HOME - Bud Land _ Land Connection Page |
Coast to Coast Fire Run 1939 — "The Longest
Fire Run in History" In the summer of 1939, when he was 23 year old, Bud Land joined National Fire Company No. 1 and rode on a fire truck from New York City to San Francisco, California. Bud was a volunteer fireman in Smithtown when a call came out for volunteers to make a publicity fire run from "coast to coast". The stated purpose of the run was to foster fire prevention awareness. A fire was set in a drum* at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco, California and a fire call was made to New York City. Answering the call from the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, four volunteer firemen jumped on board a new 1939 Mack fire truck and headed to California by a rather indirect route. The four firemen were: William Bensch, Adolph Jost, Edgar (Bud) Land and Andrew Ruoff. The expedition also included the promoter of the venture, "Col." Arthur B. "Wild Bill" Hickox, and his wife, Mae who drove along in a car. The fire truck was Mack Chassis No. 80S1017, a combination pumper with "tires furn. by Goodyear and Co. for advertising". "Coast to Coast" was stenciled on the hood of the truck and "National Fire Co No. 1" was stenciled on the sides. The helmet shields also said National Fire Co No. 1. It is assumed that new uniforms were obtained especially for the trip. Although it cannot be determined from the photos, it is safe to assume that all the patches and badges on the uniforms also said National Fire Company No. 1. In addition to Mack and Goodyear, the trip was sponsored by Texaco Fire Chief gasoline so the Texaco Fire Chief logo was also on the sides of the truck. Bud said when they needed gas they pulled into a Texaco station and filled up for free. In a Texaco ad of the time, singing gas station attendants boasted: "Oh, we're the men of Texaco, we work from Maine to Mexico." Nearly out of gas one day the National Fire Company No 1 was forced to stop at a competitor's gas station. While filling the tank the attendant kept singing,"Oh, Texaco, Texaco stinks from here to Mexico". Photographs taken during the trip indicate that they were in the following cities: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Baltimore (Maryland), Washington (DC), Cincinnati (Ohio), Toledo (Ohio), Chicago (Illinois), St Louis (Missouri), Jefferson City (Missouri), Wichita (Kansas), Stillwater (Oklahoma), Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Dallas (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), El Paso (Texas), Phoenix (Arizona), Los Angeles (California) and San Francisco (California). They also stopped at Coolidge Dam, Arizona. Newspaper articles indicate that they also may have (or actually did) stop in Lima (Ohio), Houston (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), El Paso (Texas), Yuma (Arizona), Fresno (California) and San Francisco (California). An article in the San Antonio Express indicated that the trip was 5,890 miles. The San Francisco Examiner claimed they "made 169 city stops on the 7,203 mile run". Another article listed 7,158. The newspaper articles indicate that the group left New York on Saturday, August 12 and were in San Antonio, Texas on September 9, 1839. Slightly over 5 weeks after they left New York they were in Fresno, California on September 19, 1939. They were at Treasure Island, San Francisco on Friday, September 22, 1939. 7,203 miles in 41 days is about 175 miles per day. The truck appears in all the photos without a top. However, there may have been some kind of cover for protection against the rain and excessive sun. In the summer of 1939 The World's Fair was in Flushing Meadows, New York and the Golden Gate International Exposition was on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. The run was made from one fair to the other.
This web page started with the photos that were in the possession of Bud Land. The notations above each of Bud's photograph are the notes that Bud made on the back of the photos. These notes were made at two different times. One set is written in pencil with the hand of young Bud Land. The others were written in pen sometime after Bud had a stroke in 1986. Comments in red indicate the earlier notes - blue indicate the later notes. My notes are at the bottom of the picture. All of the photos that belonged to Bud are now in the possession of his son, Tony Land.
Since the page was created I have been contacted by a number of others who had images of the trip and/or the truck that they have generously shared with the web site. Bud returned to the east coast by bus. He never mentioned what happened to the others on the trip or what happened to the truck. Don Schumaker of the Mack Museum in Allentown, Pa. and Jack Krege of San Opisbo, California have provided information on the truck before and after the fire run. See below. Bud made notations of three names besides himself: Bill Bench, Al Jost and Andy Ruoff.
Arthur B Hickox and his wife, Mae Vallen, were involved in motor safety in the late 1920s and early 1930s. See more below. Robert Bensch believes that most of the photos that Bud had were taken William (Bill) Bensch (Robert's father). Robert still has the negatives. *Bud always said that the fire was in a "drum". One of the newspaper articles mentions a small house built for the purpose.
