東山牛肉崎警察官吏派出所

September 6th, 2024

Niurouqi Police Station (牛肉崎警察官吏派出所) was completed sometime in the 1930s, midway through the Japanese colonial era. It was originally attached to the Baihe branch of policing under Xinying, and its jurisdiction was the surrounding villages in the hills of Dongshan, an area mainly known for petroleum production in those days.

The condition of the old police station in early 2018.

This wooden station was built with Taiwanese cypress and featured a gabled roof with black tile typical of the era. The inner walls are woven bamboo with a layer of mud plastered over them, a traditional wattle and daub construction method, all mounted on what looks to be a reinforced concrete base. One other feature worth noting is the red light dangling from a wire and resting on the wooden awning above the entrance; such globes remain a standard feature of police stations in Taiwan to this day.

An oblique look at the old police station. The signboard out front provides some historical information.

A sidelong view of the old station. Only the front was painted sky blue at some point decades ago.

A closer look at the ventilation beneath the old station. The underlying construction method of the walls is also visible here.

Not long after the war, with completely new staff, it was renamed Shuiyun Police Station (水雲派出所). Operations continued pretty much as before for many decades, but the station was closed in 1986 after a newer building was completed next door. The old building was converted into a residence for officers at the new station, and may have been allocated to an officer after retirement as well.

A peek inside the dimly-lit station in early 2018. The calendar is frozen on July 2003, indicating that the station continued to be used for decades after it was abolished.

Inside the former lobby of the station, no duty desk in evidence. “I.E.R” on the wall is short for “Invade Explore Record”, a southern Taiwanese urban exploration club.

This room off to one side was a kitchen. Police officers typically lived at the more remote stations they were assigned to back in the day.

Renewed interest in the cultural heritage of the country prompted a series of official visits from the Ministry of Culture, and the old station was formally recognized as a historic building in 2009. An plaque was installed to provide some information for passing motorists, but the site was otherwise left alone for another decade.

The newer station to the right entered into service in 1986. It also followed a standard design.

A closer look at the more modern police station on site, which was also decommissioned at some point.

On the highway near the old police station. There really isn’t too much out here anymore, but the scenery is nice.

Although smaller historic sites such as this one are often neglected indefinitely, local government did get around to restoring this old station around 2022, and it has since reopened to the public as a minor attraction along the highway.