Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Building, Site

Location

Riverside Park, 159 Main St, Whitehall, NY 12887, USA

Lat/Long

43.554549, -73.402714

Grant Recipient

Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company

This firehouse was erected for the Whitehall Fire Department in Washington County, New York, following the department’s reorganization in 1913. The brick building was purposefully designed to accommodate a motorized fire apparatus, reflecting a major transition from horse-drawn equipment. In June 1912, the town voted to raise $5,000 to purchase a motor fire truck and construct a modern fire station after experiencing several damaging fires and recognizing the lack of up-to-date equipment.

The firehouse was completed in 1913 and initially housed seven paid firefighters, including a chief, assistant chief, and five call men. The department operated a Webb triple combination truck featuring a pump, chemical engine, hose wagon, and a powerful motor, making it one of the most up-to-date fire departments of its time. The new firehouse also featured a modern Gamewell fire alarm system, sleeping quarters, a chief’s office, and other facilities.

The Whitehall Fire Department operated as a paid department from 1913 until 1985, later supplemented by a volunteer company organized in 1957. The building has remained in continuous use and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.