Long Island Daily Press, August 24 , 1939: VAMPS RIDE 3,130 MILES*Vamp = volunteer firefighter - origin unknown
Suffolk County News August 16, 1939 "Adolph Jost, a member of the Sayville Fire Department, is among four volunteer firemen who are making a coast-to coast trip in a fire truck with the Golden Gate International Exposition at San Francisco their destination. Arthur Hickok honorary fire chief of Ballston Spa, N. Y. accompanied by his wife Mae Vallem Hickok, and Jost, Andrew Rouff, and Edgar Land, both of Smithtown Branch and William O. C. Busch of Huntington, left the World's Fair over the week-end and at present are nearing Chicago. |
Mack Promotion, August 1939
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"The MACK BULLDOG was a monthly magazine written and
published by the employees at the Allentown Mack Factory" (Jack Krege, March 2012)
"The cover of this months issue shows a Mack type, 80, 750 gallon pumper which, will start from the New York World's Fair on the longest fire run in history - straight through to the San Francisco Golden Gate Exposition.Article and magazine cover courtesy of Jack Krege, March 2012. |
Fire Engineering, vol 92, 1939
"FIRE RUN FROM COAST TO COAST TO FURTHER FIRE PREVENTION |
August 7, San Francisco Chronicle
"Just about four weeks from now, a fire engine Treasure Island bound will be due to heave in sight over the eastern horizon. |
Adolph Jost, of Syville Fire Department,
Andrew Ruoff and Edgar Land, both of Smithtown, and William O. C. Burch (sic)
of Huntington,
Aboard Fire Truck on Trip to Coast
"Aldolph Jost, a member of the Sayville Fire Department, is among four volunteer firemen who are making a coast-to-coast trip in a fire truck with the Golden Gate International Exposition at San Francisco as their destination. Arthur Hickox honorary fire chief of Ballston Spa, N. Y. - accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Mae Vallem Hickox, and Jost, Andrew Ruoff and Edgar Land, both of Smithtown, and William O. C. Burch (sic) of Huntington left the World's Fair over the week-end and at present are near Chicago. |
Edgar Land and Andrew Ruoff of Smithtown
"Edgar Land and Andrew Ruoff both members of the Smithtown Fire Department left Friday on a months trip to the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco. With several other young men they left the New York World's Fair ground on a large Mack fire truck and will demonstrate modern methods of fire fighting at various stops along the route." |
Worlds Fair News, August 12, 1939 Under a section of World Fair news. Long Island Star Journal August 12, 1939 The "longest fire run in history" postponed by the Fair several times was to get under way this morning with Fire Chief Arthur "Wild Bill" Hickox piloting a red engine from the Fair on the first leg of a trip to the Golden Gate Exposition at San Francisco. |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck
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This is a photo of the fire hat shield from Bud Land's fire helmet. The shield is now in the possession of Bud's son, Tony Land. | |
Collection of Tony Land
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The Fire Run from The World's Fair in Flushing Meadow, New York
to the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco
"National Fire Company No 1" left New York City on August 13 1939 according to the New York Times. The truck arrived at Treasure Island on September 22, 1939.
William Bensch's "certificate" as an "Active Member of National Fire Company No 1, Coast to Coast Fire Department" was signed by Art and Mae Hickox and dated, September 22, 1939. The International Association of Fire Chief's meeting ended in San Francisco on September 24, 1939.
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Collection of Maggie Land Blanck 1939 New York World's Fair, Flushing Meadows, New York. The fair opened on April 30, 1939 and closed in October. It was opened for two seasons (April to October) and closed officially in October 1940. FIRE ENGINE OFF TO COASTGrover Aloysius Whalen was a prominent public relations figure in New York City in the 1930s and 40s. He was president of the New York Wolds Fair Corporation. Leland W. Cutler was a prominent socialite in San Francisco and the first president of the Golden Gate International Exposition. |
National Fire Company No. 1 Leaves New York World's Fair on August 13, 1939 |
Photo collection of Jack Krege, September 2008 Art and Mae Hickox are in the front seat. The man wearing the fire hat and standing behind Art Hickox is not known. The man in the fire uniform is Harry Blowell. The flag draped on the side of the truck says: "1939 New York World's Fair" |
New York City |
Photo collection of William Bensch, April 2010 |
"Leaving Phila Fire House" "Cross country trip in Phila" |
Photo collection of Tony Land The Texaco Fire Chief logo and National Fire Co. No 1 are visible on the side. |
"Mayor of Baltimore and Fire Chief" |
Photo collection of Tony Land Mae and Art Hickox are seated in the truck. The mayor of Baltimore is on the running board. Baltimore's mayor in 1939 was Howard W Jackson. An image of him on the internet appears to be the same person. Howard W. Jackson (1877-1960) I assume the gentleman in the uniform was the "fire chief". |
"Emerson Hotel, Baltimore " |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
New Emerson Hotel, Baltimore and Calvert Streets, Baltimore, Md
Not posted. The Emerson Hotel was built in 1911, closed in 1969 and was demolished in 1971. | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
"Dist Columbia Bldg, Washington, D. C." |
Photo collection of Tony Land The building is the State War and Navy Department. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck State War and Navy Department, Washington D.C. Not posted. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Peaceful Valley and Route U. S. 40 in Western Maryland Apple orchards in Western Maryland. Not posted The exact route west from Washington to Toledo, Ohio is not certain. They did go through Cincinnati. In any event, this gives a hint of the type of landscape the crew must have experienced on the way west to Ohio. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Cincinnati, Ohio The Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati opened in 1931. The Netherland Plaza is a National Historical Landmark and is still in operation. It is now part of the Hilton chain of hotels. On or near the truck from left to right: Bud Land, Andy Ruoff, and Al Jost.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Netherland Plaza (Hilton Hotel) Cincinnati, Ohio A ladies' musical group appears ready to play and maybe sing. At least two violins are visible.
