Portage Street Fire Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Portage Street Fire Station
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| Location | 1249 Portage St., Kalamazoo, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903 |
| Built by | Moore McQuigg |
| Architect | Robert M. Gallup |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002150 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
The Portage Street Fire Station is an old fire station building located at 1249 Portage Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because of its important history. Today, the building is home to the Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, a group that celebrates fire history and art.
Contents
The Fire Station's Story
Why Was a New Fire Station Needed?
Kalamazoo grew very quickly in the late 1800s. Many large paper mills opened between 1890 and 1900. This caused the southeast part of Kalamazoo, especially near Washington Square, to grow a lot. However, this busy area did not have enough fire protection.
Building the Station
In 1903, the city council decided to build a new fire station. They hired Robert M. Gallup, an architect from Kalamazoo, to design it. After some changes to the plans, a local builder named Moore McQuigg was chosen to construct the building. The new fire station was finished in the middle of 1904.
What Happened to the Station?
The station was called "Engine House No. 2." It served the city of Kalamazoo until 1953. At that time, a new fire station was built nearby, and Engine House No. 2 was no longer needed for fires.
After being a fire station, the building was used as a laundromat until about 1976. Over time, the building became very old and worn out. In 1982, a new owner bought the building. They fixed it up and used the first floor for a contracting business. The upstairs became office space. As of 2018, the building is home to the Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative. This group focuses on the history of fire departments and related arts.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Portage Street Fire Station is a two-story building made of orange bricks. It has yellow-gray stone details that look like rough rocks. The roof is a mix of hip and gable styles, with five small windows sticking out, called dormers. The building is about 40 feet wide and 60 feet long.
It stands on a corner lot. There is a tower attached to the corner closest to the street intersection. This tower has a pyramid-shaped roof and sticks out from the main building. All the windows in the building are "one-over-one double hung" style, meaning they have one pane of glass on the top and one on the bottom.
The front of the building has large, arched openings where the fire trucks used to drive out. There is a stone sign on the front that says "Portage St. Fire Station."
