Enter a name, company, place or keywords to search across this item. Then click "Search" (or hit Enter).
Volume 051-2 - April 1997 (8 pages)
Go to the Archive Home
Go to Thumbnail View of this Item
Go to Single Page View of this Item
Download the Page Image
Copy the Page Text to the Clipboard
Don't highlight the search terms on the Image
Show the Page Image
Show the Image Page Text
Reset View and Center Image
Zoom Out
Zoom In
Rotate Left
Rotate Right
Toggle Full Page View
Flip Image Horizontally
More Information About this Image
Get a Citation for Page or Image - Copy to the Clipboard
Go to the Next Page (or Right Arrow key)
Page: of 8
Nevada County Historical society
Bulletin
Volume 51, No. 2 April 1997
The Firehouse Museum’s 50th Birthday
by Priscilla van der Pas
a
The Hou Wong Joss House as it appeared at Grass Valley earlier in this century, when it still retained a projecting roof,
sidewalls, and outside platform. Years later, after the building had been razed, the altar from this religious shrine was
rescued and given to the Nevada County Historical Society’s Firehouse Museum at Nevada City. (Firehouse photo.)
I, APRIL 1947, the Nevada City Firehouse No. 1 on
Main Street opened as a historical museum for the first time.
ow or 50 years it has been visited by residents and tourists from
every state and many countries. The building is actually
owned by Nevada City, but maintained and kept open by
Nevada County Historical Society volunteers year round.
When school tours arrive and stand outside the door, the
children learn that this building is very old; it was built in
1861 as the firehouse for the Main Street area of town by the
Nevada Hose Company. As finished, it sported a white Greek
fagade, which later was removed when the Victorian bell
tower and gingerbread trim were added. Hose carts first were
pulled by men, later by horses. Competing express companies in town had a standing order to rush their horses to
9