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Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Netherland Plaza Hotel - Cincinnati NETHERLAND PLAZA HOTEL |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 This photo was labeled "William Bensch, Chicago". However, the building in the background of the fountain is the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio. The fountain was erected in 1871 and Fountain Square is the symbolic center of Cincinnati.
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Photo collection of William Bensch, April 2010 The Carew Building Cincinnati. The building is the same as indicated behind the fountain in the photo above. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Posted 1941. The crew must have gone through Lima on their way from Cincinnati to Toledo. |
"Toledo, Ohio" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
"Chicago" |
Photo collection of Tony Land Michigan Avenue looking towards the Art Institute. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Michigan Avenue, Looking North From Grant Park, Chicago. Railway Exchange Building Peoples Gas Building and the tower in the background is the Montgomery Ward Building. Posted 1919. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Michigan Boulevard Looking North Seen From Aeroplane, Chicago. Showing the Blackstone Hotel in the lower left corner. Not posted.
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Chicago Art Institute |
Indianapolis
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 "Being escorted." I am fairly sure that this is Indianapolis. The monument in the background is, I believe, The Soldiers and Sailors monument. |
"Mayor and Fire Chiefs of St Louis" |
Photo collection of Tony Land Bernard F Dickmann was the mayor of St. Louis in 1939. He is the fellow in the straw hat closest to the fire truck. An image on the Internet confirms that this was the mayor. See Bernard Francis Dickmann, St Louis Mayors |
"St Louis City Hall" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
Photo collection of William Bensch City Hall St Louis, Mo. |
Photo collection of William Bensch City Hall St Louis, Mo. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch William Otto Frank Bensch, Edgar (Bud) Land, Andy Ruoff and Adolf Jost
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City Hall, St. Louis, Mo. Post marked 1910.
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Picturesque Pacific Bluffs overlooking U. S. Highway 66, Pacific, Mo. Not posted. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Along Scenic U. S. Highway 66 in the Beautiful Missouri Ozarks. Posted 1954. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Missouri State Capital Building, Jefferson City, Mo. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Yost's was a furniture store in Kansas City. By 1931 the Yost Furniture Company, had been serving families in Kansas City and the south-west for over twenty five years. In 1939 Jane Jackson, buyer for of the Yost Furniture Co. Kansas City, Mo. was "remodeling its entire first floor for more decorative treatment." There was a Yost's furniture store at 1225-1227 Main street Kansas City in 1961. There was also a Jones clothing store in Kansas City in 1954. This photos is most likely take from a hotel room window.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Broadview Hotel, Wichita, Kansas
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"Pump Exhibit, Wichita, Kansas" "Bill Bench at controls" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Wichita, Kansas |
Photo collection of Tony Land Original negative in the collection of William Bensch. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Wichita Fire Department |
"Stillwater, Oklahoma State Fire College" |
Photo collection of Tony Land Oklahoma State University still has a School of Fire Protection in Stillwater, Oklahoma. "The fire service related programs at Oklahoma State University can trace their history to the early 1930's when the Stillwater Fire Department served as host to statewide training sessions. During these meetings, the need for uniform training material and methods became greatly apparent. Oklahoma firefighters and Oklahoma A & M organized the Fire Service Training Association (later known as IFSTA) which fulfilled this need." |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Okla. Fire Service Training School, A. & M. College, Stillwater, Okla 1950 |
"First half of Fire Station No. 2 - 1938"
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Courtesy of Rick Schumaker, April 2011
"This images shows the station with only two bays and two floors which was built by City of Stillwater funds with labor help by the firemen. Funding was a problem. The college later matched the City's funds and with a Public Works Administration grant there was enough money to complete the station as your dad saw it in 1939." |
"2010"
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Courtesy of Rick Schumaker, April 2011
"The other picture is from Sept 2010 from my visit to OSU for a reunion with fire protection students who attended in the years 1950-1955. The station is in dire need of repair and is the object of dispute between the city and the university as to who will fund the repairs."Rick also sent an image of an historic sign recognizing IFSTA which reads: STILLWATER FIRE STATION NO 1 |
"Fireman training tower"
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
Bud did not indicate where this picture was taken but it seems likely that the tower was part of the "Fire College" |
"Oklahoma City"
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
The engraving near the top of the building says, "Municipal Building" |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Municipal Building, Oklahoma City, Okla. Not posted. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Oklahoma City Fire Department, 1939 |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Central Fire Station Oklahoma City, Okla. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Oklahoma |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Dallas, Texas |
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Houston, Texas According to the San Antonio newspapers the fire truck had arrived from Houston to San Antonio on September 7, 1939. See Press below. |
National Fire Company No. 1 Arrives in
San Antonio on September 7, 1939 — 25 days after they left New York City.
