Old Fire Engine House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Fire Engine House
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| Location | North Main Street, Orono, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002181 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
The Old Fire Engine House is a special old building in Orono, Maine. It was built way back in 1892. This building is a great example of what a fire station looked like in the late 1800s.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1985. This means it's an important historical place! Today, Boy Scout Troop 478 uses the building for their meetings and activities. They are part of the Katahdin Area Council.
What Does It Look Like?
The Old Fire Engine House is on North Main Avenue. It's built on a slope that goes down to the Stillwater River. From the street, it looks like a one-and-a-half story building. But on the river side, it's a full two stories tall!
The building is made of wood. It has a pointed roof that faces the front. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard. On top of the roof, there's a small tower with a pyramid-shaped roof. This tower is called a belfry. It used to hold the fire bell. There's also a tall tower at the back for drying fire hoses.
The front of the building has a fancy triangular shape above the main entrance. This is called a pediment. The large central opening used to be where the fire engine was kept. It has big double doors. To the right, there's a smaller door for people. To the left, there's a double window. Inside, you can still see the original wooden walls and window frames.
A Look Back in Time: Its History
The town of Orono is split by the Stillwater River. This made it tricky to fight fires. Firefighters needed to get to both sides of the river quickly.
The first fire services in Orono started in the 1830s. These were volunteer firefighters. But the town didn't have a special building for fire engines until the 1860s. That first building was on the south side of the river. The fire engine for the north side was kept in other buildings.
In 1892, the town decided to build this special fire station. It was made to be a permanent home for the fire engine. The engine was kept on the main floor. The horses that pulled the engine were kept in the basement. The bell in the belfry was used to call the volunteer firefighters when there was a fire.
Images for kids
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The Old Fire Engine House in Orono, Maine.
