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Los Angeles Examiner, March 23, 1929
Thomas Strohm,
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Los Angeles Express, March 23, 1929
STROHM, FIRST Flags at Half Mast for Pioneer;
American flags unfurled above Los Angeles firehouses
were at half-mast today in respect to Thomas Strohm, 82, of 1341 North
Mariposa street, Hollywood, the first chief of the fire department, who died
at his home following a month's illness. JOINED IN 1876 BORN IN GERMANY |
Los Angeles Herald, March 23, 1929 PLAN RITES FOR STROHM, EARLY FIRE CHIEF With a guard of honor from the Los Angeles fire department, last rites will be held Monday afternoon in the Masonic hall at Pico and Figueroa streets for Thomas Strohm, 82, one of the first fire chiefs in Los Angeles, who died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs., George O'Donnell of 1341 North Mariposa street. The hour of services will be announced later. Fire Chief Scott has detailed a number of his men to attend in full uniform and members of Masonic lodge No. 42 and the Knights Templar will also send guards of honor to the funeral.
LONG L. A. CAREER At the request of the German Turnverien, Mr. Strohm came to Los Angeles from San Francisco to teach gymnastics. He made the trip by boat, disembarking at Santa Monica, this being in the days before the Southern Pacific railroad had built a line into Los Angeles. As instructor at the Turnverein he had in his classes many of the boys who afterwards developed into the city's prominent men. Among them were Marco and Irving Hellman.
ATHLETIC INSTRUCTOR On his arrival here he joined the volunteer fire department and served as a member until it was put on a paid basis. He was fire chief from 1887 to 1890, from 1895 to 1898 and from 1900 to 1906. In the early days one of the sights the boys watched for at a fire was Chief Strohm riding to the conflagration at breakneck speed on his handsome black horse. Arrived at the fire, Chief Strohm would turn his horse loose and the animal would at once return to its home, leaving the chief to ride back on the hose wagon. Under Sheriff Billy Hammel Mr. Strohm served as deputy sheriff and later acted as deputy marshal under Al Sittel.
OWNED 'CORNER STORE' Mr. Strohm was born in Germany in 1846, coming to the United States at the age of 3. He came to California in 1874, and worked as a machinist for the Southern Pacific in Sacramento. When the Southern Pacific built the San Fernando tunnel in San Fernando valley, he worked on the construction and also worked for the railroad company during the early days in San Pedro. In 1875 he married Emily Schubrell of Los Angeles and the couple had four children. Mrs. O'Donnell, Louis, Clarence and Walter Strohm, all of whom live here. Mrs. Strohm died in 1917. An active Mason, Mr. Strohm was past master of the Masonic lodge
No. 42 and the oldest living member of the Knights Templar, Los Angeles commandery No. 9. |
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