Amarillo Upgrading Outdated Fire Hydrants

It's one of those things you see plenty of in Amarillo, and any city, for that matter. Fire hydrants. You know what they're there for; maybe you even got lucky enough to play in one when you were a kid.

We know we can't park in front of them; we know it's the water source for the fire department. What we don't realize sometimes is just how long some of these have been there. Sure, they last a long time, but even fire hydrants don't last forever. The city has recognized that, and changes are coming.

Get our free mobile app

70 Fire Hydrants Getting LoveThe

Amarillo City Council has approved the replacement or repair of 70 fire hydrants around the city. 44 of them will be fully replaced, while the rest will receive some much-needed repairs. Some of the hydrants are outdated, and those are the ones that will be replaced.

The others have some damage that requires repairs. The funding for the project will come from water and sewer fund revenues, and the approximate cost of the replacements and repairs will run a bit over $260,000.

Why Does This Need To Be Done

With the outdated or damaged fire hydrants, it can delay emergency response time, thus allowing a fire to burn longer and cause more damage to the structure on fire, as well as those around it. The fire hydrants aren't ALWAYS used, but they are used more than we think.

There is a limited amount of water on the trucks, and it does run out. That's when they move to the hydrants. According to Jason Love, the public information officer for the Amarillo Fire Department, the hydrant is the lifeblood of the fire service when it comes to putting out fires, so the importance of them being current and in working order is imperative.

The Abandoned St. Anthony's Hospital on Amarillo Boulevard

The 119-year-old abandoned hospital is a fascinating place for any who are lucky enough to be granted the chance to explore.

The sprawling building saw thousands of Amarillo's citizens inside its halls daily, all the the way until it was shuttered in 2001. But there are still incredible artifacts of the all-too-recent past tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the old St. Anthony.

The explorer who took these photographs gave the following information:

"Many rooms were left untouched, we found patient files, old prescriptions, a blood transfusion machine from the 60s, and microscopic slides of breast cancer from the 70s and 80s. I put one picture in here of some heart scans so you can see the dates and diagnosis of the patient, but marked out the patient’s names of course. During a time when mental illness was not understood, 76 exorcisms were documented to have been performed between 1909 and 1931."

Take a look inside the halls of the legendary abandoned St. Anthony's hospital

Gallery Credit: Vaden Carthel

The Abandoned Herring Hotel in Amarillo, Texas

You may have passed it a million times while driving downtown, or you may be new to town. Either way, chances are you've seen the beautiful Herring Hotel. The beautiful aging brick tower sits unoccupied on 3rd and Pearce streets. It's a grand building that stands as a reminder of Amarillo's early days as a cattle and oil town and it tells the stories well.

If you've ever wondered what's inside this towering building, just take a peek below.

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark

Filed Under: Amarillo Texas