It’s not uncommon to see fire stations in our #ThursdayDoors posts. On those, I’ve been commenting about how I likely wouldn’t get any photos with amazing doors or architecture, which is to say, there aren’t many historical firehouses here.
We’ve got this thing about tearing things down and rebuilding, which, generally, I loath. I will likely write a rant about it sometime. But! When it comes to firehouses, surely newer and bigger is better.
We’re talking about buildings that house some of our communities’ most essential helpers and their equipment.
They not only put out fires, but they provide the bulk of our emergency services. If you’re American and you call 911 for a medical emergency, it’s the fire department EMS that arrives on the scene first. Maybe not every single time, but mostly.
I think we can all agree, we don’t want our local heroes all crammed into an old building that makes for charming and interesting photos, but may not always be the safest, most efficient structure.
While it’d be nice to have large, grand old fire stations, I guess here we used to build our fire stations pretty small — I might show you one or two of the old ones on another day.
So — here are my local-est firehouses and their all-important doors.
firefighters are like, super glad you’re only there to take a photo of their doors
this is where i vote because VOTING IS IMPORTANT!
i love the way all the firetrucks face forward and their doors are open. reassuring, isn’t it?
i like the antique kip out front
i’m not sure you can see, but they actually have a sturdy paneled wooden door here
Did you know that fire stations have their own webpages?!? I didn’t either, but if you click the station numbers above the pictures, it’ll take you to their pages (and professional photographs that were taken on beautiful sunny days.)
#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To view other interesting doors, click the link and see what others are posting today.
joeyfullystated 
Lovely use of two blogging challenges! The arches on firehouse #44 look old-fashioned and welcoming to me. Make me feel like I’m safe. Wonder if the architect thought that, too? Or just went for pretty!
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Good question. Those arches ARE friendly, aren’t they? Thanks, Ally 🙂
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Joey, love the dual purpose post!! 😀 The brick with the arches makes a pretty Doors post and you didn’t have to swear for your F post.
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LOL! Thank you! Tomorrow is a swearing post 😉
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I used to vote at the local fire station. Now we vote at the school. Our old/small/quaint fire station still exists, but most of the equipment is in the bigger/modern fire station. I think bigger is the norm now because how else would they have a huge room to host weddings? Need to make some money for the all important life saving equipment. Great pictures even if it isn’t sunny/
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To host weddings? Wow.
I think the vehicle size has a lot to do with the need for greater space — at least around here. It’s disturbing how so many of our civil service jobs supplement with fundraisers, hm?
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Well, yes. They have separate ballrooms for the weddings.
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I think if you’re ever in there, you must photograph this for me, k?
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I will try to remember. Actually, I probably have pictures. I will have to add this to my huge, hey don’t forget to do this list.
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If you don’t want to post them, you can always email them to me — Use my Contact Me tab 🙂
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It’s certainly a comforting thought having a firestation close to your house. These firefighting boys and girls have my deepest respect. (And they drive the most beautiful trucks in the World!) Thanks for sharing!
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We live about 3 minutes’ drive from our local firehouse. And you’re right, some of those big trucks are STUNNING! As always, thanks for lookin, Geert 🙂
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One of our old firehouses was converted to a dentist’s office a few years ago. I believe they replaced most of the pieces that gave it its “character.”
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Unfortunate.
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Nice doors. Some of the older smaller fire houses had too small of a footprint for a newer and bigger building so a new one was built elsewhere. There is an example of one on 38th Street between Meridian and Central. Hasn’t been a firehouse in years but now I am not sure what it is. Residence? Wouldn’t that be cool to live in an old Fire House. Big Brass Pole and all.
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True story. I may check out the one you’re referring to.
Here’s a link, if you wouldn’t mind — is it the carpentry shop?
I’m going to photograph at least one old one, from my former hood, but I want some nice sunny skies.
It would be neat to live in any old repurposed, revamped building. I love that kinda stuff 🙂
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http://legeros.com/history/indianapolis/
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Yep. That’s the one on 38th Street. Carpenter shop huh? Thanks for the link. I have some traveling to do.
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Thank you for confirming 🙂
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Clever combination of the 2 Challenges. I tried. I failed.
Firemen are first responders in Canada too. Having a brother who was a long time volunteer fireman and several years as Fire Chief, I’ve developed a deep respect for the work they do. It is not an easy job.
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Thank you. I had considered French and fancy doors, but I had wanted to do firehouses for awhile now. (Still will do more.)
I haven’t been around firefighters. I knew a couple of trainees when I was younger, went to one of the sorta field days they had — firetruck pull, that sorta thing.
We’d be foolish not to respect their work, rescuing everyone the way they do.
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I’ve been surrounded by a lot of firefighters in my life … coming from a small town and working for a few summers at the Ministry of Natural Resources in the north with their huge forest fire crews.
