The Watford Observer is again delighted to be teaming up with its friends at Watford Museum to take another journey back to the past to recall the key events and dates that helped shape the town’s future.
The 13th part of '50 events and dates that shaped Watford’ looks back to the start of the last century when the town's fire brigade moved into its first proper station.
The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "An important new building in Watford was a purpose built fire station which was erected in the High Street next to Upton House (Gade House, which is next to the flyover, now stands on the site of both buildings).
A map showing the fire station's location in 1914. The High Street runs from top left to bottom right. The turning, bottom right, is Clarendon Road. The turning coming from the centre of the map to the bottom left corner is Upton Road. Upton Road now goes over the High Street by means of the flyover.
"In 1898, an existing volunteer-crewed fire brigade had been taken over by Watford's Urban District Council, and it was decided that a modern station in the the town was needed.
"The new building was opened in June 1900 and to celebrate its opening the crews were given a special dinner in the new building."
Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. No booking is necessary but Covid prevention measures are still in place to keep visitors safe.
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