Page 23 - History of the Colton Fire Department

1905 teenth century. This building later became known as the
Mr. W.W. Wilcox who was one of Colton’s Vol- Kluetter Building. The building was demolished in
unteer Firemen, experienced a fire in his barn. He was 1966 as part of the downtown redevelopment project.
sure to attend the next Fire Hall meeting to express his
satisfaction for the fine work by the men that fought the The Fire Department requested that the city fur-
blaze. In gratitude he presented the members of the nish a horse and wagon with driver whose duties be-
department with ice cream. Ice cream has been a long sides caring for the streets (in front of City Hall) would
standing tradition to give thanks, if you get recognized be to haul the hose cart to fires. The city trustees re-
for something you did, your name is in the paper or ported that they would not be able to provide a horse
it’s the first time you did something (that can be a lot at this time. However, they agreed to pay $5.00 for
of ice cream when you are a rookie). Wilson Wallace the first person hauling apparatus to and from fires. The
Wilcox was one of the most important people in early Fire Department appointed a committee of three to so-
Colton. He was born in Illinois in 1862. While living in licit funds from the citizens for the purpose of buying a
Nora Springs, Illinois, where he worked as a salesman horse, harness and wagon.
in a general hardware store, he married Clara Gilbert,
the daughter of Milo Gilbert. Wilson Wilcox and his 1906
wife moved to Colton in 1886. Milo Gilbert moved to Fire department asked the City Trustees to have the fire
Colton a few months later, in 1887. Milo Gilbert built plugs painted a visible color for easy identification.

1907
Every year as July 4th celebrations would roll
around there would be new ideas to reduce
the risk of large fires. The Fire Chief was
authorized to hire a man with his own horse
to be stationed at the engine room ready for
duty from July 3rd to July 5.
Fire committee was authorized to purchase
a sufficient hose wagon for the fire depart-
ment at a cost not to exceed $175.00. The
city trustees had also agreed to furnish a man
and a horse for the department at a salary of
$60.00 per month.

Above: Gilbert Building Below: 4th of July Celebration
the famous Gilbert Building on the northeast
corner of 8th and I Streets in 1889. Wilson
Wilcox was a founder of the Colton Hardware
Company and built one of the largest com-
mercial buildings in downtown Colton. This
complex was built in 1910 on the west side of
8th Street between H and I Streets, just south
of the alley and adjacent on the south to the
Gilbert Building. The site is now part of the
Stater Bros parking lot. The building was not
only one of the largest buildings downtown,
but it was the first architecturally modernistic
building in Colton. Many of the other struc-
tures resembled the Victorian, Gothic and Ital-
ianate designs which were popular in the nine-
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