Oct. 13—SUPEPRIOR — When the first East End fire hall burned down in 1896, city leaders got to work developing a new fire hall on the corner diagonally across the street from the original wooden structure built in 1888.
By May 1898, East End had its new fire hall, which was designed by architect James Chisholm. The two-story brick fire house featured brownstone trim, a round castellated corner tower and three bays with large Roman arch entrances for fire department's five rigs.
The building that now serves as the Old Fire House and Police Museum at 402 23rd Ave. E. is the only remaining turn-of-the-century fire hall in Superior and could soon be added to the local register of historic places.
The historic preservation committee recommended Wednesday, Oct. 12, that the city council hold a public hearing and add the structure to the list.
Over time, the fire hall was altered. The third bay was removed when it was no longer needed, and the windows were replaced and updated by the city.
It remained as a working fire station until Oct. 4, 1982.
A Superior firefighter, Leonard Rouse, led the effort to turn the old fire hall into a museum. Since 1996, the Old Firehouse and Police Museum has been the home of the Wisconsin Fire and Police Hall of Fame in recognition of heroic acts performed in the line of duty throughout the state.
Unlike other facilities operated by Superior Public Museums, the Old Firehouse and Police Museum would receive its first recognition as an historic building if added to the local register.
Fairlawn Mansion and the S.S. Meteor are also nominated for the local registry. A public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, for the council to consider their nominations. Both have previously been listed on state and national registers of historic places.
A public hearing on adding the Old Firehouse and Police Museum to the historic registry hasn't been set.
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