San Antonio Express Saturday September 9, 1939 Caption to an image of the truck. "National Fire Company No. 1 which is making a coast-to-coast run in the interest of fire prevention is shown in this picture just before the company make a demonstration run on Friday morning with fire Chief Claud A. Hart here as a guest. Seated at the streamline pumper is chief Arthur B. Hickox, a representative of the International Fire Chief's Association. Left to right on the running board are Mae Vellam, officially designated fire queen by mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York City and William Bensch, Adolph Jost and Andrew Ruoff, volunteer members of the Long Island District fire department. Seated above the pumper left to right are Edgar Land and Harry Blewell, also members of the Long Island District fire department. The company, which left New York City Aug 13, is scheduled to Arrive in San Francisco Sept. 18 where it will put out a blaze as a demonstration at the San Francisco Exposition grounds."The picture itself is too fuzzy to use. There is also an article under the image
"FIRE TRUCK MAKED CONTINENTAL RUNThe San Antonio Light also ran an article: " N. Y. FIREMEN HERE ON 'RUN'Del Rio Texas After leaving San Antonio the crew stopped in Del Rio, Texas. The Del Rio Herald September 10, 1974 "THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 10, 1939Unfortunately as of March 2012 the Del Rio Herald is not available on Newspaperarchive.com for 1939. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck "Central Fire Headquarters with Two Pumpers and Chassis" San Antonio, Texas, Fire Engineering, December 1939. C. A. Hart was the fire chief.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 El Paso, Texas |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck El Paso, Texas Not posted, but a similar card was posted 1939. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 New Mexico Mountains |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Coolidge Dam |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Coolidge Dam |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Coolidge Dam. Posted 1942. |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Coolidge Dam. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Arizona desert |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Mountain pass |
"mountain pass, Arizona"
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
"entrance to tunnel"
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
"tunnel highway in mountain pass"
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Photo collection of Tony Land The Claypool Tunnel between Globe and Superior, Arizona. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Claypool Tunnell, Highway U. S. 60 and 180. Posted 1936. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Claypool Tunnell, Highway U. S. 60 Arizona Not posted. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Devil's Canyon, Highway 60 and 70 Between Miami and Superior, Ariz. Not posted. The 1926 Claypool Tunnell was bypassed in 1952 by the Queen Creek Tunnel. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Queen Creek Tunnell on U. S. HWYS 60 & 70 between Miami and Superior through the sheer rock butress of the Queen Creek Gourge. Not posted. |
"Al Jost and Andy Ruoff" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
With the saguaros in the background this is clearly Arizona. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck On the Globe Superior Highway, Arizona.
"A wonderful mountain highway, through a region of mighty rock masses, towering cliffs and deep canyons, the short route from Globe to Phoenix via Miami and Superior, a distance of 80 miles." Not posted. |
Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Superior Highway, Arizona. Not posted. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Arizona Sonora Desert vegetation: Ocotillo, Saguaro cactus, cholla cactus, barrel, prickly pear and other cactus.
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck Printed on back: "The Security Building is the landmark where motorists entering Phoenix on Van Buren Street, U. S. Highways 60-70-80-89, turn north to the residential sections and the many outlying winter resort hotels, or south to the downtown hotels and shopping district."The crew came into Phoenix on route 60 from Globe. It seems likely that they would have passed this intersection. The Security Building at 234 North Central Avenue was erected in 1928 and is still standing. |
"on the air in Phoenix, Arizona" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
My dad, Bud Land, is at the right side of the truck.
