Page 24 - History of the Colton Fire Department

1908
John Wenck was introduced to the department and elected by the membership as a member of the department
and as driver of the hose wagon.

John Wenck and his Horse Prince
1909
A.L. Pierce was elected the 7th known Colton fire chief. Arthur Pierce was born in New York, 1877. He was
a bicycle dealer.
The merchants of Colton had it approved that the Fire bell would be rung at
6:00 p.m. each evening. Due to lack of staffing, the chief was to ask the city
marshal if this practice was to be continued.
The Home Phone Company addressed the members in regards to in-
stallation of phones in homes at the cost of $10.00 each. The committee was
advised to check out the system already in place in Arlington. Sunset Tel-
ephone Company later installed a telephone and fire gong on the outside of
the station.

1910
Saturday January 29th, The Colton Volunteers responded to a fire at
The Watanga Hotel which destroyed two rooms in the rear and one above.
The Watanga was a boarding hotel located on the west side of Seventh St.
between H and I Streets just south of the alley. The Watanga was owned by
Mr. W.W. Wilcox. The Volunteers were very efficient at extinguishing the fire
and praised for saving the building. The following week, Mr. Wilcox put on a
huge Banquet at the Anderson Hotel to express his gratitude for such a fine job.
This article by The Colton Chronicle describes the humor and brotherhood that has
always existed in the fire service.

A.L. Pierce
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