Former Fire Stations
As appaartus has changed through the years, the buildings needed to house those vehicles, and the people that operated them, have evolved. In some cases, those fire stations were torn down in order to build their replacement, but in many cases, those former fire stations have been repurposed for other uses. Below, you will find some examples of former fire stations that are still standing, but being used for a different purpose.
York City
Eagle Engine House
On October 12, 1912, the Eagle Fire Company's engine house at 341 West Jackson Street was dedicated. The station was expanded in 1942, adding an additional 25 feet to the rear of the original building.
In July of 1991, the engine operating out of the Eagle fire station, Engine 7, was placed out of service, and the station closed. The station remains property of the city, and has been used as temporary offices for the maintenance department of the York City School District, and as police department offices.
Good Will Engine House
In 1858, The Good Will Fire Company No. 1 of Freystown built a small, two-story brick fire station at 669 East Market Street. This building, which eventually had a wood frame lean-to added to the east side of the original building, served as the Good Will's engine house until 1895, when the Good Will purchased a three-story residence at 821 East Market Street. The Good Will lads renovated the former residence, altering the facade of the building to convert the first floor of the home into an apparatus bay. This building then served as the Good Will's home until a new station was built on the same site in 1903.
The former Good Will station at 669 East Market Street still stands today. It has been used as a commercial retail space as well as for residential use. The lean-to and bell tower have been removed, and a third window was instered between the two windows on the second floor of the building. But, by comparing then and now photos of the building, you can see that although the facade has changed, it is still the same building erected in 1858.
Laurel Engine House
On October 8, 1856, between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., an alarm of fire was sounded for a large fire in the alley behind Market Street, between Duke and Queen Streets. The fire extended to 18 buildings, including the four year old home of the Laurel. A strong wind blowing toward the Laurel's station, and the close proximity of Mr. Brown's frame building, doomed the station.
A new engine house was rebuilt on the same site, at 33 South Duke Street (at that time it was known as 19 South Duke Street). That station was occupied in 1857, and served the Laurel for twenty-one years until the Laurel moved into their new, landmark fire house at the corner of Duke and King Streets. The 1857 engine house was later occupied by Watt & Brother, a paint, wallpaper and interior decoration company. The building, currently reduced to a single story, and heavily modified, houses the Credit Bureau of York, which moved into the building in 1963.
Lincoln Engine House
The Lincoln Engine Company No. 9 was formed on June 15, 1942 by the residents of the northwest section of the city, with the Avenues and Lincoln Park areas being annexed into the city in 1928. The engine assigned to the Lincoln was originally housed in the York Bus Company bus barns, which were previously the trolley barns for the York Railways Cpmpany. The Lincoln operated out of the bus barns until September 10, 1946, when the new Lincoln engine house at Roosevelt and Maryland Avenues was opened. Although not originally built as a fire station, the trolley/bus barns still stand today at Hartley Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, currently used by a manufacturing concern.
Rescue Engine House
On May 21, 1872, the Rescue fire company was organized to protect the residents and businesses in the city's south end. They joined the Laurel, Vigilant and Union and became the city's fourth fire company, the Resolution Hose Company having disbanded in 1868. On July 25, 1872, the Rescue rented the former Reinberger cooper shop in the first block of East South Street to serve as their engine house.
On October 2, 1873, the Rescue purchased a plot of land at 346 South George Street for the purpose of erecting a new engine house. That new station was dedicated on July 4, 1874. In January of 1970, the Rescue station was closed and its engine relocated to the Laurel engine house. The Rescue station was reopened in the summer of 1970 to house the city's ambulance service. The city ambulance service was moved from the Rescue to the Lincoln's engine house in 1983. The Rescue building was used for various city purposes, including as storage for the police department, until it was sold to a masonry contractor. It is currently being used as a private residence.
The accompanying photo is courtesy of the West Manchester Township Historical Society.
Royal Engine House
On February 16, 1901, the Royal Fire Company was organized to protect the residents and businesses of the city's growing west end. Having the backing of many of the west end manufacturers, the Royal was to be a landmark fire company. By September of 1901, the Royal had purchased a plot of land on the Corner of West Market Street and Carlisle Avenue for the construction of a grand, two bay engine house. A temporary engine house was erected in the back of the lot, facing Carlisle Avenue, which was completed on January 6, 1902 at a cost of $585. On November 20, 1902, ground was broken for the new engine house. The building was completed and a dedication ceremony was held on October 29, 1904.
