new fire facility in future
by: Fred Martin
When Knobel was a busy hub of commerce, many new buildings lined the street facing Iron Mountain railroad tracks. These housed numerous hotels, stores, restaurants and a variety of services.
Several of the buildings date into the 1920's or 30's, like the two taken down last week to make room for a new multi- purpose building and fire facility in what is left of downtown Knobel.
"There was hardly anything left to the old city hall and Jack Bode Grocery when we set it on fire last week," says Knobel Mayor Doris Sellmeyer. "Neither building was occupied. There was no roof on the city hall part, and the roof over the grocery store section was in terrible condition."
Mayor Sellmeyer said many persons recall years ago when these buildings were known as "Red and White Store" and "John Byers Store."
The City of Knobel has owned the property for several years and with an application awaiting approval for a multi-purpose building, it was time to clear the property, which is one specification stated on the application, the mayor points out.
"In part of the multi-purpose building, we will house Knobel Volunteer Fire Department," Mayor Sellmeyer adds. "We have outgrown our present facility, with three pumpers, a brush truck and tanker. Some of the equipment has been placed in two other buildings and that is not very convenient."
The present Knobel Fire Department organized in the 1970's when equipment was limited to a wagon with a water tank that was pulled behind a pickup truck, she says.
The mayor concludes, "We hope our application will be acted on in August and we will be able to go to work on the building shortly after that. Cleaning the remaining wood and bricks left where the two buildings stood will completed shortly. The area already looks better and we hope we will soon get word on our grant application."
(Clay County Courier July 29,2004)
Knobel Volunteer Fire Department burned two old landmarks of Knobel, last Wednesday night. They are getting ready for the new City Hall and Fire House. The buildings were the old City Hall and the Jack Bode Grocery. City Hall building had also been a Red and White Store operated by Professor Smith. Lora Wilkerson and Hershel Murdock had also had grocery stores. Loie Fraine and Johnny Williams have had a barber shoppe, and after them came City Hall.
The Jack Bode Store building was first occupied by Joe Rouse, John Byers, Jack Bode, Stanley and Connie Stormes. It has been reported that in 1917 water got so high in this building that they ran a boat in the front door and out the back door. Front street sure looks different without these two buildings. There were benches out front of these buildings for people to sit and visit. There have been some hot checker games played on these benches.
When the new buildings go up we will add them to the site.
