Whittenton Fire and Police Station facts for kids
The Whittenton Fire and Police Station is a special old building in Taunton, Massachusetts. It's located on Bay Street. This building was built a long time ago, in 1888. It's important because it's one of only two fire stations from the 1800s in Taunton that are still standing. It's built in a style called Queen Anne. In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Quick facts for kids |
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Whittenton Fire and Police Station
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Taunton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Abner Coleman; James T. Bassett (builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| MPS | Taunton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002271 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1984 |
Contents
About the Station
The Whittenton Station is on the east side of Bay Street in Taunton. It's a brick building that is 2-1/2 stories tall. It has a sloped roof with a large dormer, which is a windowed part sticking out of the roof.
Building Design
A smaller two-story section sticks out from the right side. Behind this, there is a tall, three-story tower. This tower was used for drying fire hoses. The main part of the building has three large openings for fire trucks. Above these openings are four windows. The dormer on the roof is made of wood and has fancy decorative shingles. It also has a round arch with a three-part window.
Station Entrances
The side section of the building has two doors for people. One door leads into the fire station. The other door leads into the police station.
History of the Station
This station was designed by Taunton's second fire chief, Abner Coleman. It was built in 1888 by a builder named James T. Bassett. Another fire station, the Weir Engine House, was built a year later in 1889.
Queen Anne Style
The Whittenton Fire and Police Station is a great example of a Queen Anne style building. This style was popular when the city of Taunton was growing a lot. It shows how buildings looked during that time.
What It's Used For Today
Today, the station is still very busy. It is home to Taunton's Engine 4 fire truck. It also houses Water Rescue 1, which helps with water emergencies. The building is also the Whittenton police precinct. It has a community police substation, too. In the past, this building even had a neighborhood library!