In 1978, the Royal fire station was closed and the engine placed out of service. The station would then become the home of the city's Electrical Bureau. The Fire Museum of York County would later join the Electrical Bureau at the Royal, occupying the upper floors of the building. The Electrical Bureau would eventually move to a new building on Toronita Street in Manchester Township, and the Fire Museum of York County would take over the entire building, and eventually purchase the property.
The Fire Museum of York County would eventually merge into the then York County Heritage Trust. The York County History center continues to operate the York County Fire Museum as one of its local heritage sites.
Union Engine House?
The Union Fire Company was formed in 1854. In 1855 the Union built their first engine house at 108 North George Street to house their Rodgers and Son suction engine that they purchased for $1,200. The Union's engine house had been used as a military recruiting station during the Civil War. The Union would remain in this building until April 1, 1884, when their second engine house at 141 North George Street was completed.
What happened to the Union's first engine house requires further research. The current building at 108 North George Street, Tutoni's Restaurant, has the proper dimensions to have been that former engine house, although the facade of the building has changed drastically throughout the years. Is this the first Union engine house? I certainly think so, but I cannot state that with 100% accuracy. The building was completely gutted during the restaurant renovations, so there is no physical evidence in the building to back that claim.
York County
Airville
Old station is on Fire Company Road.
Craley
Old station on Abels Road just across from Barry's Country Market.
Dallastown
Old Station is on Route 74 as the borough museum
Older station is a few doors down the street used as a residence.
Dover Borough
Old station is now a residence, 17 West Canal Street.
Dover Township
Weiglestown's first station is on Alta Vista Road and is now a day care center.
East Prospect
Old station is in front of the current station.
Fairview Township
Old Station 68-3 is now used by the police department.
Fawn Grove
Old station is on East Main Street.
Felton
First station was in a shared garage?
Goldsboro
Old station is in front of current station.
Hanover
Hanover Fire Company #1 old station is on East Chestnut Street.
Eagle Fire Company #2 old station is on Hanover Street just off York Street. Now a fire museum.
Lewisberry
Former station is across the street diagonally from the current station 68-3.
New Bridgeville
Old station on Furnace Road about 100 yards towards town from the current station.
New Freedom
Former station is on South Front Street across from the old mill and train tracks.
North Codorus Township
Stoverstown's old station is on Firehall Road and is used as a community building.
North York
Former station is on North George Street.
Penn Township
Friendship Fire Company, former station is on on Frederick Street.
Friendship Fire Company, first station is in the first block of Westminster Avenue, it is or was a tv repair shop.
Parkville Fire Company, former station at 955 Baltimore Street.
Parkville Fire Company, small wood church building near the Giant was their previous station.
Grangeville Fire Company, former station is on McAllister Street.
Porters Sideling
Porters Fire Company's former station is up the road from the current station.
Red Lion
Old station is on First Avenue, used by a church.
An older station is at Hyson Lane and Railroad Avenue, used as a residential garage.
Seven Valleys
A very old station standing by the post office on Church Street.
Shrewsbury
An old station is just down the street from their current station.
Spring Garden Township
Friendship Fire Company No. 8, old station on Franklin Street in Windsor Park.
Victory Fire Company, old station is on Mount Rose Avenue.
Spring Grove
Old station is on Main Street, used by Glatfelter Paper.
Springettsbury Township
Springetts Fire Company, first station is on East Market Street.
Stewartstown
Former station is at 13 North Main Street.
Another former station is at 6 West Pennsylvania Avenue.
Strinestown
Old station is across the street, used as a social hall now.
Thomasville
Old station now EMS station.
Windsor
Old station is still standing on Main Street.
Yoe
Old station was an auto parts store on South Main Street.
York Township
Old station in Spry at 2422 South Queen Street.
Yorkana
Old station in Yorkana at 42 Main Street is currently used as the fire company's social hall.
West Manchester Township
Bair Community Fire Company, old station is on Sunnyside Road.
Lincolnway Fire Comapny, old station is on West Market Street.
West Manhiem Township
Pleasant Hill Fire Company, old station is on Baltimore Street, used as a social hall.
Winterstown
Old station is south of the cemetery on Route 24.
Any additions, corrections and/or comments are welcomed.