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The evolution of
Marysville (CA) Fire Hydrants
(Part Two)

Photos and Text by Willis Lamm
TURN OF THE CENTURY FIRE HYDRANTS


By the early 1900s a number of large cities, including nearby Sacramento, were purchasing "off the shelf" model Rensselaer hydrants. It made practical and economic sense for Marysville to purchase the same "stock" hydrant, equipped with Marysville threads. This was the case until 1930.

"Stock" List-90
Photo of Rensselaer List-90
THE MORE MODERN ERA


In 1930 the California Public Utilities Commission authorized the California Water Service Company to acquire the old Marysville Water Company. Cal Water began to phase out some of the most ancient portion of the water system and improve pumping capacity. For fire protection Cal Water installed more efficient Rensselaer List-90A type fire hydrants with 5¼ in. barrels, still equipped with 4 in. Marysville thread steamer ports in accordance with the fire department's wishes.

1945 List-90A
Photo of Rensselaer List-90A
When Rensselaer phased out the List-90A, Marysville continued with Rensselaer, purchasing List-90B model hydrants as there was some advantage to having repair parts that were oftentimes interchangeable between the various versions of the List-90 hydrant.
1967 List-90B
Photo of Rensselaer List-90B
BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS


Before the days of shopping malls, most residents shopped downtown, primarily on "D" street. In the 1960s the City beautified the street, adding trees and planters, and installed Greenberg Model 91 "low profile" wet barrel hydrants to fit into the landscape design. (I remember that we used them a lot as benches!) These Greenbergs were Marysville's first wet barrel hydrants with independent valve controls.

1965 Greenberg Model 91
Photo of Greenberg 91
THE END OF RENSSELAER


Rensselaer Valve went out of business in 1969. In the 1970s Cal Water started procuring Rich hydrants to replace the trusty "Rennys." A number of these hydrants can be found in town.

1974 Rich hydrant
Photo of Rich ??

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