Fire Station 1

Richard Beck of San Rafael was commissioned to sculpt the wonderful 7-by-12 foot redwood frieze on our downtown fire station in 1976. The project was paid for in half by millionaire Jack Holland Jr., owner of Holland Oil Company, in honor of his mother, Anne Holland. The other half was funded by the city. Total cost of the commission was $94,000.The mural was sculpted using as reference a photograph of the 1870 Hayward volunteer fire department.

The latest Fire Station 1 is the fourth station to serve the downtown area, replacing the converted supermarket that was demolished in 1996. While rebuilding the new station on the same site, a temporary station was set up on Atherton Street.

The new station was dedicated on Saturday, January 12, 1997. There was a parade featuring old and new firefighting equipment, speeches, and free firehouse food, as well as activities at the Historical Society, which was located across the street at the time. Besides the frieze, the corner of the firehouse also features a fire bell that was cast in 1901.