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 Fire Department No. 2 - Springfield, Missouri Posted by:  iconions
N 37° 13.781 W 093° 17.522
15S E 474094 N 4120392
This two-story red brick building is located at 101 East Commercial Street in Springfield, Missouri
Waymark Code: WM16W62
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 10/15/2022
Views: 1
The building
Original entry -
constructed between 1902 and 1910;
sheathed c. 1950's.
The Renaissance revival Fire Station No. 2, a two-story
building prominently sited at the head of Boonville and Commercial Street, was transmogrified sometime during the 1950's by the application of a stark, asymmetrically fenestrated front.
Updated entry in boundary increase:
201 East Commercial Street:
built as an in-fill building in 1904 in 52 days. The two story brick Renaissance Revival building served northern Springfield as Fire Station No. 2 until 1979. The facade is symmetrically fenestrated. In its original design, surface texture was provided by a repeated banding of protruding bonded brick. In 1968, prominent arched bays with bonded brick detailing were removed to accommodate more convenient and functional door mechanisms. In 1973, stucco was applied to the facade. The upper portion of the primary elevation was restored to its original design in 1997. The second story has five double hung windows separated by bonded brick cross forms with round polished limestone central elements engraved to designate Fire Station No. 2. The windows have jack arch lintels at the top and have plain recessed wood casings and limestone sills. The window headers are embellished with bonded brick, recalling "false" keystone treatments on the original arched bays. They are connected by the bands of brick corbeling. The facade is capped with a bonded brick cornice. Although still altered from its original design, the street level portion of the primary elevation has been made more consistent with the upper portion, and the building contributes to the streetscape of the district.
- National Register Application
2000-2008,
201 East Commercial was still Historic City Firehouse #2, but occupied by Mary Collette, Collette Studios (photo/computer graphics).
Matt Bazyk: This building was originally built as Springfield Firehouse #2. It was built around the turn of the century after the first two firehouses burned down. It was constructed by building a north and south wall between the two adjacent buildings, covering the intersection of Commercial and Benton. After this building had served its purpose as a fire station the city sold it to Elliot Glasser who used it for storage for about five years. Elliot was supposed to make efforts to restore the outside of the firehouse. However, he did not do this, so the city repossessed the building and sold it to Bill Loyde who also used it for storage, until Mary Collette and Paul Parker bought it in 1995. It is now used as a studio where Mary runs her graphic design business and they also run a restoration business there. The space is also available for parties.
- Historic Street.com website
The wedding venue
Historic Firehouse No2 was constructed in the early 1900’s, a mere 4 blocks to the west by the city, at the head of Boonville Avenue. It was built by simply constructing a front wall and a back wall between existing buildings on the northeast and northwest corners, closing Boonville Avenue to vehicular traffic over the railroad tracks just to the north. The popular “Ghost Signs” or turn of the century advertisements that can be seen (and often used a photographic backdrops) upstairs in the Studio Bridal Area and in the offices of Historic Firehouse No2 originally advertised the businesses on both sides of Boonville Avenue, so named as it was the way to Nathaniel Boone’s (son of Daniel Boone) homestead.
Another fire in 1987 completely destroyed the building next door to the east at 203-207 East Commercial. It burned to the ground, leaving only the west wall that also is the east wall of the Firehouse as all that was left standing of the building that burned down. The condition of that wall after the fire created the need to build yet another Fire Station No2, the 3rd incarnation of Fire Station No2 to be built, again to the west, almost to Grant Avenue where it stands to this day. The silver lining to this cloud was the opportunity to create a garden space where other structures had stood for over 100 years.
In 1995, Collette Parker Restoration (Mary Collette & Paul Parker, above) purchased the Historic Firehouse and the vacant lot next door. Here is what Historic Firehouse No2 looked like in 1995 when they first took possession. The structure was open to the elements and was in terrible shape both inside and outside. It had been used for storage and had been allowed to deteriorate to a shocking degree. The first step was to remove the stucco facade, a necessary step to add the Historic Firehouse No2 as a contributing structure to the Federal Register District that Historic Commercial Street had been added to in 1983, process shown below:
Paul and Mary also began work on the interior of Historic Firehouse No2. The first step was to repair rotting roof and reroof the 6,000 square foot roof to protect the interior from the elements, beginning with the upstairs:
Ten years after purchase and after massive restoration efforts (which continue to this day!) we became Historic Firehouse No2, a popular event venue. We consider ourselves one of the city’s most unique venues as we have maintained the industrial flavor of this 115 year old fire station and restored her preserving as much original material as possible with an eye to sustainability and minimal impact on the environment. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to rescue this amazing building and then to be able to share it with you. We finally realized, Historic Firehouse No2 just wants to party!
- Historic Firehouse.com website
Current Use: Wedding Venue
Year Originally Built: constructed between 1902 and 1910
Year Retired: 1987
Is it open to the public?: Yes, to store customers
Location: Springfield, Missouri
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Visit Instructions:
You must actually visit the building to post a log. Post your own, current photo of the converted firehouse as proof of your visit. It can't be the exact same photo that is on the waymark page.
Recent Visits/Logs:
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