Posts Tagged former Chicago fire house

New use for old Chicago firehouse … for sale (more)

old firehouse is luxury home now

Former home of a Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol company is for sale.

Excerpts from DNAinfo.com:

For a cool $1.1 million, you could own a genuine Chicago firehouse. The home’s asking price has dropped $250,000 since it was first listed in June.

The building, at 3921 N. Ravenswood Ave., dates back to 1907 and has been completely renovated as a 4,500-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home. The original firehouse doors remain in place, opening to the street for dramatic effect.

The firehouse housed the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol, according to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. From 1871 to 1959, fire insurance companies operated patrols that salvaged furniture, machinery, and other items in burning buildings. Patrols also did maintenance work on sprinklers, roofs and doors to protect them.

There are a couple dozen firehouses still in Chicago built in the 1920s or earlier. Some in Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Wicker Park have sold in recent years, typically as single-family homes.

old firehouse is luxury home now

View from the street.

old firehouse is luxury home now

First floor interior

Excerpts from Chicagocurbed.com:

A rare and unique property just steps from the Irving Park Brown Line station has returned to the market with new photos and a big price reduction. The old firehouse, originally built in 1907, hit the market in June seeking $1.35 million, but can now be had for $1.1 million—a quarter million dollar reduction from its initial asking price.

It’s certainly got curb appeal. But behind the brick exterior and shiny red garage door lies a spacious 4,500-square-foot home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The attached garage space doubles as a place for entertaining. If you’ve been looking to get into the events business, this one could be a solid investment.

The listing agent mentions that the kitchen was rehabbed last year. It features some neat extras, like a two-keg home draft setup. There’s also a spacious outdoor deck area to take the entertaining outside during the warmer months.

old firehouse is luxury home now

Bedroom.

old firehouse is luxury home now

The kitchen.

old firehouse is luxury home now

Kitchen and living area.

old firehouse is luxury home now

The second floor.

old firehouse is luxury home now

Interior stairs.

thanks Dan

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New use for old Chicago firehouse … for sale

Excerpts from dnainfo.com:

There’s something undeniably cool about living in a firehouse, but it’s pretty uncommon in Chicago.

A spacious 1907 firehouse just listed for sale in Lakeview is a rare find in the city — only three converted firehouses have sold in the past five years, said realtor Laura Topp who said the building’s unique history combined with recent remodeling that highlights the home’s spacious ceilings and roomy rooms makes it well worth the $1,350,000 price tag.

The firehouse at 3921 N. Ravenswood Ave. is a little different in that it housed the fire insurance patrol, according to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. From 1871 to 1959, fire insurance companies operated patrols that salvaged furniture, machinery, and other items in burning buildings. Patrols also did maintenance work on sprinklers, roofs and doors to protect them.

“Patrol units responded to fires with lights and sirens along with regular fire units and, in an emergency, would man a hose line, raise ladders or render first aid to fire victims,” wrote museum director Ken Little in 2006. “This service was performed at no charge, and whether the occupants had fire insurance or not.”

Little said then that there were about 30 old firehouses still in Chicago built in the 1920s or earlier.

The insurance patrol left Ravenswood Avenue in 1933 and eventually, the firehouse became a home. The two-story home has changed hands. One owner did significant remodeling over their 20 years in the firehouse, creating a woodshop, artist studio, wine cellar and basketball court. They put it up for sale for $410,000 in 1994.

The current owners have expanded on the luxurious feeling of the open rooms, with heated floors on the ground level, a cedar coat closet and a green house room. Upstairs, the kitchen was fully remodeled last year, complete with a sparkling water faucet and custom-built quarter-sawn oak cabinetry. As developers of a sixth-barrel keg, the owners installed a two-head draft system with mini refrigerators for two sixth-barrel kegs.

thanks Dan

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Chicago African American Firefighters Museum

This from Brian P. Kazmierzak:

While on my way to O’Hare Airport the other day, I took a side trip off the Dan Ryan to Al’s Beef and to drive by the old quarters of Engine 61/Ambulance 36 (5349 S. Wabash).  I spent a lot of time “fanning” in that firehouse from 1993-1999.  The firehouse, which was last in-service as EMS South before they moved to the new Engine 16’s quarters, has been given to the African American Firefighters Museum.  There are some pretty neat historic graphic stickers on the window.  Here are a couple photos.

African American Firefighters Museum

Brian P. Kazmierzak photo

African American Firefighters Museum

Brian P. Kazmierzak photo

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Former Chicago firehouse for sale

The City of Chicago has a closed firehouse for sale. **THIS PROPERTY IS NO LONGER FOR AVAILABLE**

closed Chicago fire station

Former Chicago firehouse for sale. City of Chicago photo

1405 E. 62nd Place

Located just a few blocks west of the lakefront, this firehouse sits on 62nd Place, a quiet dead-end street off Dorchester Avenue.  Adjacent vacant lot at corner of Dorchester and 62nd Place is also available. The parcel is trapezoidal in shape and abuts the railroad tracks.  The main firehouse structure is 2-stories tall and is clad in red brick and gray limestone.  The 1-story addition to the east incorporates two apparatus doors.

    • Zoning: B3-3
    • Approximate Lot Size: 120′ x 120′
    • Approximate Building Area: 4,480sf
    • Woodlawn TIF
    • Condition:Building requires complete rehabilitation.
    • Ward: 20
    • PIN: 20-14-416-002-0000


For more information call: 
HED’s Real Estate Division at 312.744.2777 
Download Negotiated Sales Packet 

thanks Dan

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A look at several old and new CFD firehouses

Steve Redick took advantage of some mild weather two weeks ago to visit some old and new firehouses in Chicago. He describes his journey:

… after leaving downtown I visited Eng 109’s old house. Not a bad shot considering the time of day.

Chicago Fire Department Engine 109's fire house

Engine 109's recently vacated house at 2538 S. Whipple. Steve Redick photo

I then ventured to the new house at 2343 S Kedzie where the companies exit the north doors. This place seems to have a hose tower mid structure and like the others is very sprawling.  All things considered I sure like the old house better but this is a much improved location for egress.
Chicago Fire Department new fire house Engine 109

Engine 109's new house at 2343 S. Kedzie Avenue was opened October 19, 2011. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department new fire house Engine 109

This shot encompasses the entire structure. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department new fire house Engine 109

The front of Engine 109's new house on Kedzie. Steve Redick photo

More information about the construction of and opening of this house and similar houses can be found HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

My last stop was old Engine 38…they really did a number on this place..Nice to see it taken care of but sad.
Chicago Fire Department former fire house of Engine 38

Engine 38's former house at 2111 S. Hamlin is now a community arts center. Steve Redick photo

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