Portland Fire Station No. 23 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Portland Fire Station No. 23
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Portland Fire Station No. 23 in 2011
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| Location | 1917 SE 7th Avenue Portland, Oregon |
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| Built | 1913 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | Portland Eastside |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000108 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1989 |
Portland Fire Station No. 23 is a two-story building in southeast Portland, Oregon. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the Italianate style in 1913, it was added to the register in 1989.
Contents
What is Fire Station No. 23?
Fire Station No. 23 sits on a narrow piece of land. This area was once known as "Firehouse Row." It was home to one of East Portland's first firehouses. An earlier fire company, Grant Engine Company No. 2, was here by 1884. This company later became Hose Company No. 3. In 1913, Fire Station No. 23 replaced that older building. The rest of the block had houses built for firefighters and their families. These homes were from the late 1800s.
What Does the Fire Station Look Like?
The fire station is shaped like a rectangle. It has strong masonry walls and a flat roof. A full parapet (a low wall at the edge of the roof) goes around the top. This design was common for Portland Fire Bureau buildings in East Portland in the early 1900s.
Exterior Features
The outside of the building has buff-colored brick. It features four wooden doors and arched windows. These windows have brick voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones) above them. There is also a round "bullseye" window. The original fire station signs are still visible.
Inside the Fire Station
The first floor originally held the engine room. This is where the fire trucks were kept. It also had two offices, a hallway, and a small bathroom. The second floor had a large room at the front. In the back, there were two smaller offices, a kitchen, a bathroom, and another hallway.
Who Was Lee Gray Holden?
Lee Gray Holden (1865–1943) was an important person connected to Fire Station No. 23. He was also involved with the fire station that was there before it. We don't know if he designed this specific building. However, he is known for designing 24 Portland firehouses and fire boats.
Holden's Early Career
Holden was born in Illinois. He moved to Oregon in 1885. In 1887, he joined Grant Engine Company No. 2. This was a volunteer fire company. At that time, East Portland was not yet part of Portland. In 1891, he became the first paid firefighter on the east side.
Challenges and Return to Service
In 1896, Mayor Sylvester Pennoyer removed Holden from his job for political reasons. However, after Pennoyer left office, Holden was hired again. In 1898, he became the fire battalion chief for the east side.
Holden's Later Years and Retirement
In 1908, Holden retired to Zigzag. He designed and built a hotel there. But in 1911, he returned to Portland. He became the battalion chief for the city's southeast fire district. From 1913 to 1923, he was stationed at Fire Station No. 23. In 1923, Holden became Portland's assistant fire chief. Three months later, he became the fire chief. He held this important position until he retired in 1927.
