THIS OLD FIRE HOUSE

City of  Elmira Fire Department, Station 4

In August of 1897, local attorney George M. Diven
donated the parcel of property at
301 Maxwell Place on Elmira's east side to the
city for construction of the city fire department's fourth station.

In October, architects Pierce & Bickford design the new station # 4.

On May 5 of 1898 station #4 opened for service.
It's first piece of apparatus, a Holloway Combination Chemical & Hose Wagon.
The station was fully complemented in December of 1900 when the Elmira City Fire Department assigned a 4th Class LaFrance steam pumper to the still new station.

In January 1986, the Elmira City Fire Department closed station 4.

ARCHITECTURE

Pierce & Bickford, famous for three story fire house designs, like the central fire house in Cortland, NY, conceived a two story, German Renaissance style 
building for Elmira F.D.'s station 4. 

The building features include:
 

stepped gables,
reticulated brickwork,
terra-cotta,
Palladian windows, &
cross gabled roof.

Help Preserve & Restore
In 1986, an ad hoc committee was established to prevent the demolition of fire station No. 4.
Since the committee's formation it has become formally organized and chartered by the NYS Board of Regents as a Not-For-Profit educational corporation.
THE HISTORIC 1897 FIREHOUSE ORGANIZATION was formed.

The organization's Board of Directors has set the following goals:



 
 
 

1. To see Station No. 4 become a unique tourist attraction, educating the public on the complete and historically accurate operation of a 19th century firehouse.
2. To see the organization become the co-ordinating agency for a county-wide fire safety education program operated at No. 4.
3. To see this project become a model for historic preservation and restoration in Chemung County and for its success to influence the future of the area's historic properties.
4. To preserve and recognize the history of the Fire Service in the area and to honour all its members

To this end, The Historic 1897 Firehouse Organization plans on restoring the historic fire house to its 1897 glory.  Their plan includes establishing a "living history" by replacing the station's original complement with similar horse drawn apparatus and its live horse team.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

In 1995, the Historic 1897 Firehouse organization purchased Fire station No. 4 from the City of Elmira.

The State of New York awarded a challenge grant of $179,700.  50% of the restoration costs.

The state grant can not be used until they are first matched by private contributions of cash, labour, materials or donated services.

Become a member:
 Print out the application form and mail it to:


The Historic 1897 Firehouse
P.O. Box 103
Elmira, N.Y. 14902-0103

Or call:
(607) 734-6689