MONOGRAPHS OF KINNEY COUNTY’S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE: Post Fire Station

This bi-weekly feature examines the enduring unique architecture to be found here in Kinney County by spotlighting individual buildings and providing brief histories, complimented by period photographs. Our intent is to explore the past, inspire the present, and build the future by showcasing the remarkable associations and legacies of structures which have stood the test of time and continue to contribute so much to the exceptional heritage of Kinney County. Our next subject is the “Post Fire Station” a compatible structure to the Fort Clark Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The 1944 installation map identifies the structure as post building No.199, the Central Fire Station. The fire station housed firefighting equipment to protect the post from the threat of fire. A characteristic architectural feature of all army fire stations is the large door openings that accommodated the fire fighting apparatus.

Fire stations evolved as a separate property type during the late nineteenth century and reflected the developing fire fighting technology. By 1876, the Quartermaster Department provided fire extinguishers as part of general provisions. The consolidation of troops into larger, more substantial installations during the 1880s and 1890s required the Quartermaster Department to plan for fire emergencies. With more buildings to protect, the Quartermaster Department acquired firefighting equipment and designed buildings to house it.

At Fort Clark in the 19th century firefighting equipment in the form of a hose cart was stored in a small “hose house” which was located where the post theater stands today. Fires were relatively uncommon but there are instances of chimney fires in the historic record. Flammable materials such as hay and lamp oil were carefully handled. When a fire did occur it was the soldiers who had to put it out. There were no organized or trained “firefighters.”

The first organized Army fire department was created in 1917 under the Quartermaster Corps. Kelly Field (now Joint Base San Antonio) is credited with launching the Army’s first fire department unit on August 20, 1917. These units were the first formal, organized military firefighting forces in the U.S. Army, with clear structure, training, and equipment. During the 1930s, the Army introduced motorized firefighting equipment and consolidated fire stations at central locations on installations. Often the fire station commanded a prominent location at the junction of major streets. The widespread rebuilding of Army posts and airfields during the 1930s, saw the fire station became a major element of the overall installation plan and reflected the installation's architectural character.

Fire stations are support facilities for an installation, and are not related directly to the installation mission. Fire stations generally are not associated with significant historical events and usually do not possess individual historical significance, but can be a contributing building to an historic district. If the building has a prominent location in the overall plan of the installation, it can be a major architectural element that contributes to the architectural character of the historic district.

Gaps in post maps and the photographic record make it difficult to determine the exact year Fort Clark’s post fire station was constructed. However, the construction technique closely matches that used on the other major construction projects from the early to mid-1930s. A single individual photo exists, circa 1940, of the original structure showing a rectangular building with only one large opening in the center and a hip roof. This same building appears in 1937 and 1939 panoramic images of the post. Sometime after 1940, perhaps in preparation for the activation of the 2nd Cavalry Division, the building was reconfigured and enlarged. The hip roof was replaced by a flat roof; three bays for fire trucks were created, and a sizeable addition was added to the rear of the building. The addition contained a large dormitory/barracks room for soldier firefighters, a kitchen, latrine, and individual rooms for non-commissioned officers. The fire station was, like the guard house and the post headquarters, operated on a 24/7 basis.

It is not known if the fire station continued in use during the Guest Ranch era. It is probable the Kinney County Volunteer Fire Department used the building during that time as it did for many years thereafter until moving to its current facility in Brackettville. The building was witness to the worst fire in the history of Fort Clark when the post headquarters was lost on Sunday, November 15, 1959.

In 1981, preservation architect Killis P. Almond, Jr. noted the architectural features of the building, “This one- story building has a rectangular plan with a flat roof and parapet walls. The building was originally constructed as a fire house and still retains the three large bays with wood garage doors. Columns divide the bays and have cast iron wheel guards and cyma reversal stone imposts. The stone masonry walls are square cut limestone ashlar laid up with structural clay tile backing. Windows are typically six-over-six and three-over-three wood double hung sash with steel angle lintels and cast stone sills. The doors are five panel wood. The parapet is capped with a cast stone coping and hides from view the built-up gravel roof. A metal ladder on the exterior permits access to the roof. There is also a small stone masonry equipment shed immediately to the rear (east) with a wood frame roof. The condition of the building is very good. The stone masonry is in excellent condition, except for occasional spalled stones and the severely deteriorated imposts. The cast iron wheel guards are badly rusted. The wood windows and doors are poorly maintained and the overhead garage doors show signs of sagging and distress. The equipment shed roof is deteriorated.”

Today our Post Fire Station still possesses the majority of its original design, materials, workmanship, and setting from the 1930-40s common to the architectural character of the Fort Clark Historic District that are important elements to the building's integrity and has retained the majority of its character-defining features, particularly its location, plan, basic form, and pattern of openings. A most worthy candidate for consideration of designation as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

©2026 FCHC

Monographs of Kinney County’s Architectural Heritage is written by Bill Haenn, FCHC Senior Historian. Fort Clark Heritage Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 2023, to advocate for the preservation and protection of the architecture and other historic resources in the Fort Clark National Register Historic District for the benefit  of the visiting public and future generations, providing for the advancement and strengthening of heritage tourism initiatives by growing recognition of and visitation to the Fort Clark Historic District and being committed to endorsing and promulgating the rich history of Fort Clark by expanding upon related educational and research efforts. Find this article and more online at  KinneyCountyPost.com