Company 6’s
Engine 6, Water Rescue 6
1501 Picardy Drive Stockton, CA 95203
Company 6’s Research
The Holt Station
Holt Manufacturing Company was building caterpillar type tanks for the British Army Tank Corps in the first World War when they arranged a contract with the City of Stockton to build, house, and partial staff a fire company. The contract, initiated on July 27, 1917, specified Holt constructing the house, buying an American La France Auto Pumper, and leasing the items to the city. Holt would also agree that their personnel would assist the Fire Department on any fire in their premises and that after three years of leasing, the city would then own the station and pumper. In November of 1917, Holt placed a steel water tower at Lafayette and Aurora Streets and installed fire mains throughout their plant to provide improved built-in fire protection.
When other strategically located firehouses were put it place, motorized fire engines were put into service, and change of the area occurred, relocation of the house became necessary for the company to serve the community. A census by the city recommended the firehouse be moved to West Stockton because of the westerly residential and business growth. After neighborhood politics, delay, and a final decision by the courts, Engine Company #6 was relocated to the Victory Park site at 1501 Picardy Lane. The House officially opened April 19, 1943.
(Peterson Research, D.O.T.)