Old Firehouse

You are now standing in front of the 45th Street Clinic, which used to be called The Old Fire House or Station 11. The old firehouse has 3 huge doors that are exactly the same as they were when it was a firehouse. Once you walk into the 45th Street Clinic, you can instantly smell rubber gloves and medicines. While you're inside, you will also hear whispers and sick people coughing. In the 45th Street Clinic, it feels very warm and welcoming.

We interviewed Mr. Stevenson about our site. Mr. Stevenson is an artist that has been working on the old firehouse. Although Mr. Stevenson has never been to Station 11, he knows quite a lot about it.

Before the Old Fire House was changed into a Clinic, it was also changed into a library and a police station. The Old Fire House was built in 1913. There are many things that have changed. While we were interviewing Mr. Stevenson, he told us this:

Mr. Stevenson: Inside this station were six horses...

In the 1920's, they replaced the horses with automobiles. Once again, this is another change.

Mr. Stevenson: Even the fire department did a lot of changes to it. They took out all the horse stalls...

When you walk into the Clinic, that is not how it looked like when it was a Fire House. Mostly everything changed during these past few years. When you look up the Old Fire House, you will see a tower. We asked Mr. Stevenson about the tower and this is how he answered.

Mr. Stevenson: Right next to the manure bin was the hose drying tower...

When the firehouse moved, the police station moved in. They took down the 3 huge doors and replaced it with windows. Once again, they moved out in 1984, and for years, that place was empty. The people that lived in Wallingford decided that they wanted to demolish it. But the Library moved in before they could demolish it.

In 1954, the Fire House caught on Fire. It was also Fire Prevention Week. So the Old Fire House really blew it.

Today, when there is an emergency, we call 911. But it didn't use to be like that. Mr. Stevenson talked to us about what they used to use.

Mr. Stevenson: On every street corner in Seattle...

The old firehouse served the Wallingford Community for a short time, but it has provided a space for several organizations throughout the years. The Wallingford Library, the police department and, now, the 45th Street Clinic have used the firehouse to serve the Wallingford community in important ways.

Resources:

Stevenson, Jim. Seattle Firehouses of the Horse Drawn and Early Motor Era. 1972.

Firehouse No. 11, Densmore Ave N and N 45th St
1913

"Firehouse No. 11 was buit as a combined police precinct and engine house. It opened as headquarters for the 4th Battalion in 1913. Running out of here with the chief, was horse drawn Engine Company 11. The horses were replaced with this motor pumper in 1921. Unique are the apparatus doors which open by folding to the sides accordion-style. Today the doors no longer open, for in 1965 Engine Company 11 was "tapped out of service", the doors were boarded up and the interior was remodeled to serve as Police Department offices."