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Engine House No. 11 (Detroit)

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Coordinates: 42°21′16″N 83°1′53″W / 42.35444°N 83.03139°W / 42.35444; -83.03139
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Engine House No. 11
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Location2737 Gratiot Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°21′16″N 83°1′53″W / 42.35444°N 83.03139°W / 42.35444; -83.03139
Built1883
Built byGascione & Sons
ArchitectWilliam Scott & Company
Architectural styleQueen Anne
NRHP reference No.78001519[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 9, 1978
Designated MSHSMay 14, 1975[2]

The Engine House No. 11 is a fire station located at 2737 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest remaining firehouse in the city of Detroit;[3] it was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1]

History

According to the September 9, 1883, edition of the Detroit Free Press, William Scott & Company was the architect of the building. Detroit's Engine Company No. 11 was organized as the "Steam Fire Engine Company #11" on January 1, 1884. The original equipment included a horse-drawn Silsby Steam engine and hose reel cart.[3] The company converted to motorized operation in 1916, obtaining a Seagrave gasoline propelled pumping engine.[3]

The firehouse tower on the southeast side of the building was shortened during World War II so an air raid siren could be installed.[3] In 1972, Engine Company No. 11 moved to new quarters. The building was used by the Emergency Medical Unit until 1976, and then as a Detroit Fire Department museum, containing several pieces of historic fire fighting equipment.[3]

Description

Engine House No. 11 is a 2+1⁄2-story brick building with a hipped roof. The front facade contains a wide center section flanked by two small bays. The first story of the center section contains four wide doors, the second story has two large windows. A dormer atop the center section contains the attic story. A hose-drying tower is centered on the east side of the building. This tower had an air raid siren installed during World War II, which reduced its height somewhat.[4]

On the interior, the first floor contains the apparatus room, kitchen, dining area and a lounge. The walls are wainscoted, and the ceiling is plastered. The second floor contains a dormitory style sleeping quarters, showers, locker room, and two private sleeping rooms for the Captain and Lieutenant. At the rear of the dormitory, but on a slightly lower level, is a room that was originally the hay loft, but has been turned into a recreation room.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. "Engine House No. 11". Historic Sites Online. Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e City of Detroit. "Engine House #11" (PDF). City of Detroit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  4. ^ a b Woodard, Clarence C. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Engine House No. 11".
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