Elm Street Fire House

Last updated
Elm Street Fire House
Southbridge Fire Station.jpg
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location24 Elm St., Southbridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°4′27″N72°2′6″W / 42.07417°N 72.03500°W / 42.07417; -72.03500
Built1899
Architect Clemence, George H.
Architectural style Renaissance
MPS Southbridge MRA
NRHP reference No. 89000530 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 22, 1989

The Elm Street Fire House is a historic fire house at 24 Elm Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1899, it was Southbridge's second fire house (after the Globe Village Fire House) to be built in the 1890s, and serves as the fire department headquarters. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The Elm Street Fire House is located on the west side of Elm Street, just south of Main Street and Southbridge's main business district. It is a two-story brick structure, with a hip roof and a tall hose-drying tower at its northeast corner. The building is architecturally eclectic, exhibiting a mixture of Revival styles popular in the late 19th century. The tower is Italianate, with round-arch windows and a bracketed pyramidal roof with skirt. The equipment bays on the ground floor have rusticated brick voussoirs, shaping round-arch openings in three of the bays, and a segmented-arch opening in one. The second story has round-arch windows in its central bays, and rectangular sash windows at the southern end, all with keystones. Dormers in the hip roof have Gothic-arched gables. A single-story addition extends to the south, adding several more equipment bays. [2]

Southbridge's fire services began with a tub engine owned by the Hamilton Woolen Mill Company, the city's dominant business. In 1832 the city acquired its own engine, and established a volunteer force to operate both units. The #1 unit occupied a variety of spaces in the center until 1860, when the first station was built. The fire department was formally established in 1880, and water was provisioned to hydrants in the city in the 1890s. Two stations were built in the 1890s: the Globe Village Fire House in 1894, and this one in 1899. [2]

This station was designed by Worcester architect George H. Clemence, whose previous commissions included some of that city's fire houses. Clemence is also credited with other designs in Southbridge, where was known to maintain an office, but the bulk of his best-known work is in Worcester. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elm Street Fire Station</span> United States historic place

The Elm Street Fire Station is a historic fire station in Gardner, Massachusetts. Built in 1897, it is a little-altered example of a Late Victorian fire station, with a number of distinctive period features. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, at which time it was still in active service. It was included in the Gardner Uptown Historic District in 1999. The building is presently vacant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whittenton Fire and Police Station</span> United States historic place

The Whittenton Fire and Police Station is a historic fire station and police station located on Bay Street in Taunton, Massachusetts. Built in 1888, it is one two surviving 19th-century Queen Anne-style fire stations in the city. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hubbardston Public Library</span> United States historic place

The Hubbardston Public Library is the public library of Hubbardston, Massachusetts. The library, located at 7 Main Street, serves the town by providing a wide variety of materials, services, and events. It offers Internet access and access to the CWMARS resource-sharing catalog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Municipal Building</span> United States historic place

The former Reading Municipal Building is a historic building at 49 Pleasant Street in Reading, Massachusetts. Built in 1885, this two-story brick building was the town's first municipal structure, housing the town offices, jail, and fire station. In 1918 all functions except fire services moved out of the building. It now serves as Reading's Pleasant Street Senior Center. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congregational Church (Southbridge, Massachusetts)</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The Elm Street Congregational Church is a historic church in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1885, it is a high quality local example of high Victorian Gothic Revival architecture executed in brick. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The congregation, founded in 1816, is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacred Heart Church Historic District (Southbridge, Massachusetts)</span> Historic district in Massachusetts, United States

The Sacred Heart Church Historic District encompasses the complex of buildings associated with the Sacred Heart Church on Charlton Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The complex, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, is the second Roman Catholic parish built to serve Southbridge's growing Franco-American population. The four buildings in the complex were built between 1909 and 1926 in the Colonial Revival style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldo Street Police Station</span> United States historic place

The Waldo Street Police Station is a historic former police station on Waldo Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1918 to a design by George H. Clemence, it is a distinctive local example of Renaissance Revival architecture. It served as the city's police headquarters and district until 1980, and now houses commercial tenants. The building, now part of One Exchange Place, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dani and Soldani Cabinet Makers and Wood Workers Factory</span> United States historic place

The Dani and Soldani Cabinet Makers and Wood Workers Factory is a historic factory building at 484 Worcester Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1914, it is a good example of a small early-20th century factory, and is important for its association with both the locally significant optical industry, and its history of Italian immigration. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Globe Village Fire House</span> United States historic place

The Globe Village Fire House is a historic former fire house on West Street at Main Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It is the first of two fire stations built by the city in the 1890s; the other, the Elm Street Fire House, is still in use as a fire station. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. At the time of its listing it had been repurposed for use by a veterans group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academie Brochu</span> United States historic place

The Academie Brochu is a historic school at 29 Pine Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1899, it is one of the city's most imposing Colonial Revival buildings, and a significant element of the development of its Franco-American community. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1989. It was gifted to Harrington Memorial Hospital and now houses Harrington Health System offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinsigamond Firehouse</span> United States historic place

The Quinsigamond Firehouse is a historic fire station at 15 Blackstone River Road in Worcester, Massachusetts. Completed in 1892, it is a distinctive local example of Romanesque architecture, and served as a local firehouse until 1994. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. After standing unused for many years, rehabilitation of the property was contemplated by new ownership in 2013 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beacon Street Firehouse</span> United States historic place

The Beacon Street Firehouse is a historic fire station at 108 Beacon Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was designed by Worcester architect George H. Clemence, and built 1901-2 for $25,600 by local French-Canadian builder Eli Belisle. It is a two-story rectangular building with three truck bays, and an entrance door on the right. The truck bays are topped by shallow arches of alternating brick and limestone sections. The second floor windows are arched in pairs by round arches of similar styling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartmouth Street School</span> United States historic place

The Dartmouth Street School is a historic school building at 13 Dartmouth Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1894 to a design by noted local architect George Clemence, it is a well-preserved architectural mix of Romanesque and other Late Victorian styles. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 2008 a proposal was floated to convert the building into housing; as of 2012, it stood vacant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Street School</span> United States historic place

The Elizabeth Street School is a historic school building at 31 Elizabeth Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1893, it was one of the first commissions for the city by local architect George Clemence, and is stylistically an eclectic mix of Romanesque and Renaissance Revival styles. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It has been converted into residences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alden-Delehanty Block</span> United States historic place

The Alden-Delehanty Block is a historic commercial block at 858 Main Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Completed in 1888, it is the largest commercial building built in the town's Globe Village area, and is one of its most imposing Victorian edifices. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamberlain-Bordeau House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Chamberlain-Bordeau House is a historic house at 718 Main Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built sometime between 1855 and 1870, it is one of the best preserved Italianate houses in the city. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvester Dresser House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Sylvester Dresser House is a historic house at 29 Summer Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built sometime between 1865 and 1870, it is a distinctive local example of Italianate architecture with some Gothic features. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunbar-Vinton House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Dunbar-Vinton House is a historic house at Hook and Hamilton Streets in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA. Probably built in the early 19th century, it is locally unusual for its brick construction at that time, and may have been built as a district schoolhouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judson–Litchfield House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Judson–Litchfield House is a historic house at 313 South Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built sometime in the 1830s, it is a well-preserved local example of brick Greek Revival architecture, of which there are few surviving examples in the city. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany-Leonard House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Tiffany-Leonard House is a historic house at 25 Elm Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built about 1832, it is a distinctive and high-quality local example of Greek Revival architecture, and is notable for its association with prominent local business owners. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "MACRIS inventory record for Elm Street Fire House". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2013-12-31.