On Saturday, the Antioch Historical Society hosted its Firehouse Dedication Ceremony with the unveiling of a hand-drawn fire wagon hose and a restored 1927 Model T fire truck.
Both items were donated to the non-profit by the Antioch City Council in October, 2015. The new artifacts will be housed in a new garage outside the historical society main building.
The event was made possible after Donald P. Freitas, Tom Menasco and other community members raise more than $50,000 for the display and vehicles.
“We tried to do this with every aspect of our community and we are so very proud that we have a firehouse display here today. So much time and work has gone into this particular project. We are happy that the community always steps forward, always helps to make this place a better place to live, work and play,” said Freitas. “
Edward “Skip” Cavalli, former Fire Chief of the Antioch Fire Department says he could not have asked for better treatment by the citizens of Antioch during his time as fire chief.
“This is something that Antioch needed not only with the fire service, but for the community,” said Cavalli.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Captain Vito Impastato, a second generation firefighter, spoke about his father who served at Fire Station 1—later renamed to Station 81—and how the fire department is a family.
“My father was a firefighter here from 1978 until he passed in 2002. He spent 19 of these years at Station 81,” explained Impastato. “When you grow up in this kind of family, it’s what it is a family, it’s not just Antioch or Contra Costa County or the state, it’s across the nation. This is a family we are a part of and so many great things happen. One of the strangest things about being a firefighter is you do not have a first name, it does not exist. You are an Impastato, Harris, or Valdez a Price, nobody is allowed to use your first name and I learned that very early on when I called the fire station. I could not ask if my dad was there, I would say is Impastato around. You learn real quick about the whole family thing.”
He noted that firefighters spend one-third of their lives with their second family and its one of the greatest honors he has had while closing with a story about coming to work at Station 81
“I didn’t get hired on here until after my dad had passed. The last thing he knew was I had passed the written test. I’ll never forget that day. He passed and the next year I was here. I spent some time in Central County and worked my way back here to Station 81 and that first night, I was sleeping in his own bunk. It was the same, the locker he made, the desk he had. He couldn’t do anything like everyone else did, everyone’s bed was lined up in pretty rows one way, and he had to have his turned the other way. That was my father and unfortunately or fortunately that is turning out to be me as well,” said Impastato. “I want to thank you for being here. Enjoy this. We are a very proud workforce and very happy to serve all of you every day no matter what the call is, the time of call. We are always happy to do our job. We feel very lucky to be here. I can’t even explain how lucky we feel to serve you.”
Tom Menasco, who decided to take on the project, began getting stakeholders together to make the dedication a reality.
“This has been a great project and thank you to the City Council for having confidence in the historical society because we are really going to benefit the community with this project,” said Menasco. “My association with firefighters go way back to when I was 10-years-old when my father told us fireman and policemen are special people because they have the willingness to sacrifice themselves to help other people. That lingered in my mind forever.”
Menasco further explained that it kept bothering him that they had an old fire truck buried away in a waste treatment plan that only came out once or twice a year. He says there was potential with it to honor firefighters and push education.
“I am hoping we can use this project to encourage and educate future members of the fire department,” said Menasco.
He thanked Contra Costa County Fire Protection District for working with him to find Antioch’s history, specifically Robert Marshall and Station 81 Captain Jeff Landis. He highlighted that through their efforts, they were able to track down 8-scrapbooks from the City of Antioch and its origin’s. In addition, they received 750 negatives and 300 photographs as part of the display.
The display is aimed at honoring the tradition of the Antioch Fire Department which was first created in November of 1871 and was in action until consolidation with Contra Costa County Fire in 1996. The museum hours include: Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Antioch Fire Department History
By Elizabeth Rimbault
(as written in program)
Following massive fires of 1871, businessmen and residents came together to form the Antioch Hook & Ladder Company. S. Jessup became the first chief for the all-volunteer group. Each members paid dues to join.
Incorporation of the town and the formation of the first Board of Trustees saw passage of the first 2 fire ordinances on March 14, 1872. A later report in 1874 to the Board emphasized the lack of organization of the Hook & Ladder Company with all the equipment being broken, scattered, and abandoned on multiple properties.
