Houghton Fire Hall facts for kids
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Houghton Fire Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Fire hall in March 2012; addition at left
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 404 East Montezuma Avenue, Houghton, Michigan |
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| Built | 1883 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | Shelden Avenue Historic District (ID87002154) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | December 30, 1987 |
The Houghton Fire Hall, officially called the Continental Fire Company Building, is a historic building in Houghton, Michigan. It used to be a fire station and is located at the corner of Huron Street and Montezuma Avenue. Built in 1883, this building was also the first home of the Michigan Mining School. Today, it is recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site. It is also an important part of the Shelden Avenue Historic District.
Contents
The Story of the Houghton Fire Hall
The Continental Fire Company started in Houghton in 1860. Their very first fire station was built in 1861. It was located near the waterfront, close to where the Portage Lake Lift Bridge is today.
Building the New Fire Hall
The current fire hall building was finished in 1883. Its large bell was made in 1884 by a company called Centennial Bell Foundry. The Continental Fire Company used the basement for their horses. Fire engines were kept on the main floor.
The second floor was used for village offices. From 1886 to 1889, the Michigan Mining School held its first classes here. This school is now known as Michigan Technological University. In the early 1900s, the building was made bigger. This was to store more food for the horses. In 1916, another part was added on the west side. This new section could hold two more fire engines.
Changes Over the Years
The city offices moved out of the fire hall in the 1930s. On August 5, 1966, a special bronze plaque was put on the building. It honored the fire hall as the original home of the university.
In 1974, the fire department moved to a new station. The new location on Sharon Avenue was better for larger, modern equipment. The old fire bell was moved to the new station in 1975. The western addition of the building was sold. It became a store that sold auto parts.
Historic Recognition and New Life
The fire hall was named a Michigan State Historic Site on August 6, 1976. In 1978, the university bought the building. They used it for storage.
On December 30, 1987, the Shelden Avenue Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The fire hall was an important part of this historic district. In 2010, a private group bought the building. They fixed it up and turned it into an entertainment place. It opened in February 2012 and is called the Continental Fire Co. The auto parts store moved out of the western addition in 2011, and that part of the building became empty.
Building Style
The Houghton Fire Hall is a three-story building made of brick. It has a flat roof and is designed in the Italianate style. The bottom part of the building, called the foundation, is made of rough stones painted white.
Originally, there was a small clock tower on top of the building. This tower had four clock faces. The tall space inside the tower was useful. Fire hoses could hang there to dry after being used.
