Niagara Engine House
Encyclopedia
The Niagara Engine House is located on North Hamilton Street in downtown Poughkeepsie
, New York, United States. It is a brick building constructed in the early 20th century, the only extant fire house of the six engine companies that once protected the city.
It was designed by local architect Percival M. Lloyd in a late application of the Gothic Revival architectural style
. In 1982 it, along with two other old Poughkeepsie firehouses, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
in each story. The front facade
faces east. Beneath the flat roof is a projecting cornice
and brick frieze
with blue squares on which "Niagara" is spelled out. It is supported by large brackets
alternating with smaller ones.
Fenestration
is varied. The third-story windows have pointed arches. The central window on the story below is a projecting bay window
with a castellated top and diamond-shaped lights. Above the first story is a molded stone cornice with letters spelling out "1810 NIAGARA 1909".
A stone course
separates the first and second stories. Brick pilaster
s frame the main garage door. The interior retains its tiled floor, brass pole and flooring.
In 1909 local architect Percival M. Lloyd, who had earlier designed the eclectic Lady Washington Hose Company
building a few blocks to the south on Academy Street, was hired to build the new one. His building includes many features of the Gothic Revival II style, which was used for many public buildings in the early 20th century ... the projecting central bay, roof castellation, stone lintels with drip molding
and arches, the stone course between the two lower floors and a mock stone basement at ground level.
A private ambulance company moved into the lower floor after the fire department left the building. They left its features intact.
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York, United States. It is a brick building constructed in the early 20th century, the only extant fire house of the six engine companies that once protected the city.
It was designed by local architect Percival M. Lloyd in a late application of the Gothic Revival architectural style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
. In 1982 it, along with two other old Poughkeepsie firehouses, was 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...
.
Building
The firehouse is a brick building three stories high with three to five baysBay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
in each story. The front facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
faces east. Beneath the flat roof is a projecting cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and brick frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
with blue squares on which "Niagara" is spelled out. It is supported by large brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
alternating with smaller ones.
Fenestration
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
is varied. The third-story windows have pointed arches. The central window on the story below is a projecting bay window
Bay window
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
with a castellated top and diamond-shaped lights. Above the first story is a molded stone cornice with letters spelling out "1810 NIAGARA 1909".
A stone course
Course (architecture)
A course is a continuous horizontal layer of similarly-sized building material one unit high, usually in a wall. The term is almost always used in conjunction with unit masonry such as brick, cut stone, or concrete masonry units .-Styles:...
separates the first and second stories. Brick pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s frame the main garage door. The interior retains its tiled floor, brass pole and flooring.
History
The engine company that became Niagara was organized in 1810, as the building facade suggests, but did not start going by that name until 1847. Six engine companies are known to have been in service during the city's history. This is the only one whose building is extant.In 1909 local architect Percival M. Lloyd, who had earlier designed the eclectic Lady Washington Hose Company
Lady Washington Hose Company
The Lady Washington Hose Company building is located on Academy Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It was once home to one of the city's volunteer companies of the same name but now houses Children's Media Project...
building a few blocks to the south on Academy Street, was hired to build the new one. His building includes many features of the Gothic Revival II style, which was used for many public buildings in the early 20th century ... the projecting central bay, roof castellation, stone lintels with drip molding
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
and arches, the stone course between the two lower floors and a mock stone basement at ground level.
A private ambulance company moved into the lower floor after the fire department left the building. They left its features intact.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Poughkeepsie, New YorkNational Register of Historic Places listings in Poughkeepsie, New YorkList of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Poughkeepsie, New YorkThis is intended to be a complete list of properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the city and town of Poughkeepsie, New York, including the hamlet of New Hamburg...