Applicants had to be between 5’8″ and 6’2″ tall and weigh between 140 and 190 pounds. 

June 3, 1951 advertisement

Pay for a newly hired firefighter was $3,413. A full paid man made $4,127. For comparison, the average household income was $3,515. The average cost of a new house was $9,000, a new car $1,500.  

A pay increase of $250 to $286 would go into effect on July 1st, the beginning of the city’s fiscal year.