Fire House Follies

This is a handsome yet disused fire station in south St. Pete. A new Fire Station No. 3 was constructed in the early 1980s a few blocks to the west. It doesn't have the dignity or character of this Streamline version, but it serves the community well. I especially like the terra cotta "FD" in the upper corners and the eyebrow roof overhang in the front.

A quick check in the St Petersburg Times archives shows that this firehouse was built in late 1940. It was "christened" December 26, 1940 with a barbeque (how fitting!) for the-then 54 St Petersburg firefighters and their families. The short article reads:

"St. Petersburg's new $12,000 fire house - one of the most modern in the South - was officially christened last night when Fire Chief Claud Nesbit and Assistant Chiefs Ed Morris and George Arthur honored the 54 firemen, their friends, and others at a barbeque supper...The new fire station, known as No. 3, is located at Fifth Avenue and Twenty-seventh Street South...Fire laddies ate in relays last night to keep the city protected in case an alarm was sounded. Relieved by a substitute crew, the men on duty at each station rode to the barbeque on trucks, parking them where they could make a quick getaway...Those attending consumed three porkers, two ribs of beef, and four lamb quarters."

Back to 2009: Recent "improvements" to the station include painting it mint green and the addition of outlandishly retro (read: 1940s-ish) street numbers placed atop the main "eyebrow." The building is still in use, it appears, for storage purposes only.