Strathclyde's newest fire station - Calton - has been officially opened by the vice chairman of the region's Police and Fire Committee, Councillor Gerald McGrath.
The station complex, in McFarlane Street, Glasgow, was designed by Honeyman, Jack & Robertson of Glasgow in conjunction with the regional council's Department of Architectural and Related Services.
Built by Taylor Woodrow Construction (Scotland) Ltd at a cost of £1,043,110, the building took 19 months to complete.

Credit

Before the official opening ceremony Councillor McGrath told "Strathclyde Fireman": "This is the first new station to be opened in Glasgow since 1975. It is a credit to the council, the brigade and the people who live and work in this part of the city, and I'm sure that the firemen who man it will benefit from the station's extensive facilities."
The building contains a four-bay appliance room, training tower, shower and changing facilities, lecture room, kitchen and dining room and recreation area.
The complex also houses 'B' Division headquarters and contains office accommodation, the division's Fire Prevention Department and the office of the Divisional Commander, SDO Douglas Leitch.
A special "Strathclyde Fireman" feature on the new station appears on page three. (? Page 2)
<PHOTO> Councillor McGrath is pictured outside the new station just before opening. (S&D TL and CSV OGD74V)
( Strathclyde Fireman No.22 August 1983. Page 1)

Calton Fire Station cost more than £1m to build and it is equipped with the most modern fire fighting equipment and highly trained professional firefighters.
But almost 100 years ago it was a slightly different story when Calton's predecessor, the East Fire Station in Soho Street, was officially opened at a cost of £5899.
In newspaper articles reporting the opening, which was held on 16 November 1887, the building was described as "being constructed of freestone in the Scotch baronial style and four storeys in height. The ground floor flat is used as an engine room and watch room and the stable is situated in a building at the back.
"On receipt of a fire alarm the horses are taken through the back door into the engine room and yoked to the machines within the premises. A cord is then pulled and the doors fly open automatically when the brigade rushes out."
Almost 100 years later the firemen at Calton will be doing much the same thing when the alarm goes off, except that nowadays the appliance doesn't have to be hitched up to a horse!
Another article recalled that before the East was built there was a fire station in Struthers Street. Although it has now disappeared from maps of the city, it was probably very close to McFarlane Street where the new Calton Station is now.
The story reveals that in the mid-1800s the captain of the brigade was a "six-foot common constable called Lang Davie Hutchison" and his beat was within the square bordered by Millroad Street, Stevenson Street, Abercromby Street (all still in existence) and Struthers Street.

Fire drum

"No call to arms in ancient times was more actively responded to than when the fire drum was beaten in the Calton," the article states.
"From all quarters men, women and children rushed towards the fire station. A large proportion of the inhabitants around the station were weavers and they were usually picked out to man the pumps, and invariably ran alongside the pump carriage to the scene of the fire.
"In the midst of this hubbub could be seen a man here and there, often without hat or coat, running at breakneck speed. These were the firemen, usually composed of slaters and shoemakers.
"But the hero of them all was wee Jamie Bulloch, the slater. Jamie was a hero to every Calton boy and when he appeared the shout would rise, "Ah, there's Bulloch, it'll no be lang till the fire's oot."
The new Calton Station like the rest of the stations in the Brigade, will have an appliance heading to a fire within a minute of the alarm being sounded.
And to help speed the departure traffic lights have been installed at the junction of McFarlane Street and Gallogate.
The buildings which also includes B Division headquarters staff, are single and two storey in height with sloping rooflights to provide natural light to most areas.
The rooflights will minimise vandalism and give greater security and privacy inside.
The station also has a public address system which, in addition to carrying announcements, acts as the carrier for fire alarm signals and station call outs.
If there is a night time call out automatic controls will operate pilot lighting to allow the firemen to get from the sleeping area to the appliance room.
Calton, which means hazel grove, will no doubt carve itself a place in the history of the area as the stations of yesteryear have done.
<PHOTO> of side of station. No caption.
<PHOTO> one of the Brigade's new Fire Warrior appliances noses out of the appliance room.
<PHOTO> Firemen Alex Porter and John Cairney get on with the job of keeping the appliance room floor clean.
( Strathclyde Fireman No.22 August 1983. Page 2)

Originally the Eastern Station it's name was changed at some point to East Station.

In 1975 East Fire Station was station A2 in the Glasgow Fire Service.

East Fire Station in Soho Street was replaced by Calton Fire Station at 30 McFarlane Street.

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.