Fire Houses Archives - Lost In Michigan

The Old Engine 4 Firehouse

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Detroit, Fire Houses .

I had already taken pics of the oldest church in Michigan (Ste Anne De Detroit, you can see my pic HERE) on a previous trip to Detroit and did not plan on taking more but when I was in the neighborhood I saw the twin steeples of the church looking out over the trees and the houses and decided since I was near there why not get a few more pics. I headed over there from a different direction than last time, and that is when I saw the old firehouse sitting near the church, as if the the tall steeples were watching over it, and protecting it all these years. The numbers 1897 displayed between the doors gave away the year it was built but I found out the DFD stopped using the old firehouse in 1976. It’s still standing with it’s magnificent brickwork like you will never see on a new building. Looking at it, I can only imagine the firefighters going from a horse drawn apparatus, to an early primitive motorized fire truck, and then on to a post WWII truck with the fireman riding on the back, but the station was passed by in the 70’s before it could get a new modern fire truck.

P.S. thank you to all the firefighters who answer the call for help, It takes a special kind of person to run into a burning building.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Detroit’s Fireman’s Fund Memorial

Posted on May 29, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, Fire Houses .

When I am out and about roaming around Michigan and I see a large old cemetery sometimes I take a trip through it because they usually have a large veterans section. I like to stop and get pics to post on Memorial Day to honor the fallen heroes. In Elmwood Cemetery I came across the Fireman’s Memorial.

In 1855 the Detroit City Council created 8 new fire companies to protect the citizens and property in the city. To help members of the new department the Detroit Firemen’s Fund was organized March 16, 1866. The Fund assisted the widows and orphans, disabled firefighters and to purchase and maintain burial plots. Dues were $4 per year. Members off duty
by reason of sickness or injury received $5 to $10 each week. The association also defrayed the funeral expenses of deceased firemen, not to exceed $100. Shortly after incorporation, the Fund purchased its first burial plots in Elmwood Cemetery. Just 4 months after the Fund was organized, Pipeman John Miller E-3 was killed at a fire, leaving behind a wife and child. The Fund purchased large sections of burial plots in both Mt. Elliott (Catholic) and Elmwood (non-sectarian) Cemeteries in Detroit. The first Firemen’s Monument was erected in Elmwood Cemetery and dedicated July 4, 1876.

It takes a special kind of person to run into a burning building. Thank you to all the firefighters out there who answer the call for help.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Hamburg Fire Station

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

Traveling around the backroads north of Ann Arbor I went through the town of Hamburg and I could not miss the bright red fire station in the center of town.

In 1837 The Town of Hamburg Michigan southwest of Brighton was named after Hamburg Germany and a Township hall was constructed. The building stood for over 100 years and on a cold December day in 1954 John Moore who took care of the hall lit the oil burning stove to warm it up and it exploded. John Moore was fatally burned and died from the explosion. A fire truck was sent from Brighton and broke down on the way to Hamburg. The townspeople were able to get the fire under control but decided they needed their own fire department instead of relying on surrounding cities for help.

P.S. Thank you to all the firefighters, policemen and first responders who work over the holiday season.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Original Fire Station in the Thumb

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses, Thumb .

This old white and red building caught my eye when I was passing through Sebewaing. The sign above the garage door reads, Sebewaing Fire Dept. Station No. 1. The other sign says: Original 1883 cost $620. I am not sure when it closed but a new fire station sits a few blocks away. I am pretty sure the new one costs a lot more than $620 to build. The old station is privately owned.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Negaunee’s Fire Station

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

It’s hard to miss this fire station in downtown Negaunee. The station was built in 1910 and the circles in the top of the hose/bell tower once had clock faces in them. The clocks were moved to city hall.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Fireman’s Memorial

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

The Fireman’s Memorial is not far from Roscommon and lists the names of Michigan firefighters that have died. Detroit-born sculptor Edward Chesney created the sculpture of the firefighter rescuing a young child. Next time you are headed up north on I-75 stop by the memorial. It’s not far from Exit 239 on Robinson Lake Rd about a half-mile east of M-18

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Fire Barn

Posted on April 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

This brown building with a green roof sits in the town of Manton north of Cadillac. A small sign over the front door reads MANTON FIRE BARN 1872. I am guessing the bell was to alert firefighters to a fire and summoned them to the fire barn. The tower in the back was to hang and dry hoses. I did a little research, I am not sure, but I think this is one of the oldest fire stations still standing in Michigan. I did find this old photo of the fire barn and firefighters

Lost In Michigan books are ON SALE this weekend on Amazon HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Fire Barn

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

The old Milan Fire Barn was built in 1897 and served as a fire station until 1979. The building housed the fire department and some of the city’s fire vehicles, including a 1938 Ford Fire Truck that Henry Ford traded to the city for an earlier Ford fire truck. Over time it also housed the police department, a jail (which consisted of a single jail cell), and the city library was housed upstairs.

In 1979 the fire department moved to a new station on Wabash street and the old fire barn was abandoned. In 1983 the city donated the fire barn to the Milan Area Historical Society which restored the building in 2002 with money generated by fundraisers.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Holland’s Grand Old City Hall and Fire House

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

Standing at the east end of downtown Holland’s shopping district, is the old city hall and Firehouse. I wonder how many people notice this stately old building while they are out shopping or enjoying a meal at one of the pubs. I know it’s not forgotten for there’s a historical marker out front recalling its history. The sign says

The city of Holland bought this lot in 1882, and contractor James Huntley began construction of a fire hall the next year. Completed in 1884, the building housed Holland’s city offices and library until 1912 and served as a fire hall until 1978. During World War II the west annex was built. In 1983 the firehouse was rehabilitated for use as office space. Grooves in the engine house floor that provided traction for the horses have been filled, and the doors, once replaced to accommodate trucks have been restored.

On March 8, 1884, some 150 people attended the Columbia Fire Engine Company’s oyster supper celebration honoring Holland’s new city hall and firehouse. The solid brick building reflects the desire for “fire proof” construction following the 1871 fire that devastated the city. The city clerk and a special committee consulted with the Grand Rapids firm of Robinson and Barnaby, and designed the structure with a tower to accommodate drying fifty-foot unfolded fire hoses. Originally a cupola topped the tower.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Station No. 2

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Fire Houses .

I was roaming around Battle Creek and I came across this historic fire House. Carved in the stone at the top is No.2 Fire Station 1903. It is a beautiful looking building and still used today. Trying to find a little info about the building I came across this postcard from 1909.

It is always fascinating seeing an old photo of someplace I visited. I wonder about the stories the men could tell if this old postcard could talk.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.