His face is partially reflected in the windshield. William Bensch has the original negative of this image. In August 2010 Eva Kinnard wrote to say that C. P. Stephen's auto dealership was at 915 North Central. Eva send a copy of a Staff Report of April 6, 2009 from the Phoenix Planning Department. In discussing the historic value of Quebedeaux Chevrolet Showroom & Offices, 750 Grand Avenue Kevin Weight, Planner III reported: "Only three other pre-1955 examples are known to exist:In March 2012 Robert Graham wrote: "The Stephens DeSoto Building was constructed in 1928 by Alice Hine, owner for C. P. Stephens, the tenant. They operated the DeSoto dealership (and later picking up Plymouth) in this location from 1928 through about 1955. The architects were McDonald & Morrison. The original rendering of the building appeared in The Arizona Republican on September 23, 1928, and shows the building from almost the same angle as your photo! I have attached a copy of this drawing. The building still exists, although in very poor condition. The photo on your website is the best we have found of the building in its original state. |
Newspaper Rendering of the De Soto Dealership, courtesy of Robert Graham, March 2012 | |
The Stephens De Soto Building as it looked in March 2029, courtesy of Robert Graham, March 2012 | |
Koy Building, March 2029, courtesy of Robert Graham, March 2012 |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Robert Graham identified the building on the left as the Koy building. (See above). The 1936 Phoenix directory listed the following businesses on N. Central between Garfield and Roosevelt:
Note: Phil Torrey "Pilot and restaurant owner" and three other died August 1936 in a crash when the plane he was flying hit a tree.
The man in the white shirt leaning over Art Hickox is the same person as the man on the running board in the picture above. |
Yuma, Arizona THE YUMA WEEKLY SUN September 15, 1939 "NY FIRE TRUCK STOPS HERE ON WAY TO S. F. FAIRUS Highway 80 crosses the Colorado river in Yuma. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 California State Line |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck Broadway, Fresno, Calif. The Fire Run was written up in the Fresno Bee on September 19, 1939. See Press below. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Santa Anita Racetrack, Arcadia, California, opened in December 1934.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Hollywood Hotel Located on what later became Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Hotel was built in 1902. It was enlarged several times. In it's heyday it was an in spot frequented by many famous movie stars. It fell into disrepair in the early 1940s and was razed in 1956.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch Courtyard Hollywood Hotel
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Collection of Maggie Land Blanck
IN CALIFORNIA |
Collection of Maggie Land Blanck
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, HOLLYWOOD CAL. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 William Bensch at the Hollywood Bowl. |
"Al and Andy at Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California"
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
Grauman's Chinese Theatre usually had an elaborate awning in front.
Workmen on ladders in the background are working on the awning structure.
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Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California. This postcard shows the theatre with the awning in place. Star's footprints, handprints and signatures are impressed in the cement of the sidewalk in front of the theatre.
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Postcard collection of Maggie Land Blanck | |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010
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"Los Angeles, Ca."
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Photo collection of Tony Land Jack Yolton was an early pilot for Goodyear blimps. I cannot find anything on the Washing Greasing, motor tune-up" business
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
Las Angeles, California. Bud is on the left. William Bensch has the original negative of this image. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 San Francisco showing Bradley's 5 and 10 on the right. Frank L Bradley, San Francisco hotel and tavern owner, opened Bradley's 5 and 10 on Fillmore street near Eddy street (between Geary and Post) in 1936. It boasted the tallest (7 ft 8 inches) and shortest (4 feet 10 inches) bartenders in the world. It also boasted the longes bar in the world. Bradley's served beer for 5 and 10 cents a class. I am assuming this image was taken from a hotel room window on Steiner street looking east towards South Beach/Embarcadero. The building with the cupola at the left of the image must be on Webster street. Frank L Bradley died at age 84 in 1964.
