The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-12-18
4 DECREPIT STRUCTURE,
A PUBLIC BUILDING THE VICTIM OF
TINE AND DECAY.
1t Is No. 2 Fire Standardization Timbers--
Leaky Roofs walls
Dangerous.

There is a building in Honolulu,
occupied by a department of the
Government, that is rotten from
the ground up. The floor is rotten,
the walls are worm eaten, the cell
ing has decayed to uselessness and
the pitiless wind whistles through
the broken windows. The rain
decends and finds lots of cracks in
this old building. If at night, the
sleepers in the house wrap them
selves in their blankets and dream
of life in diving bell. The old
shell is dangerous.
Reference is made to Engine
house No. on Union street. The
history of this building dates back
into the youth Of the "old native. "
The makai and mauka apartments
were erected in the best days of
Kamehameha III; the center house
and tower a few years later. In
the makai side meetings of the
volunteer fire boys were held in
GS53-nearly AZ years ago! Many
different crowds of fire boys have
aired their eloquence i'll that house
since then, but the building itself
still stands, old, gray and SILVER
ing from weakness.
Entering the Mauka side the
20 ~ ~ nf &c
door. Like the little old log
cabin in the song this building
shows up poorly in point of
doors; it has door, but
the hole i'll it is nearly as big
as the door itself. The heavy post
that was put up to support the
front now needs support itself. 1t
was good in 1858, but now the
bottom has rotted away and it
swings on and on forever. Over
head and around the ceiling
and four walls, rottenness is about
all that is left to attract the eye. A
cane may be pressed through al
most anywhere.
The floor of the building is rot
ten. Two engines stand near the
front, their wheels resting heavily
on the ground beneath. having
broken through the worm eaten
boards. On the ceiling several
broken places can be seen. The
explanation is that chair legs have
pierced through while the boys
were around the dinner table.
Upstairs is the dining hall. Here
The whole of two windows are gone
History records that they were
blown out by the wind. The glass
in other windows is gone. In some
instances substitutes are being
used. A pair Of old pants does for
one hole, a piece of tin fills another.
The whole place leaks. Few things
can be kept dry. This part of the
house is especially dangerous. The
beams underneath are sprung and
have pulled out. A slender iron
rod supports the upper floor. The
simple condition that the house is
made to lean upon the center build
ing keeps it from topping over.
The old belfry, in which some o
the men sleep, is also in frightfu
condition. The ceiling is rotten
it leaks and is unsafe. On the
makai side the situation is better
The ceiling is rotten, but it doe
not leak so badly. A few years age
new flooring was put i'll, and som'
of the sleeping rooms were built a
late as 1902. The supports are i'll
secure, however. This house ais,
leans centerward, which is a yer,
fortunate thing.
Taken as a whole the building /
undoubtedly the poorest occupied
by the Government. -Four year
ago plans were prepared for ney
building. 1t was to be fine one
The cost should be about $50, 900
The present site belongs to III
/. Monsarrat estate. The Govern
ment pays 900 per month rent &c
it. At the time the plans wer
prepared the Government wante
to trade lots with the Monsarrat''
The scheme fell through and til
plans came to grief. Since the
nothing has been done. 1t is no.
estimated that SIo, 900 will put Il
suitable fire house.
COURT CANOES