Central Fire Station (Davenport, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Central Fire Station is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
and serves as the headquarters of the Davenport Fire Department, as well as the downtown fire station. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, was built on Perry Street in 1877 for the Fire King Engine 2nd Hose Company. Before the turn of the 20th century the city built other small hose stations throughout the city.
By 1901 the city decided it needed a new and larger fire station downtown. Local architect Gustav Hanssen was contracted to build the new station. He had designed several homes in the city including Sacred Heart Rectory, which is also on the National Register of Historic Places. The location of a double engine firehouse across West Fourth Street from the Scott County Court House was selected as the location for the new building. The building was opened in 1902 at a cost of $21,000. It continues to serve as a fire station although it does have space and access problems.
. The Classical Revival elements are found in the pediment
ed entrance and in the round arched window heads and their simplified keystones.
The main floor of the building is an open 57 by 64 foot room with no supporting posts. When it was built it could hold four hose wagons and had stalls for 10 horses that pulled the wagons. The stalls were paved with vitrified brick, and each had its own sewer connect. There was also a ventilation system to help eliminate odors and flies.
The taller tower had a bell loft, which has since been removed. It was then made to look like the shorter tower. A bell, cast in 1869 by Michael Donahue, contained 200 silver dollars to give it a proper ring and was hung in the tall tower. The tower, then as now, was used to hang the fire hoses to dry.
The second floor contained the chief’s bedroom, office and bathroom. There was also a room for a switchboard
and repeater. The rest of the second floor was taken up by a dormitory, locker room and bathroom for the fire fighters.
Two additions have been added to the building over the years. The first is a small, one-story attachment on the northwest corner of the building. The second addition is attached to the back of the building facing Scott Street. It is a brick structure that contains a three-bay garage with a second floor above. The larger addition shows elements of the Art Deco
style of the 1920s.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and serves as the headquarters of the Davenport Fire Department, as well as the downtown fire station. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The first group of volunteer firefighters in Davenport were organized in 1856 and called the Independent Fire Engine and Hose Company. The city’s first fire house, Hose Station No. 1Hose Station No. 1
The Hose Station No. 1 is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
, was built on Perry Street in 1877 for the Fire King Engine 2nd Hose Company. Before the turn of the 20th century the city built other small hose stations throughout the city.
By 1901 the city decided it needed a new and larger fire station downtown. Local architect Gustav Hanssen was contracted to build the new station. He had designed several homes in the city including Sacred Heart Rectory, which is also on the National Register of Historic Places. The location of a double engine firehouse across West Fourth Street from the Scott County Court House was selected as the location for the new building. The building was opened in 1902 at a cost of $21,000. It continues to serve as a fire station although it does have space and access problems.
Architecture
For whatever reason Davenport’s fire stations have employed the Italianate style, and the Central Fire Station is no exception. It also employs elements of the Classical Revival style as well. The building is a two-storey structure and featured three bays across its main façade, which faces West Fourth Street. Two towers flank the main entrance, which is on Scott Street. The Italianate elements are found in the hose tower and the low hipped roofHip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
. The Classical Revival elements are found in the pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
ed entrance and in the round arched window heads and their simplified keystones.
The main floor of the building is an open 57 by 64 foot room with no supporting posts. When it was built it could hold four hose wagons and had stalls for 10 horses that pulled the wagons. The stalls were paved with vitrified brick, and each had its own sewer connect. There was also a ventilation system to help eliminate odors and flies.
The taller tower had a bell loft, which has since been removed. It was then made to look like the shorter tower. A bell, cast in 1869 by Michael Donahue, contained 200 silver dollars to give it a proper ring and was hung in the tall tower. The tower, then as now, was used to hang the fire hoses to dry.
The second floor contained the chief’s bedroom, office and bathroom. There was also a room for a switchboard
Switchboard
The term switchboard, when used by itself, may refer to:*Telephone switchboard*Electric switchboard*Printed circuit board*Mixing console*In computing, Switch board...
and repeater. The rest of the second floor was taken up by a dormitory, locker room and bathroom for the fire fighters.
Two additions have been added to the building over the years. The first is a small, one-story attachment on the northwest corner of the building. The second addition is attached to the back of the building facing Scott Street. It is a brick structure that contains a three-bay garage with a second floor above. The larger addition shows elements of the Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style of the 1920s.
See also
- Davenport Hose Station No. 3Davenport Hose Station No. 3Davenport Hose Station No. 3 is located on the east side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. It is one of two former fire stations on the east side that are still in existence. The other one is Hose Station No...
- Hose Station No. 4Hose Station No. 4Hose Station No. 4 is located in the Village of East Davenport in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is a contributing property of the Davenport Village Historic District that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. The fire station was individually listed on...
- Hose Station No. 6Hose Station No. 6Hose Station No. 6 is located on top of the Marquette Street hill in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. It is one of two former fire stations in the West End that are still in existence. The other one is Hose...
- Hose Station No. 7Hose Station No. 7The Hose Station No. 7 is located in the west end of Davenport, Iowa, United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has held several different businesses after it was replaced by larger, more modern fire stations....