Engine House (Auburn, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Engine House
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Engine House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Auburn, Maine |
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| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Stevens & Coombs |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000156 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1978 |
The Engine House in Auburn, Maine, is a really old building. It used to be a fire station! It's located right in the heart of downtown Auburn.
This building was built way back in 1879. That makes it one of the few fire stations from the 1800s still standing in Maine. Because it's so old and special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This list helps protect important historical buildings.
Contents
What the Engine House Looks Like
The old Auburn Engine House is a two-story building. It's made of strong brick. It has a special roof shape called a "truncated hip roof." The building also sits on a solid granite foundation.
Special Features of the Building
Look up at the roof, and you'll see a square wooden tower. This was once a belfry, where a bell would have rung. The front of the building used to have four big openings. These were for the fire engines to drive in and out. Today, one of these openings is a shop entrance. The others still look like garage doors.
You can also see a smaller door for people to walk through. Above this door, there's a sign that tells you what the building is. The second floor has many windows. They are set in groups and have cool brick arches above them. The edges of the roof are decorated with wooden brackets.
A Brief History of the Fire Station
The story of fire protection in this area started long ago. In 1849, a private company helped fight fires. Back then, this place was called Lewiston Falls. It was part of Lewiston, Maine.
From Village to City Fire Service
In 1859, a group called the Auburn Village Corporation bought the land. They built a wooden fire house there. This group was in charge of fire protection. Later, in 1867, the city of Auburn took over the fire service.
A new fire house was built on the same spot in 1870. This was to make room for newer fire equipment. But sadly, this building was destroyed by fire in 1878. The fire likely started in the stables where the horses were kept.
The Building We See Today
The Engine House you see now was built the very next year, in 1879. It served as an active fire station for a long time. Firefighters worked there until 1971. After that, it was changed. Now, it's used for shops and businesses.
