The firehouse tower is near the left edge of this circa-1959 aerial. Dunno if it had been moved by then.

Looks like the foreground buildings were demolished when they four-laned US 40
thru town in 1947 -- they're not in the 1955 pic looking east from the SP bridge.

Kelly Tires tin sign rolls to a robust $13,200 at Matthews Auctions, LLC sale held March 5
A rare Kelly Tires double-sided tin trade sign, 24 inches in diameter and showing a lady waving while driving, sold for $13,200 at a Spring Petroliana & Advertising Auction held Mar. 5 by Matthews Auctions, LLC, in Peotone, Ill. 30
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Notice the roadsigns as well as the No Parking signs are actually put up and maintained by the California Automobile Association, which ended up becoming the AAA.

[Also the speed limit sign. - Dave]

I love the Kelly Tires sign. The lady loves her driving!

[The lady is the longtime Kelly corporate mascot Lotta Miles. - Dave]

I hadn't noticed it before harris's question, but that's certainly what it is. But what's it illuminating? BIG light, with a glass lens, and a shade blocking light from the road. Wish we could see the lot to the right!

[Advertising! - Dave]

Looks like a fun destination for a summer road trip!

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With the Kelly Tire girl!

an early ADA wheelchair ramp below the "4 Corners Garage" sign. Watch out for the bottom landing.

I was born in Auburn in 1938 and lived in Ophir until after the war was over. I remember the 4th of July celebrations in lower Auburn. They had a greased pole for climbing and a greased pig for catching. The upper Auburn firemen and the lower Auburn Firemen would square off on the street in the picture and try to knock each other down using fire hoses.
John

What is attached on the side, at the very top, of the brick building on the right? It looks very modern for 1934.

[A floodlight. - Dave]

Who would of thunk. Thanks.

The building on the right was the home to the Placer Herald, the local newspaper. The building was torn down when Highway 40 became Interstate 80. Basically the location of this photo is now under the freeway. the masthead on the front of the building was made out of clay at the Gladding McBean terra cotta factory in Lincoln. It was displayed at a park just up the hill from the current location of the firehouse, but a truck drove into the park and destroyed the sign.

The sign is back at the park now, but I don't know if it is the original, repaired, or a reproduction.

http://motherlodenewcomers.com/groups/travel/auburn-trip

The firehouse is still standing, although the location in the photo is actually now buried under the I-80 freeway. When the highway was expanded, the firehouse was moved about 75 yards east. You can see it from the freeway or stop by and visit. It is near the large statue of the 49er Claude Chana, discovering gold in his pan that is right beside the I-80.

A few years ago I designed a paper model of the firehouse.