On December 18, 1874 the volunteers gathered again to reorganize and to seek official sanction from the City Fathers. On March 1, 1875, the Board of Trustees (City Council) established the Antioch Volunteer fire Company No. 1 under Ordinance 24. The official county was 16 member volunteers, each paying $2.50 to join. The ordinance was detailed to establish a chief and two assistant chiefs and the formation of 3 companies (shifts) consisting of a fireman (captain) and two assistant fireman. By 1881 there were 36-members of the volunteer fire department. Membership had become a must for both political and social reasons.
On August 14, 1905, the Woman’s Club of Antioch purchased the Hose Cart fot he Fire Company No. 1, as the Board of Trustees failed to buy any equipment for the group since the great fire of 1871. The woman’s Club organized in 1092 amid much criticisms for lacking money management skills, yet they handily raise $400.00.
In 1910 Ferd Stamm became Chief of the fire company. In 1915, Stamm totally reorganized the volunteer fire company. Peter Donlon became 1st Assistant Chief and C.W. Kearney, 2nd Assitant Chief. The Woman’s Club again stepped forward and paid $40.00 to install the automatic alarm button in the telephone office. The alarm horn would later be installed on the top of City Hall in 1919 with the new building construction. In Addition, the first truck was purchased, a 1916 Ford-Lafrance; 1918, Frank “Tiny” Rodgers hires the first paid fireman; 1925 Tiny Rodgers hired full-time to drive the Seagraves Engine; First Fireman Insurance policies; and in May 1930 the 2nd and 3rd full-time paid firemen were hired; Charles A. Sweeney and James “Red” Taylor, both with families living full time in the firehouse. Sweeney and Taylor organized the first fundraisers with raffles and card parties and brought the first mechanically powered fire rig.
The volunteers became responsible for fundraising through social events. By 1937, Red Taylor and Tiny Rodgers retired. Kingsley Shaw was hired and a young John “Bud” Grangnelli was hired restoring 3 full-time firemen for the department being Sweeney, Shaw and Grangnelli.
Recognized as the First Permanent Chief of Volunteers, Ferd Stamm died in 1937 having served as chief for 27 continuous years. Peter Donlon, Sr. became Chief of Volunteers with Charles Sweeney as 1st Assistant Chief. That same year saw the passage of Ordinance 132A-Rural Fire Protection. Due to the tragic results of this ordinance, later laws would prohibit fire departments in the state from selling fire insurance and created departments which were supported by the tax base. Later Chiefs and fireman would take an oath to protect life and property under all circumstances regardless of insurance coverage.
By 1942 Charles Sweeney became the first paid chief. During the WWII years, Chief Sweeney served as the City As First Chief, Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Health Inspector, Zoning Inspector and as Fire Marshal. Sweeny retired in 1950 at the age of 70 and John “Bud” Grangnelli was promoted to take over as chief of both the volunteers and paid fire department. Chieg Grangnelli became the longest serving chief over the next 21-years. The department moved through the 21st century, as the town grew from a few hundred families to a population of over 20,000, and from a volunteer fire department to a large full time professional department of highly trained firefighters.
In 1971 Chief Grangnelli retired and Edward Cavalli was appointed chief of the Antioch Fire Department with Victor Catanzaro as his 1st Assistant Chief. Chief Cavalli’s term of office would see much pressure from the county Board of Supervisors to force a consolidation of departments. After a county wide consolidation with Contra Costa Fire failed, efforts were turned towards consolidation of the river fronting communities of Pittsburg, West Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley. After 4-years, consolidation was achieved and the new district of Riverview Fire Protection District was created.
In July, 1975 the Chiefs of both Antioch and Pittsburg retired. The new chief selected was Fred Golinveauz, formally of Contra Costa Fire. The old Riverview Union High School became the Administration Offices of the Riverview Fire District. In 1996, consolidation with Contra Costa Fire Protection District would finally be achieved. Riverview Union High School Building became the Antioch Historical Society Museum in September of 1999.
For more on the Antioch Historical Society, visit them online at: www.art4antioch.org
