Where'd the Dalmatian Go?

While dumpster-diving in downtown Mooresville today (yes, I still keep my paw in it), I saw a rather startling sight on the northwest corner of the intersection between Indiana and Harrison Streets.  My minions snapped a few quick photos.

 The "Old" Mooresville, Indiana Fire Station

Constructed in 1970

Demolished in February, 2013

(Click Images to Bigify)

According to historian James R. Bruner, the firehouse was built in 1970 by volunteers at a cost of $36,000.  That was an amazing bargain, thanks to the volunteer labor.  What did the building look like before this week?

Mooresville Fire Station (2008)

(Photo by Chris Allen)

That was just five years ago!  Where has the time gone?  More to the point, where has the dalmatian (shown in the far right side of the photo above) gone?  Up close, it looked sort of like this, but it was stone, not real.

Your Basic Dalmatian Slobberdog

My feline family has some history associated with our local fire department.  According to family legend passed along purr-to-ear, Quilbur (yes, that's how it was spelled--like Wilbur with a Qu), one of my male ancestors, dropped by the Mooresville police and fire departments to beg receive regular allocations of entitled consumables.  Forrest "Pake" Rusie, who served on both the local police and fire departments for decades, used to bring canned sardines for his meal break, which he naturally shared with Quilbur.  I'm pretty certain that "Pake" didn't even like sardines.  He just brought them for Quilbur (and his feline friends who tagged along).  That's the legend, anyway.

In the August 1966 Old Settlers Parade (see above photo), Claire Sellars drove members of the 1933 Mooresville Fire Department (Forrest Rusie, Elza “Buck” Perry, Todd Squires, and Clyde Ferguson) in a 1919 Ford truck towing a 1905 (or older) horse-drawn hose cart.

Officers standing outside the Mooresville Police Department (1959)

(Names below from back of photo)

In the background, you can see the previous location of Gray Brothers Restaurant (1944-1969), which since that time has operated at its current domicile at the corner of South Indiana Street and State Road 67.

Old Style Mooresville, Indiana

Fire Department Patch

It's a shame to see a town landmark go by way of the wrecking ball, but sometimes it's necessary to make room for new growth.  I'm thinking it would be the perfect place for a seafood restaurant, with a dumpster reserved in my name at the back.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  "The Fireman," by George Strait, appeared on the album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (1984).