Strand Theater - 1940's & 1950's

This posting, contains several pictures of  the Strand Theater.  The above picture was sent to me by my brother Marty, and is believed to have been taken around 1942.  The front of the theater shows the two entrances, the box office, and two placards each listing two upcoming movies.

Picture of the Strand Theater between Whitings Drug Store and Warden's Feed Store.  Would estimate the picture to be taken around 1950.  The building has been the home to many businesses over the years.  The theater closed around 1960 and McLauglin Pharmacy who purchase Whiting's Drug Store next door to the theater moved their business into the old theater building about 1961.  The building now is the home to Miller's Pharmacy.

The two pictures above of the Strand Theater were sent to me by my brother Marty.  The one on the left was taken showing a canopy over the entrance, a ticket booth, the two entrances, and two placards showing upcoming movies.  The picture on the right is the front of the theater without the ticket booth.  Sale of tickets was moved inside to the snack bar.  The front of the building that had been recessed for the ticket booth, is now flush with the buildings on either side.  During this remodeling, a used marque was purchased and hung on the front of the building to advertise the current movie being played.  In Marty's comment accompanying the pictures, he noted that he thought the marque was purchased from a Strand theater in Monroe, Michigan that was remodeling or closing.  Guessing the remodeling of the theater was done in the early 1950's.

As a youngster I can remember my parents dropping me off at the theater to watch a double feature, while they went to the Broadway Bar a couple doors down.  I believe for 50 cents, you could see the movie, and get a coke, and popcorn.

The movie listed on the marque was Alan Ladd staring in "Thunder in the East".  Looked up the movie on Wikiphedia ...the bio listed is as follows:  The film is set in 1947 after India has gained its independence from Britain. Steve Gibbs (Alan Ladd), an American arms dealer, flies into a small Indian state intending to sell weapons to a local maharajah whose capital is facing an attack from a bandit army. He is opposed by the maharajah's prime minister (Charles Boyer), who is a proponent of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. He also falls in love with a blind girl (Deborah Kerr).  Was released on February 3, 1953 in New York City.  So would put the date of the picture above as being after that date.

Union City Fire Fighters - 1939

My brother Marty sent me the picture of the old fire ladder trailer that was used in the early 1900's in Union City.  See the posting below to see the ladder trailer that is on loan to the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Comments from Marty ....This 1939 picture is of three fireman with the ladder wagon. They are on East High Street in front of from the old fire station. Note they were pulling the wagon with a tractor instead of horses and also note the rubber fire bucket on the ground. The fireman on the right is Arthur Merchant. The other two are unknown. In the background is the vacant lot where the Union Hotel stood.

Early Fire Fighting Equipment from the Union City Fire Department

My brother Marty sent me these picture he took recently at the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

http://www.michiganfirehousemuseum.org/

The equipment in the pictures below was loaned to the museum several years ago by the Union City Fire Department and were important firefighting equipment used in Union City in the early years of the Union City Fire Department.

Union City Fire Department - 1903

Note - Regarding the "Union City Fire Department" ...(from the publication titled "Historical Industrial and Social Record of Peerless Union City Michigan" edited, compiled, and published by Tom F. Robinson in March 1903), EARLY HISTORY OF UNION CITY, reads: ....FIRE DEPARTMENT - As is generally the case, Union City has upon several occa­sions suffered serious loss by fire, although of late years she has been remarkably free from disastrous conflagrations. In the earlier days there were only the most primitive methods for fighting fire, but in 1873 the attention of citizens was called to the urgent need of some sort of efficient fire protection, and May 28, 1872, the council made an appropriation of $1,500 and purchased a hand fire-engine, a hose-cart, and 500 feet of hose. The engine arrived in July of that year, and was christened "The St. Joseph." In February of the following year afire company consisting of forty-three volunteer members was organized and officers chosen as follows : Foreman, M. F. Rowe; Asst. Foreman, Geo. W. Hinkle; Secretary, E. B. Wheeler ; Treasurer, F. C. Rheubottom ; Pipeman, Henry Seymour ; Steward, R. F. Me Coy. A hose company was also formed and the two uniformed in June, 1873. A new fire company with thirty-three mem­bers was organized in 1875, called the "St. Joseph Fire Company," and in 1876 the present brick engine-house was built. The old fire com­pany was one of the best in the state and in the days of the firemen's tournaments it made some enviable records. In 1886 a fine new Button steam fire engine, together with all necessary ap­purtenances, was bought, and this did excellent service for nearly ten years, or until the estab­lishment of the present efficient system of water­works made the fire protection well-nigh perfect. The steamer is still retained, although its serv­ices have not been required since 1894. The present fire department is known as "The Union City Fire Department," and it has but twelve vol­unteer members, this number having proved amply sufficient. The officers and members are as fol­lows : W. H. Rowe (Chief), W. H. Wilbur (Asst. Chief), H. W. Bradner (Captain of Hose), Isaac Merritt, W. E. Rupright, Henry F. Woodruff, C. S. Hill, J. F. Wilder, Edward Steninger, C. A. White, Fred Burnham, and Will Palmer. Forty-two fire hydrants and an ample supply of hose give protection to every structure in the town, and it has been years since there was a fire of any importance.

Blacksmith/Livery Stable, City Hall, and Fire Department in Union City

The postcard from about 1910 was on East High Street. The building on the left was the a blacksmith shop/livery barn (Stan Smith commented that in our generation the blacksmith shop was known as Vic Ockerman’s blacksmith shop) , the next building was the City Hall-Fire Department. The building which housed the Fire Department was razed after the new Fire Station was built on Hammond Street.