Plus Two performed from this very engine!
Upon his passing, the Kimball family donated the 1916 ALF engine to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum, along with Ward Kimball’s antique horse-drawn 1888 Silsby steam fire engine (not pictured)).
WED employee Bob Gurr first laid eyes (and hands) on Ward Kimball’s American La France fire engine in 1953, when he was asked to help Ward drive the engine to the local fueling station in order to fill the radiator with water. Early in 1958 (three years after Disneyland’s opening), Bob was sitting in the office of Walt Disney in Burbank. He had been meditating on what to add to Disneyland’s “turn-of-the-century” land, and recollected Ward’s little ALF engine. Up to this point, Disneyland’s firehouse had a horse-drawn Chemical Wagon that was being utilized for show, as well as to give guests rides down Main Street U.S.A. It was at this point that Bob Gurr pitched the idea of an antique engine for Main Street’s fire station to his boss Walt Disney!
Disneyland’s horse-drawn fire wagon (1955-1960), on display inside Main Street U.S.A.!
The result was that on August 16, 1958, Disneyland’s replica 1916 fire engine debuted. The fire wagon (which had ran since opening day of 1955), continued to shuttle guests down Main Street until it was retired in 1960. Walt Disney loved his shiny new fire engine so much that he would regularly take VIP guests for tours around Disneyland in it. In fact, one of the last (and most memorable) photographs of Walt Disney is a photoshoot of him behind the wheel of Disneyland’s fire engine. As for Ward, his band, and their signature fire engine - they continued to perform and make appearances up to 1971. How marvelous to think that (no matter which Disney Park you visit worldwide), every Disneyland and Magic Kingdom fire engine in some way owes it’s existence to Bob Gurr, and Ward Kimball’s little red fire engine from Venice!
The next time you step behind the wheel (or the hose bed) of Disneyland U.S.A.’s replica 1916 fire engine, remember Ward’s American La France engine!
“ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE EXCURSIONS DEPARTING HERE!”
Please, step this way toward The Los Angeles County Fire Museum. Ward Kimball’s little engine sure inspired one iconic attraction, but you’ll find numerous inspirational true-life stories of men and women in the halls of this remarkable museum. Before you arrive, don’t forget to check their very particular hours of operation - select Wednesdays from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Thank you for joining Disney History 101’s special tour today. We hope you’ll join us again for our next tour!
LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE MUSEUM
16400 Bellflower Boulevard, Bellflower, California 90706
(562)925-0234
http://www.lacountyfiremuseum.com/