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“Deserted For Years, But Their Fate Could Be Known Soon”

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Description: This image was published in the August 20th 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper.

An excerpt from the article read: “Negotiations about the sale of old fire stations in Palmerston North and Feilding have reached "the interesting stage" says the Fire Service's regional commander in Palmerston North, Mr P. H. Douche. The 'Tribune contacted him to try to find out what, if anything, would be happening to the old Palmerston North station. which has been vacant and deserted in Cuba Street, next to the Tribune' office, for about a year.

The brigade moved out of its former home in September 1977 when its new $1.8 million station in Main Street was completed. The old building, built in 1925, was too small for the brigade. Mr Douche said one or two inquiries for the use of the old building had been received in the last year, and the Ministry of Works has been following them up, on the Fire Service's behalf, since then. "I certainly hope decision can be made week or two," he said.”

“FROZEN: The Feilding fire chief, Mr I. Tricklebank, told the 'Tribune' that the old Feilding fire station has been used as a temporary grocery store, as a place to store old vehicle parts, and as a 'home’ for a slot car club, since the brigade moved out. Part of the old brick building is still being used by the club, while the St John Ambulance uses another part of the structure to house one of its vehicles. It's three years next month since the brigade vacated the old building, built in in 1910, in favour of the new $622,000 station in Kimbolton Road. For some time the Feilding Borough Council was interested in buying the site.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.