WORLD WAR...AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION

In 1929, after the new school was built, the two-wheeled carts that had been used for fire fighting purposes were replaced by a four-wheel trailer and both of the 30 gallon tanks were mounted on this single trailer. Now the fire rig was housed in the Gellhorn Auto Co garage, and Ernest M. Gellhorn was made the new fire chief. 

In 1935, Harold Luiken became chief when he bought the Gellhorn auto business and it became the Luiken Chevrolet Co. Since the fire fighting equipment was now in his garage, it was thought proper to make him fire chief. 

In September of 1938 Steamboat Rock citizens voted 185 to 18 to bond themselves to $9,400 for the construction of a water works system. A WPA grant was approved in December of 1939. Earlier the town council purchased a tract of land from John Luiken. Raymond Karsjens was the mayor, when the water system was installed. The elected board in 1938 was: J.A. Holmes, Harold Luiken, H. A. Jaspers, A. E. Luiken and Pete Luiken. 

In May of 1940 the water system was completed with six large fire hydrants.