Welcome to the historical narrative of the Fire Bell in Urbandale, Iowa. Before Urbandale was officially incorporated as a city in 1917, the community around 70th and Douglas recognized the urgent need for organized fire protection. At the heart of this initiative was the Fire Bell, an essential tool in rallying the local volunteers to combat fires.
In the early days, fire protection was a grassroots effort. The community’s first attempt at fire equipment was a two-wheeled cart with a barrel mounted on it, stored behind Walker’s Grocery on 70th Street. When a fire broke out, the cart would be pulled to the scene, sometimes with the help of a horse. However, one notable incident saw the cart overturned and unable to reach the fire, highlighting the challenges of early firefighting efforts.
In the late 1920s, a significant development occurred when the community purchased a 1911 Model-T Ford pick-up truck from the Beach brothers. This truck became Urbandale’s first fire truck, equipped with the original fire cart barrel, 700 feet of hose, buckets, and other firefighting tools. The truck’s housing became a point of contention, moving between various garages until it found a home at George Battina’s garage.
The Fire Bell itself, installed atop an 18-foot pole near Fire Chief Darrel Teach’s store, played a crucial role in alerting volunteers. The number of clangs indicated the fire’s location, a primitive yet effective method of communication in an era before modern technology.
As time progressed, the community’s efforts to improve fire safety continued. In 1934, Urbandale saw the installation of a 6-inch water line from Des Moines, significantly enhancing the town’s firefighting capabilities. A new Dodge pick-up truck replaced the aging Model-T, and the Fire Bell was eventually supplanted by a siren, symbolizing a more modern approach to emergency response.
This period saw the construction of Urbandale’s first dedicated fire station, a testament to the town’s commitment to safety. The station, built with significant volunteer effort, stood as a symbol of community cooperation and resilience.
Through these stories, the Fire Bell in Urbandale serves as a reminder of the town’s early challenges and the community spirit that overcame them. It played an integral role in shaping the town’s development and ensuring the safety of its residents.
