Three reused firehouses in the City of Chicago — all formerly owned by the Chicago Fire Department — were open to the public for Open House Chicago this weekend in Edgewater. OHC is a program produced by the Chicago Architecture Center, and its thousands of volunteers, since 2011.
All three were built in different years, but share at least one major trait: They could only hold one fire engine indoors.
- Firehouse Chicago (the oldest of the three, built in 1906) has been converted to an events venue on the main floor and in the beautiful patio and side yard, a film production company has an editing suite on the upper floor, and a photography studio set (at least that’s what it looked like).
- Chicago Filmmakers is an educational organization that teaches filmmaking and screens movies. This property is unique in that has a parking lot to the side of the building (built in 1928) on Ridge Avenue, and a triangular lawn between Ridge and Hollywood Avenue.
- Edgewater Historical Society has a museum and office in their fire station (built in 1926, on the site of a previous fire station). The exhibits include photos and artifacts from the demolished Edgewater Beach Hotel & Resort, the Conspiracy Seven, and the first family to settle in Edgewater.
A little over a year ago, the City sold another former North Side fire station to a local couple. There is at least one unsold former fire station I know of, yet no plan to dispose of it. Leave a comment if you know of other fire stations that are waiting to be purchased and reused.