Historical May 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Have you looked lately for Firehouse #30 on DeBaliviere? It’s a narrow twostory building snuggled between the new Bi-State Garage on Delmar and a Baptist Church.
Once a week the firemen of Firehouse #30 go out on the firetruck to familiarize themselves with the neighborhood.
During these trips the A Team, led by Captain Macarthy (a golf enthusiast), sometimes stop at the St. Louis Public Library Kiosk. Members of the A Team include David Crawford, who is also a leader; David Hill, who has six children; Mark Neinhaus, who plays softball; and Paul Maletich, who is single and the youngest. Among these men there is a wide range of literary taste. Books on home repair and gardening, hunting and the outdoors, science fiction from L. Ron Hubbard to Frank Herbert, biographies, and the classics including the works of Thomas Hardy, Edgar Allan Poe and Henry James represent their choices.
They are adept at using the CD-Rom and request many books from other locations and also boost circulation by checking out books for their children. Occasionally while browsing in the Kiosk, a fire alarm has sounded on the radio and they fly out the door.
Before they have turned the corner they are in complete fire gear and the siren is screaming.
In this neighborhood alone they have responded to 1,111 calls this year.
In their work firefighters frequently sustain minor injuries on the job.
In the poorer areas of St. Louis they see many fatalities, particularly among children and the elderly.
In those areas civilians heat with kerosene, electric heaters or burn wood in fireplaces that are not safe.
All the men are trained in C.P.R.
Some are paramedics and are able to resuscitate those hurt as well as try to prevent injury.
Last year at a fire in an apartment building on Clara near Delmar, firemen David Hill and Edward Meyer were able to save a rather large woman by getting the ladder to her window before she jumped from it which would have resulted in severe injuries. Do you ever wonder where these firemen are when they are not out fighting fires? (Besides the Kiosk, that is!) The St. Louis Fire Department operates on a three-shift system.
During the 24-hour period a shift is on duty, no one is allowed to leave. Meals are taken together and planned so that if the alarm sounds they can quickly leave and resume eating later. Firemen perform assigned tasks such as polishing the brass, cleaning the firehouse, and policing the grounds to prepare for Sunday inspections by the battalion chief. Daily, firemen also have time to study to learn new methods of fire fighting and to keep up with policy changes.
From 7:30-10:30 they have free time for reading, watching T.V., playing cards or telephone conversation with a spouse.
Each firefighter is on a three hour watch during the night which provides total vigilance.
It has been a pleasure working with these men over the past seven years.
Even before the Kiosk existed, some of them answered the call when the old Des Peres Branch Library burned.
We salute them for their contribution to the neighborhood and enjoy their high-spirited visits to the Kiosk.
To meet the firefighters of Firehouse #30 in person, come to the Kiosk Karnival on May 12th at 12:30 and receive a guided tour of the firetruck.
There will be other activities as well as cake and punch.
Original photograph caption
Firefighters from Firehouse #30, photographed by Mary Ann Shickman in front of the St. Louis Public Library Kiosk. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May1990, page6.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1990.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1990_05.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
