County of building: St. Louis County
Location of building: W. Argonne Dr., middle of block, north side, Kirkwood
Built: 1920
Style: Spanish Revival
Original Occupant: Fire Department
Current Occupant: Sammy Soap
"123 W. Argonne, Fire Department No. 1. 1920. Architect, unknown. Contractor, Fred Howell. Contributing.
The building was originally constructed in 1920 and was used as the firehouse at least through 1953. After 1938, the address was changed from 125 W. Argonne, first to 121, but by 1943 to its current address of 123 W. Argonne. Although Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was
organized in 1904, fires continued to destroy buildings every year and in 1916, the Missouri Rating Board warned Kirkwood that it needed more water mains and a paid fire department or its insurance rating would be raised. As a result, the volunteer fire company announced it would
disband as of April 18, 1918, and in a joint committee with the board of alderman, urged the immediate creation of a paid department. Voters quickly authorized a paid fire department as well as $15,000 in bonds for the construction of a firehouse. Fred Howell received the contract
for $7,900 and the additional funding was utilized to purchase the city’s first machine-driven vehicles. By December 8, 1919 voters had approved $35,000 in bonds for water main improvements and by early February 1920, the new firehouse was completed and water mains
enlarged, allowing insurance ratings to drop. Today it is used along with 125 W. Argonne as the offices of the Messenger Printing Company." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
" ... Another design influenced by the styles of the American Southwest, the city’s original fire station at 123 W. Argonne Drive has a stucco façade with contrasting quoining, a shaped parapet, and a clay tile, bracketed awning over the second floor window openings." ~ NRHP Nomination Form, PDF page 51
123 W. Argonne, Fire Department No. 1. 1920. Architect, unknown. Contractor, Fred Howell. Contributing.
The Kirkwood Fire House is a two story red brick building with a white stucco, Spanish Revival façade. There is a false mansard, Spanish tile roof below a Mission shaped parapet. Brick quoining details the corners and door opening, which was originally the large door used by the city’s first motorized fire trucks. This doorway has been infilled with a display window and simple man door. Flanking this opening are small casement windows. The second floor has four six over six wood sashed windows. The hose drying tower at the back of the building is still extant." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"The facade's first level features a triple storefront window containing large single panes of glass which are separated by wood mullions. To the east of this is the entrance which contains a single-leaf wood door. This entire grouping, the triple window and entrance, are within what was once a large opening for the firehouse. Flanking this are two small wood pivot windows with wood sash and clay tile sills. The second floor windows are wood with wood sash, double-hung,
six over six, flat-topped, with brick course sills. A clay-tiled hipped false-roof overhangs these windows; with wood brackets and modillions. Above this is a tripartite parapet with a shield with "No. 1" on it. The facade also features brick quoins. A concrete shed on the roof, once used to hang fire hoses, indicates the original use of the building as a firehouse. This building has been joined (in
the gangway) with 125 w. Argonne/Main so that the two buildings together are used by Messenger Printing. Two one story masonry additions exist at the rear.
"The Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was organized on April 30; 1904. Despite the valiant efforts of this fire department Kirkwood still suffered a number of losses due to fire each year; and in December, 1916, the Missouri Rating Board advised the residents of Kirkwood that without more water mains and the establishment of a paid fire department, insurance rates would have to be raised. To facilitate the decision to do something about this the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Company announced that it would disband as of April 18,
1918, and at the same time urged the immediate establishment of a paid department. Recommendations were made by a joint committee from the Board of Aldermen and the Volunteer Fire Company to the Board of Aldermen, and passed on a t a mass meeting of Kirkwood residents held February 26, 1918. The voters shortly thereafter authorized a paid fire department and the issuance of $15,000 in bonds for the construction of a fire house. Fred Howell was awarded the contract to
construct the new firehouse for $7,900. Along with the building of Firehouse No. 1 carne the decision to purchase machine-driven vehicles. (The volunteers were still using a horse-drawn engine when they decided to disband in 1918.) On December 8" 1919 voters approved the issue of $35,000 in bonds for water main improvements. Early in February, 1920, the new fire house was completed and as soon as the water mains were enlarged, the insurance rates were lowered." ~ Kirkwood Historic Survey Phase II, page 188