Property Record
2903 N TEUTONIA AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Milwaukee Fire Department, Engine House No. 30 |
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| Other Name: | |
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| Reference Number: | 116029 |
| Location (Address): | 2903 N TEUTONIA AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1911 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19792015 |
| Historic Use: | fire house |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Sebastian Brand |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. 1979 information: Good example of early 20th century firehouse. Note corbelled cornice. Construction date, 1911. (1) 2016 survey: This two-story, double-house fire station is constructed of brick and rises from a rock-faced stone foundation. A three-story hose tower with a hipped roof anchors the southwest corner of the building; the upper two stories of which include a single sash window. The primary (east) elevation includes two overhead garage doors that alternate with two, human-scale doors with overhead transoms. Between the first and second levels is a stone inset that reads “FIRE DEPARTMENT,” while brickwork completes the space. Three sets of paired windows line the second floor; each opening is topped with a stone lintel. The cornice level is detailed with bracket trim, as well as a corbel table that also runs along the building’s north and south elevations. A two-story projection extends from the approximate center of the structure along its south elevation; the remainder of the façade includes largely irregularly placed, replacement windows. Apparent alterations to the building include the removal of the original, central gable of the parapet along the east elevation, as well as the removal of the gabled parapet that once topped the southern, two-story projection. Overhead garage doors were also enlarged at some point in order to accommodate larger trucks. Designed by former mason and fireman Sebastian Brand, this fire station, which houses Engine Co. No. 30, was built in 1911 at an approximate cost of $20,000. Alterations were made to the rear of the building in order to accommodate the construction of a basketball court. The station continues to serve the fire-fighting needs of the City of Milwaukee. 2016 DOE- "Engine House No. 30 of the Milwaukee Fire Department is located at the northwest corner of N. Teutonia Avenue and W. Locust Street in the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County. The area is a mixture of residential and commercial structures, including a gas station across the street to the east, a service garage to the north, the Hopkins Lloyd School across the street to the south and turn-of-the-twentieth century residences to the west. At its closest point, the fire station has a setback of approximately 8 feet from the back of curb of W. Locust Street. Due to the building's function, there is no actual curb or sidewalk proper along N. Teutonia Avenue until just north of the building itself; however, the building's northeast corner has a setback of less than 8 feet from the back of curb. The property includes the fire station itself, as well as a gas pump, the latter object of which is not considered to be contributing. Fire Station (Contributing, 1911 ): Constructed of brick, this two-story, double-house fire station rises from a rock-faced, stone foundation and features a three-story hose tower with a hipped roof at its southeast corner. Oriented to the east, the first level of the primary elevation includes two, wooden overhead garage doors separated by a single, human-scale door topped by a two-light window. Another human-scale door is located at the far south (left) and within the tower bay. The second floor is divided into four bays by five brick pilasters capped with stone ornament; the southernmost bay comprises the hose tower. Each of the three bays above the garage doors carries a pair of one-over-one-light sash windows with a continuous stone sill, while the tower bay includes a single sash along both its second and uppermost levels. Angled, patterned brickwork is located between the first and second floors, as is a stone inset that is inscribed with "FIRE DEPARTMENT." A wide stone header runs above the second-floor windows, above which is additional, angled, patterned brickwork, as is a stone inset inscribed with the construction date of "1911." The remaining cornice level is comprised of the combination of a corbel table, dentil trim, as well as modillionlike brackets, all of which is capped by a brick parapet. The building's south elevation is anchored at its east end by the aforedescribed hose tower, which is devoid of fenestration but does feature a rectangular section of angled, patterned brickwork. The remainder of the south elevation can be divided into four bays, the easternmost of which includes a single sash window along the first floor and a pair of windows with stone sills along the second floor. The south projecting second bay includes a pair of second-floor openings that have been infilled with glass block and which are underscored with a stone sill and topped with a stone lintel. The third bay includes only a single sash opening along the first floor, while the final (westernmost) bay carries a pair of sash; the westernmost example of which is topped with a wide stone lintel. The upper edge of the entire south elevation is accented with a brickwork corbel table. The rear (west) elevation is two different heights, with the north portion being slightly higher than the south. Regarding the latter, the first floor includes a single window with glass block, while a paired opening is located along the second floor. The north elevation is divided into five bays; the easternmost bay is devoid of fenestration, while the corbel table continues along this elevation, lining the first and second bay divisions (from the east). The remaining four bays include irregularly placed sash openings, each (from the east) including 2-6-1-1, respectively. Compared to a circa-1920 image, exterior alterations to the fire station appear to be relatively minimal. In 1932, the north half of the rear of the building was raised seven feet to accommodate a basketball court. In 1939, the brick driveway apron was removed and replaced with reinforced concrete. Although no permit was located, at some point, the overhead garage doors were enlarged to accommodate the larger fire trucks. More recently, new doors were installed to better reflect the building's original historic character. The first-floor interior includes the fire apparatus floor, a maintenance area, office space, a training area and a kitchen and dining area. Sleeping quarters and lockers, as well as restrooms and showers are found on the second floor. The basement is used for both general and gear storage. The interior has been largely modernized and the basketball court that was added in the early-1930s has since been removed (more than twenty years ago) and the space repurposed. Gas Pump (Modern, non-contributing): A gas pump is located immediately adjacent to the building, along the east side and between the two garage doors." -"Milwaukee Fire Deptartment, Engine House No. 30", WisDOT #2080-00-03, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (Schnell). (2016). |
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| Bibliographic References: | 1979 information: 1. WPA Project # 10455 2016 report citations: Permit for 2903 N. Teutonia Avenue, 1 May 1911; Permit for alteration, 11 February 1932. “Milwaukee Firehouse Ladder Co. No. 5,” Historic Designation Study Report, Prepared by Michael Elfe and Carlen Hatala (October 2003), copy available online at www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityHPC/DesignatedReports/vticnf/ Firehouse5.pdf, Accessed January 2016. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |