Villa Grande Fire department & Firehouse Plaza

VGFD History

Researched & written by Roberto Esteves, Russian River Historical Society Archivist

More than a hundred years ago Villa Grande was an isolated community with access primarily being two trains that traveled down Moscow Road; motorized cars (like fire equipment) had to take the perilous Starrett Hill road. Henry Gorter, a retired machinist and captain in the San Francisco Fire Department, retired to Villa Grande in 1910. To increase fire safety for Villa Grande, he constructed the Villa Grande Fire Department (VGFD) building. The VGFD was built around 1915 with redwood lumber from the nearby Sam Duncan’s Saw Mill. The shed housed the hand drawn carts given to the village from the Monte Rio Fire District after they acquired motorized apparatus. Since Villa Grande was mostly level ground and had a number of hydrants, the hand pumps were considered a useful feature of the newly constructed town. There was also an electric siren installed on the General Store building to warn town folks and alert the village’s volunteers.

For many years, the VGFD shed was a source of fun for kids, with knotholes to look into the shed to look at the old hand-drawn equipment. The hand pump carts were eventually transferred to the Duncan’s Mills fire station and the shed remained deserted for many years. Mirrors in the knot holes now reflect the eyes of peering children.

When Friends of Villa Grande purchased Patterson Point Preserve in 2009 and began its restoration, the need for seasonal storage of restoration tools, signage and boat anchorage supplies became evident. It was also clear that the invasive ivy had also overwhelmed the adjacent fire house plaza and was clogging the swale that ran along the plaza, backing up drainage on West and Willow streets whenever it rained.

The VGFD shed & property was listed as County land, and FoVG approached the County to secure a lease to the shed and the adjacent land and offered to restore the VGFD building and to maintain the Plaza and the adjacent swale. In May, 2014, the county awarded FoVG a revocable five-year license agreement for the use of the building and land with certain restrictions; specifically:

“Licensee's [FoVG] use of the Villa Grande Firehouse shall be limited to access related to the historic preservation of the Building, and for storage of Licensee's equipment, tools, materials and supplies. Licensee's use of the land immediately adjacent to the Building may include public assembly for Event(s) organized and managed by the Licensee, Licensee shall not use the Premises for sale of service, goods, food, beverage or merchandise of any kind, type or manner, except for purposes of charitable fundraising for the benefit of the local community.”

With license in hand, FoVG launched a community fundraising campaign to shore up the foundation and provide electricity for a dehumidifier and community events. The leaky old tin roof was replaced with a new tin roof and bright red paint replaced the faded exterior. The agreement was extended in 2019, and after FoVG built a stage for community events, the agreement was renewed again in 2024.

While the VGFD shed and land is owned by the County, the County considers FoVG the overseer of the properties, and any use of the building or the land, must first be approved by the FoVG Board.

One of FoVG’s objectives is to build a sense of community and support the historic nature of the town. We feel our stewardship of the fire house and its plaza, with the consent of the County, is supporting both objectives, which now includes the annual talent show, and of course, the 4th of July dance party. We thank FoVG members and the community for their support of this community gathering space.