Columbia Drill Tower, Park Street: 1980s(?) 5 comments
I'm pretty sure this Park Street structure, in the first block south of Gervais Street, was a rescue practice tower for the Columbia Fire Department.
The original signage has been stripped from the stone, but after trying a few random things in gimp, I got this transform where you can almost read the letters:
I'm pretty sure it says "Columbia Drill Tower", but the first 'L' looks different from the second 'L' for some reason.
At any rate, if it's not a Fire Department burning building rescue mock up, I can't think what it possibly could be.
The structure is obviously not used now. I wonder if it just got too out of date? There are not a whole lot of buildings with fire escapes around anymore to rescue people from.
UPDATE 4 February 2012: Apparently the plan to repurpose the old firestation to which this tower belonged is not going well.
5 Responses to 'Columbia Drill Tower, Park Street: 1980s(?)'
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Tom
26 Feb 10 at 6:28 am
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My grandfather worked construction and helped build this back in the early fifties, IIRC. It was used for training until the SC Fire Academy opened.
jamie
26 Feb 10 at 7:39 am
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According to SC Archives & History the tower was built in 1951.
http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/richland/S10817740147/index.htm
Tom
26 Feb 10 at 4:31 pm
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This structure was located behind the Columbia Fire Department headquarters building at the corner of Park and Senate. Headquarters moved to Laurel Street in the mid-90's, resulting in the closing of the old headquarters station and the Harden St. station (now the department's Logistics building). At this same time, one engine company was relocated to a new station in Olympia. A drill tower was built in the 80's behind the Industrial Park station off of Bluff Rd., but I have been told most training now is done at the State Fire Academy on the North side of town.
Andy
28 Mar 10 at 3:14 pm
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My Grandfather Raymond Boykin was the Assistant Chief at this fire department. He provided the hay for their mock fires.
Miz T
9 Aug 11 at 3:27 pm
I believe this structure dates from the 1940s or 1950s.