Meeting St. Firestation Pup

Meeting Street, SC

The fire-station dalmatian is kept freshly painted in front of the station on Meeting St. Until I got down low for the shot I didn't realize his eyes were heart shaped. Sweet!

Rooftop view - Central Station

Central Station, Meeting St., Charleston, SC 

I am late to the game keeping up with all of Charleston's new restaurants but was recently invited to a birthday brunch for my dear friend Andre in the rooftop restaurant of the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Most pictures I have seen from the hotel have been of people lounging in the outdoor terrace but it was too cold for that the day I was there. I did go out to see the view and reached my cell phone over to grab this shot of the fire stations on Wentworth and Meeting St. Researching more information I came across a wonderful directory of historic Charleston fire stations with the background information below: 

Wonderful directory of historic Charleston fire stations: 

Central Station: 262 Meeting Street
Built 1887-88
On August 31, 1886, the city of Charleston was struck by an earthquake. 2,000 buildings were damaged, and between 60 and 100 people were killed. Many fire stations were also damaged, the city built a trio of larger and more strategically located fire stations. The three buildings were each designed by Daniel G. Wayne and built by Colin M. Grant.
The largest of the three was a double "double house" that opened at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth Streets in 1888. Considered the most important station in the city, because of its central location and straight passage from each end of the city, the new station housed four steam engine companies when it opened. 
In 1900, a drill tower was built beside the station. The 70-foot structure was replaced in 1916, and closed in 1935.
Since  1976, Central Station has housed the Fire Chief's Office. It presently houses two engine companies, a Battalion Chief, an Assistant Chief, and several pieces of antique fire apparatus.
The outdoor pavilion, built on the site of an 1846 Artesian well, includes monuments to fallen Charleston firefighters, and the bell from the Cannon Street station watch tower. Mike Legeros photo.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Wentworth Fire Station, Meeting St., Charleston, SC   

If the dog is sleeping things must be calm at the fire station, right? It did make me do a little research on the connection between dalmatians and fire stations. This is what I learned.

Dalmatians: Because of the dog/horse bond, the dalmatian easily adapted to the firehouse in the days of horse-drawn fire wagons. Since every firehouse had a set of fast horses to pull the pumper, it became common for each group of firefighters to keep a dalmatian in the firehouse to guard the firehouse and horses. When the alarm came in, the dalmatian led the way for the horse-drawn pumper. In this way, the dalmatian became the firefighters' companion and a symbol of the fire service. Today, dalmatians are still found in many firehouses in England, Canada, and the United States.

Engines of Wentworth St.

Wentworth St. Fire Station, Charleston, S.C.

I love that they leave these old treasures in full view for us to enjoy as we walk by. Aren't they great? I happened on this interesting site about Charleston's Fire Stations by Mike Legeros.

It's been a long and busy week, kids. Whew. Home late and I walked up to the Black Bean Company on Savannah Highway for a bite to eat. I love pausing an exercise walk midway for a health meal. They have an outside patio and it hit the spot this evening.

Firemen can take the heat

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

Firemen can take the heat.

I needed a cool shower after my walk. Whew. Stay cool y'all!

More Tiny Charleston

Meeting St., Charleston, SC

I've left a dripping trail of sweat all over Charleston for anyone who wants to follow my walking route. While I was walking I thought this shot might make a better tilt-shift Charleston view. It looks like a wee model fire station.

In other news, I was happy to have Byron flag me down and ask for $3.18. I knew he'd been missing and he admitted to spending sixty days in jail. His story was that he'd been picked up sleeping on a bench after being told not to be on King above Calhoun St. Then as he woke confused out of a deep sleep, they assumed he was intoxicated. He was released this morning and walked all the way down from Leeds Ave.

I suspect the police report might be a little more complicated than that, do ya think? Still, nice to see the rascal.