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AKA: Thirty-Eight's Engine No. 1, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; The Plaza Fire House, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Structure Type: built works - public buildings - fire stations
Designers: Boring, William A. Architect (firm); Hennessy, Dennis, Building Contractor (firm); William Alciphron Boring (architect); Raymond Cirvigian (architect); Dennis Hennessy (building contractor)
Dates: constructed 1884-1884
2 stories
Overview
Composed of load-bearing brick walls, this fire station, located in the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument, has stood on this site since 1884. It housed four different engine companies during its period of use, 1884-1897. The State of California purchased the building during the early 1950s, as part of an effort to preserve the historic character of the Plaza. In recent years, it has served as a museum for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Building History
The City of Los Angeles contracted with IL-born architect William A. Boring in 1884 to design this fire house. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive: "Boring's design followed closely a fashion then current in his native Illinois, with the horses stabled inside the station as was the custom in colder climates. A unique turntable in the floor made it unnecessary to back the horses in or out. Construction began in May, 1884 and was completed by mid-August. Firehouse No. 1 opened for business in September that same year." (See
Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive, "The Plaza House," accessed 04/12/2016.) Construction was completed by building contractor Dennis Hennessy for a total of$4,665.
Initially, the station housed a volunteer fire-fighting group called the "Original 38s." The Volunteer 38's Engine Company No. 1 utilized thie facility from 09/16/1884 until 02/01/1886. Because of rivalries and variations in effectiveness among its volunteer units, the City of Los Angeles professionalized its fire department in In 12/1885. The Los Angeles Fire Department's Engine Company #1, the city's first paid fire department unit, Engine Company No. 1, used the buildign from 02/01/1886 until 1887. Thereafter, it housed the Walter S. Moore Engine Company No. 4, (Walter S. Moore being the city's first paid fire chief), between 1887 until 1890; the station was vacant, 1890 until 1891; it housed the LAFD's Chemical Company No. 1, from 1891 until 10/01/1897.From about 1897 until 1953 the building's occupants are unknown. It was acquired by the State of California for the Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Project, c. 1953.
Alteration
Sometime after 1897, the station's northeast corner was damaged by fire; the station was rebuilt 1959-1960, and reopened as California Historical Landmark No. 730, on 10/01/1960.
PCAD id: 1115
