In October, 1959, Front Street, between Sycamore and Cherry, was given a three inch blacktop by Payne & Dolan, who had widened U.S. 51 south during the summer. The cost was $15,550.60. Seven blocks used as a detour while U.S. 51 was under construction were put in good condition by the state as previously agreed.
During the 1950's and 1960's, thousands of dollars were spent for the removal of dead elm trees because of an epidemic of Dutch Elm Disease which covered the nation. Other varieties have been used as replacements but gaps still remain in many areas.
FIRE PROTECTION – A proposal to create a community fire district to provide better fire protection for the rural area was defeated in an election October 7, 1961. A second election was held December 7, 1963, and the question carried by one vote. In 1964, a new $20,000 fire truck, which could pump 750 gallons per minute, was added to the equipment which had been turned over to the district by El Paso City.
A cement block fire house was erected in the 200 block of East Front Street late in 1964 and became the company's headquarters January 1, 1965. It is 44 x 60 feet in size, and includes a meeting room for the firemen as well as space for the trucks and other supplies.
The district extends west three miles, north six miles, east three and one-half miles, and south to the Mackinaw River. The firemen all reside in El Paso, and equipment is all kept there. The 1974 Fire Company includes: Harold Benedict chief, with Gene Mool first, and Merlin Franke second assistants. Glenn Kingdon is secretary-treasurer. Other members are: Frank Benedict, James Haas, Charles Feeney, Jr., Bruce Pinkham, Clarence Tipler, William Armstrong, Paul Smoots, Jr., David and Henry Wagner, Robert and Dale Fever, Wayne Burroughs, Vernon Shieber, David Porter, and James Williams.
FIRE THREAT – Nine cars of a T. P. & W. freight train were derailed just east of the crossing on U.S. 51 on Monday morning January 21, 1963, and created a fire threat for the community for over a week. The Sweeney Oil Company had four storage tanks on the north side of the tracks and two of the 20,000 gallon capacity tanks were knocked over. Prompt action by the firemen, in sub-zero weather, in washing the gasoline off the streets and flushing the mains prevented a fire. Three families in the area were evacuated because gas fumes were detected in their basements.
Gasoline drained into a ditch northeast of the overturned tanks, and during the next several days, 1,400 gallons had been pumped out, hauled away and burned. Friday, while an employee of the oil company was working in the ditch, fire broke out, but he escaped safely. Firemen from Gridley and Chenoa aided the El Paso crew in an hour-long battle to control the blaze. A special fan was installed in a sewer because gas fumes were detected in basements in the area for over a week. Firemen made regular checks for days, probably preventing the development of a serious situation.
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