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"On Fire Boat" |
Photo collection of Tony Land From left to right: Al Jost, Bill Bensch, Andy Rouff, Harry Blowell, Bud Land. Original negative in the collection of William Bensch. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Fire Boat, San Francisco |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Visiting a winery |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Portland Oregon Fire Department |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Portland Oregon Fire Department
September 25, 1939, Berkeley Daily Gazette in a news article about the disaster service unit of the Portland Oregon Fire department says: "Brought here in connection with the annual convention of Pacific Coast and International Association of Fire Chiefs, which concluded yesterday in San Francisco, the new truck was also displayed in Oakland and Alameda."The J. W. Stevens Disaster Service Unit had a portable power plant, communications equipment, fire fighting apparatus, and emergency hospital facility, room to transport seven injured persons, and was capable of speeds of up to 69 miles an hour. It was equipped to handle not only fires, but train wrecks, plane crashes, building, bridge and elevator collapses, ship wrecks, highway disasters, avalanches, and jail breaks.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 San Francisco Fire Department washing hose. San Francisco Fire Department Museum says the Fire Chief in 1939 was Charles J Brennan. In reference to the World Exposition they say: "Little else changed in the Department until the advent of the World's Fair of 1939-40 on Treasure Island. Charged with the fire protection responsibility of the entire installation on the man-made island, the Department established two complete stations at the fair site. The equipment situated on the island consisted of two engines, two trucks, two tank wagons, a fireboat and a hose tender all under the general jurisdiction of a Battalion Chief. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 San Francisco Fire Department washing hose. |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 San Francisco City Official The mayor of San Francisco in September 1939 was Angelo J Rossi who does not look like any of the people in this photo. Angelo Rossi
From 1929 to 1943 Charles J Brennan was the Chief Engineer of the San Francisco Fire Department. Charles J Brennen
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 San Francisco Fire Department Escort over bridge.
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Bay Bridge San Francisco. The Bay Bridge connects San Francisco and Oakland and crosses over Treasure Island the site of the 1939 exposition. |
Photo collection of William Bensch Approaching the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Edgar (Bud) Land |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Adolph Jost |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Bill Bensch |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Andy Rouff |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 The Crew: Mae Hickox on truck, Art Hickox, Andy Ruoff, Edgar (Bud) Land, William Bensch, Al Jost and Harry Blowell with the Tower of the Sun in the background.
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Photo collection of Tony Land |
In November 2009 J B Williamson, CFPS from Johnson Space Center wrote: "In the photo one of the trucks has High Pressure Battery SFFD on the side which is most likely the San Francisco FD and the building to the left with the mosaic murals is the Federal Building. It was probably not the center building but the one on the left or right. The California Building was one of the buildings at the fair.Some searching of the internet confirmed that this image is the Federal Building at the Golden Gate Exhibition. The marble mosaic murals of the Federal Building at the Golden Gate Exposition were designed and executed by Herman Volz and his assistant Juan Breda. Bill Bensch has the original negative of this image.
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Magazine collection of Maggie Land Blanck |
In the March 6, 1939 issue Life magazine ran an article on the Golden Gate Exposition.
The exposition was held on a man made island, called Treasure Island, in San Francisco Bay. The image above from the Life article shows the opening ceremony which took place in the Court of the Nation. The Federal Building is the building with the columns and two wings at the top of the picture. The building marked with the red arrow is the building seen in the photo with the fire trucks. |
September 22, 1939
"AH! NOW FAIR'S SAFE!Thanks to Ron Claveloux for searching the San Francisco paper's archives to find this article. The arrival of the Long Island truck coincided with the staged demonstration of modern fire fighting methods held under the auspices of the National Fire Chief's day and the 1,600 fire chiefs who attended the event in the Court of Nations at the Exposition. The fire chiefs had attended a luncheon hosted by San Francisco Fire Chief, Charles J. Brennan and later were served a buffet supper at Treasure Island's three fire stations. (The San Francisco Examiner Sept 23, 1939, courtesy Ron Claveloux, March 2012) The truck remained in California. September 22, 1939 - San Francisco Chronicle
FIRE ENGINE HERE AFTER TRIP FROM EAST COASTAn article on the same page reported on the fire chiefs 67th annual convention where over a thousand fire chiefs from across the country and Canada suffered the hot weather.
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Miscellaneous Photos
The locations where these taken photos were are not known or are uncertain. |
"Conrad Hilton at the wheel" |
Photo collection of Tony Land Conrad Hilton started his hotel chain in Texas — Cisco, Dallas, Abilene, Waco, Marlin and El Paso. His first hotel outside of Texas opened in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1939. Most likely this photo was taken at one of his hotels in Texas. The route the fire run took did not go through Albuquerque. Their route was from Wichita, to Stillwell, Ok, Oklahoma City, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso. What little detail there is does not look like the Dallas Hilton. From Dallas to San Antonio they would have gone by way of Waco and Austin. In 1929, Conrad Hilton built his eighth Hilton Hotel in Marlin, Texas. It was a nine-floor, 110 room Falls Hotel. Marlin is quite near Waco. There were double pillars on the facade of the Marlin Hilton, but I cannot get a clear enough image of the hotel to be sure.
