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In the heart of Santa Ana, the Cypress Fire Station stands as a monument to history, community, and service. Established as one of Santa Ana’s first fire stations in the late 1920’s, the building represents a bygone era when firehouses were bustling hubs of community activity. It was the frequent subject of photographs and a source of neighborhood pride.

Commissioned by Santa Ana City Council in late 1928, the Cypress Fire Station was designed by architect Frederick H. Eley in the Spanish Revival style. Originally from Colchester, England, he was Orange County’s first professional architect. Eley’s works include many of Santa Ana’s most iconic buildings; The Ebell Club, The Yost Theater, and The YMCA. Designing dozens of homes and public buildings throughout Orange County, Frederick H. Eley was one of Santa Ana’s preeminent figures.

The Cypress Fire Station captured our city’s imagination at a grand holiday event in 1928. A year before the financial crash that ended the Roaring 20’s, five confident firemen smiled beside a dignified Santa Claus, proudly posing in front of a state-of-the-art firetruck. This moment was immortalized in a famous black and white photograph that’s part of our Santa Ana Library’s History Room collection. The photo displays the prosperity and prominence Pacific Park was experiencing, with new homes, prominent residents, and public amenities like the Pacific Electric Railway.

The Cypress Fire Station is more than bricks and mortar, it is a living piece of Santa Ana’s history. In recent years, the firehouse has faced its share of challenges and changes. Pacific Park neighbors united to save the building from being sold to a private developer, restoring it to public use for the benefit of residents of all ages. No matter the era, the underlying narrative of the firehouse is one of continued community connection and the importance of preserving local landmarks. The Cypress Fire Station is more than a building, it’s a symbol of community, a link to the past and a testament to the timeless value of service for generations to come.

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Photos from The Online Archive of California