Page 13 - History of the Colton Fire Department

that we have in today’s households, a firefighter’s job be- school tower to gather the students for class. Mrs. Colton
came very complex and much more dangerous. was made aware of this and she donated the money nec-
Any special meetings and training that took place essary to have a bell installed as soon as possible. This
had to be posted in front of the post office at least 48 hours would be the first school bell in Colton. Just a few years
in advance. The rules were strict on attendance of meet- later in 1887 the Santa Fe Railroad needed the property
ings and training. For each year there would be 3 people that the school house occupied and purchased it from the
appointed by the President to an Investigation Commit- city and the students were moved to a new and larger
tee. Before new members could take the floor, the In- school house that was called “Lincoln”. Lincoln had
vestigation Committee would check their backgrounds to been built in the location where the present day City Hall
see if they had any “Black Balls” against them. Then the stands (600 block of N. LaCadena). The original one
membership would vote for approval. The Investigation room school house was relocated to 458 N. LaCadena
Committee would also investigate any mishaps or acci- where you can still see remnants of the structure today.
dents that were requested by the President. Mrs. Colton’s school house was utilized by Santa Fe un-
til it was demolished in 1925. The bell was removed at
1891 some point after the building was purchased and installed
J.F. Walin was elected as the third Volunteer Chief at the City Hall on I Street (Valley Blvd.) in 1891. The
on April 10, 1891. Chief Walin worked with the Board of bell served primarily as a fire bell and other community
Trustees to establish the City Volunteers as a City Depart- gatherings. In 1918 at the end of World War I, everyone
ment, purchasing better equipment, increasing response had reason to celebrate.
times and improving the city’s water supply.

The first Fireman’s Ball was held in 1891 and
there would be many to follow.

In June of 1891 there was a committee formed to
discuss putting a main water line in town for fire use and
to place a bell in the tower of City Hall. Chief Walin gave
instructions that the bell would be rung at 7 o’clock on
the evening of any regular meeting to remind members.

History of the Bell has been a puzzle till now. The bell
that is displayed in front of the current
Colton Fire Station #1 had lost it’s roots. Between the
rediscovered news articles and live interviews, the story
of the bell is complete and here to stay.
The Bell
For many decades there has been a large bell on
display in the front of Fire Station #1. Memories of the
bell have faded almost to the point of being forgotten.
From past news articles, council notes, Fire Department
Log books and personal accounts, I believe that we have
reclaimed a valuable part of Colton’s history. David Col-
ton for whom the city is named after in 1875, died in
1878. Mrs. Colton lived in their mansion in San Fran-
cisco (the first mansion on Nob Hill). Mrs. Colton was
honored that the City of Colton was named after her late
husband and would make donations to benefit the town-
ship. In 1883 Mrs. Colton donated the money to build
the first substantial school house in Colton that replaced
the one room building school house built in 1876. When The Original City Hall and Fire Station in 1891
after the Bell was installed. The bell is now
the new school began sessions, there was no bell in the displayed in front of Colton Fire Station 1. 13