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Photo collection of Tony Land
Mae Hickox is in the passenger seat. |
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Collection of Robert Bensch Harry Blowell, Bud Land, Andy Ruoff, Al Jost, William Bensch and Mae & Art Hickox |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 "End of fire Run" |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
Notice the Texaco pump. Bud labeled this image Los Angeles but William Bensch labeled it "Texas". |
Photo collection of Robert Bensch, April 2010 Showing of the truck |
William Bensch's Certificate for the Fire Run |
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Collection of Robert Bensch
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The Truck
The truck on which the crew made the run was a Mack 80S 1017, 1939 Fire Truck.
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Courtesy of The Mack Museum, Allentown Pa.
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Courtesy of The Mack Museum, Allentown Pa.
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Courtesy of The Mack Museum, Allentown Pa.
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The three photos above were generouly shared by the Mack Museum in
Allentown, Pa.
Mack Museum In September 2008 Don Schumaker the curator of the Mack Museum wrote: "The truck that Colonel Hickox used was the Mack 80S 1017 fire truck. We can supply you with copies of the Sales and Build Records for that vehicle for your files, if you wish. We also have three file photographs of the chassis taken in one of the cities along the way. My guess is that the photos were taken in Philadelphia since the A9634 photo shows the "chief's car" in the background with a Pennsylvania license plate. The date code 839* on the photos indicates the photos were taken in August 1939 near the start of the trip."*I cut the codes out of the images.
The Mack Trucks Historical Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday Please call before you visit!
"For many visitors, the museum's real treasures aren't made of steel at all, but of paper and celluloid. There are more than 80,000 photos in the collection, many dating back to 1905. And there are records. If you were to come across an old AB truck under a tarp in a barn, there was a record made when it was built. The company's been doing it for every chassis manufactured since 1905, and except for a few rare cases, they are filed here. When requesting information about a particular truck from the Mack Museum, please provide the complete chassis number and your postal address."Don wrote: "The entries for this Chassis indicate that he truck was delivered to Col. Arthur Hickox at Long Island City, New York. The date is not legible. The second entry on this record indicates that it was delivered to t he City of San Luis Obispo, CA on December 22, 1941 by the Mack Los Angeles Branch". He notes that Col. Hickox probably had the use of the truck without purchasing it. |
After his stroke in 1986, Bud like to xerox old photos, sometimes make notes on them, and send the xeroxes to family and friends. This is a doctored picture from one of those xeroxes. I don't know where the original picture is. |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
The Xeroxed copy |
Photo collection of Tony Land |
The Mack Truck After the Fire Run |
Jack Krege of San Luis Obisbo, Calfiornia contacted me in September 2008 to the say that his father "drove and operated the '39 Mack for many years". Jack wrote: "Following the end of the San Franscico Exposition, the Mack Company used the 1939 fire engine as a demonstration unit to promote new sales on the West Coast.Jack also wrote: The Truck was Mack E Series. The engine was a Mack Thermodyne 6 cylinder gasoline motor, 611 cu. in., rated at 168 horsepower pump - 2 stage hale rated at 750 g.p.m.City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department. Thanks to Bill Riedemann for the connection. They still have the 1941 Fire Truck! |
Press |
Lima News, April 30, 1939
"Long Fire Run To Be Thru LimaNote: In fact, the fire run was made in the opposite direction with five Long Island volunteer firemen. Oakland Tribune Tuesday July 25, 1939
"A fire engine is to leave the New York World Fair Saturday to extinguish a blaze at the Golden Gate International Exposition, some five weeks hence a long run for any fire engine to any fire.San Antonio Express September 9, 1939
"Firemen in 5,870 - mile run |
San Antonio Light September 9, 1939
"NEW TRUCK ABOVE MAKING "LONGEST FIRE RUN IN HISTORY" Picture of very poor quality. The accompanying article: "NY FIREMEN HERE ON "RUN"The Yuma Sun, Yuma, Arizona, September 14, 1939 "N. Y. STOPS HERE ON WAY TO S. F. FAIRFresno Bee, September 19, 1939
"Good Will Fire Fighting Truck Visits FresnoThe International Association of Fire Chiefs ended September 24, 1939.
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Los Angeles Times
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Collection of Robert Bensch
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Collection of Tony Land The 1939 Fire Run was recognized in 1944 by Ripley's "Believe It or Not" as the "longest fire run in history". The listed the distance as "6,800 miles". While they stated that there was a "crew of 5" they depicted 6 men on the truck.
