Firehouse Gallery facts for kids
The Firehouse Gallery in Bordentown, New Jersey is a special art studio. It was built way back in 1886. Today, it is the main studio for its owner, Eric Gibbons, who is an artist.
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The Firehouse Gallery: A Look Back
The building we now know as the Firehouse Gallery was first called the Citizen's Hook and Ladder. It was built in 1886. This happened after a big fire destroyed a church nearby in 1885. You can still see the year it was built carved in stone above the windows.
From Fire Station to Art Space
When it was new, the Citizen's Hook and Ladder company kept a ladder truck inside. Early reports say that only important townspeople were members. These included doctors, lawyers, and big land-owners. Later, anyone living in Bordentown could join.
The building had one large opening for the ladder truck. There was also a hole cut in a back wall for the ladders. On the second floor, there were two rooms for meetings. You can still find signs of a horse stall inside the walls of the first-floor bathroom. When cars and trucks became popular, the front of the building was made wider. A concrete floor replaced the old wooden one.
New Owners, New Purpose
Around 1966, the building was no longer used as a fire station. In 1969, a woman named Juanita Crosby bought it for $5000. She named it "The Firehouse Gallery of Juanita Crosby." She turned it into a classroom for students in the area. It was a successful art school for 25 years. The only big change she made was taking down the bell tower because the ceiling was leaking.
In 1994, Eric Gibbons bought the building from Ms. Crosby. He made many big changes. He renamed it "The Firehouse Gallery of Bordentown." He changed the single garage space into two rooms. He also added bathrooms. The meeting rooms upstairs became his living space.
Art and Learning at the Gallery
From 1994 to 2004, the gallery held monthly art exhibitions. These shows featured different artists. In 1996, there was a special show for an artist named Hugh Romney.
Eric Gibbons' Studio and More
Since 2005, Eric Gibbons' art has become very popular around the world. Because of this, the gallery became his main studio. Even so, the gallery still shows art from a few other artists. Volunteers and helpers also work there to support its different goals.
Publishing and Classes Today
In 2011, The Firehouse Gallery started Firehouse Publishing. This part of the gallery focuses on books about art and education. Some of their books include The Art Student's Workbook and Sketchbook 101.
As of 2012, the gallery still offers art classes all year long. Both children and adults can take these classes. They have also been running a summer art camp since 1995. Mr. Gibbons leads this camp.
