Posts Tagged old Chicago firehouse

New use for old Chicago firehouse

Dec 5

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 5 Comments

Status Check: 1217-19 W. Gunnison

FLATS Firehouse at 1217-19 W. Gunnison

How cool would it be to live in a firehouse? This formerly rundown and long-vacant firehouse near Gunnison and Lawrence is just about complete. The exterior has been cleaned up drastically, with all new windows, doors and new lighting. A garage door style window has been installed where the old wooden door once was, allowing more light in.
The apartments aren’t yet listed on the Flats Chicago website, but keep checking. A quick reminder of what this space once looked like:

1217-19 W. Gunnison (former view via Google)

thanks Dan

Tags: Chicago sells old firehouse, firehouse, new use for old fire station, old Chicago firehouse, vacant Chicago firehouse

A visit to Engine 68’s house (more)

Jun 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 2 Comments

This from Karl Klotz:

Here is a photo I took of Engine Co. 68’s house on April 27th 2009. I was able to shoot several closed CFD houses in 2009 and 2010, some of which have been razed within the last year or so. All are posted on my site, www.karlsfirephotos.smugmug.com.

Engine 68’s old house. Karl Klotz photo

Tags: 1936 series of firehouses, Chicago Engine 68, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department history, Karl Klotz, Ken Little/John McNalis History of Chicago Firehouses Volume III, old chicago fire station, old Chicago firehouse, PWA series of firehouses built in 1936, vacant lot of former Chicago firehouse

A visit to Engine 68’s old house (more)

Jun 18

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | Comments off

This from Eric Haak in response to the recent post about Engine 68’s old house:

I could not find the pictures I took a few years ago of Engine 68’s old house. Here is a shot of Engine 128’s old quarters at 2100 W. Eastwood. Part of the 1936 series of houses, it also was home to FMS 6 and the North Side Fire Prevention Bureau. This information is courtesy of the Ken Little/ Father John McNalis masterpiece series of Chicago Fire House books of coarse. It is nice to see another house sporting the original doors. Don’t know if they were original to 1936 but they are shown in 1956 when Mr. Little photographed the house. This picture was taken in October of 2009.

Former house of Engine 128. Eric Haak photo

Tags: 1936 series of firehouses, Chicago Engine 128, Chicago Fire Department, Eric Haak, Ken Little/John McNalis History of Chicago Firehouses Volume III, old Chicago firehouse, PWA series of firehouses built in 1936

A visit to Engine 68’s old house

Jun 16

Posted by Admin in Fire Department History | 11 Comments

This from Dan McInerney:

I don’t get to this part of the west side very often and completely missed this one – I don’t recall hearing about it either. Maybe some readers can fill in the blanks.

Here is a picture of the exact footprint of Engine 68’s old house at 1642 N. Kostner, at the NW corner of Kostner and Grand. It was one of the PWA series of firehouses built in 1936, and was in use by E68 until 1970 when the company moved to new firehouse. This was one of two larger style single engine houses and a twin to the house E16 just left (originally E48’s house). More information can be found in the Ken Little/John McNalis History of Chicago Firehouses Volume III at 1936*6.

The 1936 series of firehouses is one of my favorites, and came in both single and double bay flavors. One of the more popular versions of this house is E8/T4/Bn2 in Chinatown. Although I do think they looked better with the rounded apparatus door openings. Those of you that venture over to Fleet can see Engine 20’s house at 1320 W. Concord Place, an example of the smaller single bay firehouse that still has the rounded front.

If anyone has a picture of Engine 68’s old house before the city tore it down please submit it.