Granum is a little farm service community in southern Alberta, so its name, Granum, should come as no surprise as Granum, in Latin, means grain or seed. With a population of 447, Granum is officially Alberta's smallest town. Granum itself is just east of the highway.
Granum's fire hall is on the south side of Highway 519 in the town, about midway between First and Railway Avenues. BTW, it's actually difficult to find a small town on the prairies that was on a railroad and
have a Railway Avenue. It's set back somewhat from the highway and is immediately east of the best landmark in town, the Granum Seed Cleaning Plant.
Granum Fire Department
Early History
August 29, 1905
A debenture of $1,500 was taken by the community to drill a well.
May 21, 1906
It was moved that the overseer purchase 15 victor fire extinguishers at $8 a piece.
June 10, 1909
From the village minutes: Motion was passed to purchase two 60-gallon chemical fire engines at $735 total.
Aug. 30, 1909
A. MacGregor was paid $806.50 for erecting a fire hall.
August 31, 1911
The first water main was laid at a cost of $1,500.
1910, 1958, late 1970’s – the same block burns down.
Granum, in the early days, suffered many serious fires. One of the early fires took place in 1910. This fire destroyed a large livery barn operated by A. Dixon, a pool hall and bowling alley (with the infamous gambling den upstairs), which originally was a machinery agency, and the Royal Hotel operated by King & Evans. These buildings were situated at the north end of the block and were completely destroyed by fire. Later, built on this site, was a garage that was originally operated by Jerry & Hollis Yorgason, and also Harry Ridgers Blacksmith Shop. These eventually burned down in 1958. Rebuilt on this corner was a service station operated by L. Miller and later by Gerry Lemire, which was destroyed by fire once again in the late 1970’s.
1919, 1922, 1924 – the same block burns down.
A fire started in the Alberta Meat Market and burned Block 14 except for the brick buildings at the North and South ends. About 1922 a feed mill north of Block 14 was burned. Later, Block 14 North of Dufferin Street, had on the corner G & W Blair Flour and Feed Custom Grinding, Hoffmans Resturant, Kellicuts Garage, and the Beaver Lumber Yard. Fire destroyed this block in 1924 leaving some of the brick walls standing; this was later repaired. Lack of water supply was a major factor in some of these early fires. Also, fire pumpers were non-existent.
July 1927
The fire department of the day consisted of unorganized volunteers, and no practices were held. The fire apparatus included two single cylinder chemical engines that were either horse or man drawn. The fire alarm was by fire bell and telephones.
July 22, 1934
Block 2, filled with business establishments, was completely burned except for the brick building at the North end containing the drug store, men’s wear, and the butcher shop.
Early 1950s
The Rural Fire Association purchased a fire tanker with no pump.
From the Town of Granum
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