This Venice Fire, Police, and Jail were constructed in 1958 at 447 E. Venice Ave. The building was demolished in 1990. 

 Venice Fire Department's first piece of apparatus was this 1926 American La France fire engine purchased from Moore Haven, Florida. The engine has a 750 gallon per minute pump and a 40 gallon tank for use on small fires. The engine is still in existence today -- affectionately known as "Old Betsy". Taken in 1960 in front of the Venice Fire Department, Venice's first fire Chief was J.C. Haladay from Cleveland Ohio. From left to right: Gordon Struble, Fire Chief Dewey Stephens, Julius "Bud" Devine and Newburn "Newt" Fowler. 

 The Venice Fire Department on East Venice Avenue in the 1950s was across the street from the Venice Water Plant. It was originally a commercial building with living quarters above, and was converted into the fire station in 1937. The first LaFrance fire engine is seen inside. From 1926 through 1931, the fire station was in a building located north of St. Augustine Avenue and east of current North Nassau Street. The department moved into the East Venice Avenue station in 1937.

The Fire Department occupied the western half of this facility built in 1958 to house the police department, jail and fire department. The combined facility was located on the NW corner of East Venice Avenue and Warfield Avenue on the site of the old city "barn" or garage. The old barn was torn down in October 1957.

Venice Fire Dept. L to R: Gaylord George and Earl Midlam, restoring the "LaFrance", the first fire engine owned by the City of Venice.

Firemen on the LaFrance fire truck "Old Betsy" in 1927. 

"Old Betsy" at a parade in the City of Venice.  

"Old Betsy" at another City of Venice parade or festival.