Fire Station No. 9 (Kansas City, Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fire Station No. 9
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 S. 14th St., Kansas City, Kansas |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Harris, William E. |
| Architectural style | Prairie School, Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001982 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1985 |
Fire Station No. 9 is an old building in Kansas City, Kansas. It used to be a fire station, but now it's used by a community group. The building is special because it's considered a historic landmark. It was added to the Register of Historic Kansas Places in 1979 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important part of history.
The building was designed by William E. Harris. It is also known as the Prescott Neighborhood Center. Today, Community Housing of Wyandotte County owns and uses the building. A new Fire Station No. 9 is now located at a different address in Kansas City, Kansas.
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A Look Back: History of Fire Station No. 9
Fire Station No. 9 was finished in 1911. It shows a mix of different building styles popular in the early 1900s. The station was built when Kansas City was growing very fast. Many new public buildings were built between 1910 and 1927.
The fire station served a large area of the city. This area included Bethany Hospital, which was also built in 1911.
The Architect and Other Stations
We don't know much about the architect, William E. Harris. But he also designed Fire Station No. 8. That station had the same inside layout as No. 9. However, the outside looked different. Sadly, Fire Station No. 8 was torn down in 1984. This happened because it was badly damaged by a fire.
Firefighting in the Early Days
When Fire Station No. 9 first opened in 1911, it used a special wagon. This was called an Anderson combination chemical and hose wagon. Horses pulled this wagon. A team of four firefighters worked with it. Today, there are no parts of this old wagon left in the building.
Changes Over Time
In 1950, the front doors of the station were made wider and taller. This was done so bigger fire trucks could fit inside. Also, some doors on the north and west sides were closed up.
The fire station stopped being used in 1967. A new Fire Station No. 9 took over its duties. The old building was then used by city painters and carpenters for storage.
Later, in 1975-1976, the city decided to turn it into a neighborhood community center. The outside of the building was updated in 1977. The doors on the north and west sides were opened again. The inside of the building was remodeled the next year.
What Fire Station No. 9 Looks Like
The building has at least two terra cotta gargoyles. These are decorative statues that stick out from the corners. They look like small, dwarf-like firefighters.