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Interesting. I’m sure you’ve heard many amazing stories. You could write them sometime. I’d read them. 🙂
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My brother is the true storyteller in the family. Too bad he’s not a blogger. He’s sooo funny when he starts to get worked up.
Maybe it’s from him I developed the tendency to joke inappropriately at uncomfortable situations.
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He sounds fun!
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The one with arches is quite beautiful. I don’t think I’ve seen such an attractive fire house.
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Is that right? Well thank you, I’m glad you like it 🙂
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Nobody seems to have mastered the art of designing attractive new fire stations do they?
I mean, I know they’re utilitarian buildings, but it can’t cost a lot more to make them pleasant to look at, surely?
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You don’t even like #44? These are perhaps too American looking for you? Our modern day Indianapolis firehouses cost millions to build as is. There’s one being built just north of the city now, and it’s costing $3.5 mil.
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Uuummm, it does still look rather like a generic industrial unit.
But I’m talking generally, they aren’t any better over here either.
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Hmm. Well I dunno. If you find a beautiful one, you should photograph it 🙂
Did you see Dan’s historical one?
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Ah, now, that’s a bit more like it.
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Yes, because OLD. ❤
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I think that #44 is a fine looking fire station. Actually none of them are that bad at all really! 🙂
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😀 I think they’re nice, but they’re not old and interesting.
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Yes but not everything old is interesting though…ahem, well myself excepted!!!!! 🙂
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Haha!
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I’m guessing (and this isn’t intended snarkily) that we have more of a sense of classic architecture over here, due to the huge number of old buildings. One of the things Rhonda most often comments on when we go anywhere here is how many beautiful old buildings there are. She is only now getting used to living somewhere with hundreds of years more history than when she lived that side of the pond.
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Yes, that’s it. I don’t think it’s snarky, I think it’s accurate. The mere fact that your larger cities are crowded, that there is no space, lends itself to restoring and preserving what’s already there, and many of us who appreciate fineness in craftsmanship truly admire that.
That’s what led me to comment that the design might be too American for you.
There is definitely a wide gap between preservationists and those who prefer everything shiny and new. I am the former.
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Yeah, we only have to drive a few miles to visit an 11th century church. When you’re that spoilt for history, even Victorian buildings seem new and ugly by comparison.
In the centre of Barnstaple, where we live, there is a fifteenth century pub which was recently turned into a pizza place. But they kept all the original features because it’s a grade one listed (protected) building.
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Sounds idyllic and charming. I wouldn’t mind if you posted more photos of your area here or on Instagram 😉 It may be common to you, but you’ll have oohers and ahhers, I promise.
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Don’t you worry’ now the nice weather is here there’ll be plenty of nice pictures to look at. But you are right, since a large proportion of my readers are over there, it may well be worth snapping a few shots of places we think of as prosaic.
Although “idyllic and charming” doesn’t describe Barnstaple town centre on a Saturday night, trust me on that.
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Haha, well I’ll have to trust you, won’t I?
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I love firehouses (you know that) old ones, new ones and ones that are in between. These are essential buildings. they house essential equipment, and I do like that it is kept in a ready-to-roll state. The people in our communities, whether paid or volunteers, are the best folks we have. You have a nice collection of photos here today. I am surprised to see arched doorways. I would think that would make it harder to get those big guys in, but maybe the doors are bigger than I realize.
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That was pretty slick what you did there #ingenious, was the architect of most of these running a special a lot of them look the same with the stone arches.
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Thanks. Well, Gary, the ones with the arches are ALL THE SAME BUILDING 😉 That’s station 44.
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Gary will now go hide under his desk and quit reading blogs while trying to understand trucker jargon and people that watch too much HGTV and think rock quarries have all these mysterious stones that can turn your flower beds into some pristine Greek veranda with an ocean view.
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AHAHA! Oh man, I don’t envy you. “Y’all got any waterfront property down there at the quarry?” LOL That was a nice laugh I had at your expense; I do apologize.
Weekend’s comin 😉 Hang in there!
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🙂
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I was looking forward to seeing if and how you’d work the two challenges into one post. Well done 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Yes, this is one time where practicality trumps aesthetics for sure.
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Love those arches. I’d say the architect went for ‘pretty’ when those were drawn up.
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Beautiful buildings and doors that house some of the bravest people in our communities. I often wonder how they deal with the adrenalin rush of reading a book one minute and then running into a burning building. I don’t know how they do it, but I applaud their efforts.
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Well written. I concur.
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Was planning a h ‘hats off ‘ blog- would have to include a hats off to firefighters section in it! Really enjoyed your post!!
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Thank you 🙂
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I did not know fire stations have their websites but it makes sense. Everyone else does! Firemen really don’t get all the kudos they deserve so bravo for you! Safety first should apply to them as well.
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One of the most commendable jobs is to be a firefighter.
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Great fire station doors. Yes, always ready to put their gear on in 3 (?) minutes and be on their wayI The web sites are good to share the latest. They’re a tight bunch – and they need to be, and trust each other with their lives.
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