Overview

This remarkable, wood-frame, Shingle Style fire station was in service at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pine Street between 1890 and 1906.

Building History

In the wake of the devastating fire of 06/06/1889, Seattle invested significant municipal funds into building five new fire stations equipped with the latest electronic alarm systems. An article in the Portland, OR/Spokane, WA-based publication, West Shore, commented on ths building campaign in 01/1890: "Seattle is building five engine houses for the use of the fire department at a cost of $41,000, one of them being of stone and brick and costing $18,000. The latter will have a stone and brick tower sixty-five feet high, in which will be hung a large alarm bell. All the best electric appliances will be put in and Seattle will have a fire department thoroughly equipped and organized for efficient service." (See Unititled article, West Shore, no. 157, 01/04//1890, p. 14.)

Building Notes

This building's picturesque tower was not simply a design element, but functioned as a lookout spot for smoke on the city's skyline.

Demolition

A second Seattle Fire Station #2 was built on this site in 1906. This second one was also razed in 1921.

PCAD id: 24118