106 North Paca Street
Baltimore, MD, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Paca Street Firehouse (Truck House No. 2)

Statement of Significant:

The significance of the Paca Street Firehouse is drawn from the history and the architectural character of the building. The firehouse was built in 1909 as part of a city-wide movement to upgrade significantly Baltimore's fire-protection system. Following the Great Fire of 1904, in which more than 140 acres of the downtown area was destroyed, Baltimore began an active program to expand and improve the fire department. By 1923, the department had almost doubled its number of companies and tripled the staff. The Paca Street Firehouse typifies this form of municipal architecture in being a small masonry structure with a heavy Renaissance Revival facade. In viewing the building in the context of the retail district, the structure is one of three early twentieth century firehouses standing and is the only one to retain its original features, particularly in the interior. Additional significance comes through association with August Emrich (1864-1954) who as chief engineer supervised the modernization of the Baltimore Fire Department. Emrich was stationed in the Paca Street Firehouse for most of his tenure as Deputy Chief and Chief Engineer.