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The Route of the 1939 Fire Run
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U.S Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey Map
from nationalatlas.gov This map is an estimation of the route based on the places the crew were known to have stopped or passed through. The run was made before the days of the super highway. The most likely route between New York City and Washington was Route 1 through Philadelphia and Baltimore. The route from Washington to Toledo, Ohio is less certain. There were two possibilities — routes 40 and 50 both headed west from DC. Route 40 was a slightly more northerly route and Route 50 went a little further south. In any event, they were known to have been in Cincinnati where they stayed at the Netherland Plaza Hotel. From Cincinnati they most likely went through Lima on Route 75 to Toledo. From Toledo it was a straight shot across Route 20 to Chicago. However at some point they were in Indianapolis (either before or after Chicago). They were said to have sent a letter from Indianapolis and there is also a picture taken in Indianapolis. The next known stops were St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri and Wichita, Kansas. They certainly must have spent some time on the historic Route 66 which had opened in 1926. Route 66 ran from Chicago, to Los Angeles through, St. Louis, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City — stops they were known to have made. They took a detour between Tulsa and Oklahoma City to go to the fire school in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Routes 77 and 81 went between Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft Worth. From Dallas/Ft Worth they most likely took route 81 to San Antonio. From San Antonio route 90 went as far as Van Horn, Texas where it met up with route 80. The were know to have stopped in Del Rio, Texas which was on Route 90. They would have taken route 80 through El Paso and on to Las Cruces, New Mexico where it met route 70. Routes 70 and 80 ran together as far as Lordsburg where they must have followed route 70 north west through Globe Arizona and on to Claypool, Arizona where it met route 60. Route 60 and 70 ran together through Superior on to Florence, Arizona. From Florence routes 80 - 89 went through Apache Junction Mesa and on to Phoenix. The picture of the tunnel indicate that they were on Route 60 - 70 at the Claypool Tunnel between Globe and Superior, Arizona. From Phoenix they would have continued on Route 60 -70 to Los Angeles. Then up through California on either 99 or 101. They were in Fresno, California on September 19. Fresno was the "129th" city they visited. They ended in San Francisco at the World Exposition. The routes were worked out with the aid of 1939 maps. The Route Today Route 1 still exists but has been supplanted by Route 95. Routes 40, 50, 23, still exist. US 35 is now the main route between Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth. Route 66 was officially removed form the US highway systems in 1985. Part of the road which goes through Illinois, New Mexico and Arizona has been designated a "National Scenic Byway" and renamed "Historic Route 66". The main route from San Antonio to Las Cruses New Mexico is now US 10. Route 60 which once ran from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Los Angeles, California now terminates at Route 10 in Quartzsite, Arizona. The rest of Route 60 was decommissioned in 1964. California Highway 60 replaced Route 60 from Beaumont, California to LA.
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Image courtesy of Ken Kapson
America's Scrapbook Ken Kapson has a store on eBay at Kenbay . In August 2008 he had the sheet music for "The RED-HEADED KID with The FIREMAN'S HAT up for auction and said the following about it: The cover illustration of this sheet music is not what it appears to be, at first glance. It seems to only be a cartoonish illustration with a fireman related motif. In actuality, it is really a reference to a little-remembered but actual historical event which took place in 1939.Ken graciously send me a jpg of the image to add to the web page on the Fire Run. |
Arthur Benjamin Hickox
Birth: Jan 31, 1880 (0r 1881), father Benjamin Hickox, mother Mary Gower |
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William O Bensch (1914-1990)
Birth: 26 April 1914, the son of William and Freda Bensch. |
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Photo collection of Robert Bensch William O F Bensch |
Harry Blowell
I haven't been able to find anything on Harry Blowell.
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Adolph E Jost (1914-1990)
Birth: 1914, the son of Edward Anton and Anna Jost. |
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Edgar (Bud) Land (1915-1999)
Birth: 1915, the son of Percy and Meta Land of Smithtown. |
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Andrew (Andy Ruoff) (1920- 1976)
Birth: Nov 25, 1920 was the son of Charles Rouff and his wife, Elsie |
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Europe On The Brink of War, August 1939, and the Invasion of
Poland, September 1939
While the young men of National Fire Company No. 1 made their way across the United States, Europe was on the brink of war as the Nazi Germany gobbled up territories with little resistance from other European powers. On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland. England had signed treaty agreements with Poland and consequently was obliged to declared war on Germany. France as an ally of England also declared war on Germany. The US did not enter the was until December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Interestingly four of the men of National Fire Company No 1 were of Germany extraction.
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Of the five young men on the fire run two of them were Smithtown boys, my dad, Bud Land and Andy Ruoff, whose family owned a restaurant in Smithtown. See Smithtown Photos |
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© Maggie Land Blanck - Page created 2004 - Latest update, July 2018 |