Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Engine House No. 3

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 22, 2024

1. Engine House No. 3 Marker

Inscription. The Star State Company No. 3 organized in 1859 as one of Galveston's volunteer fire departments. The company first operated from an engine house at 2512 Church Street. In 1885, the city began to replace the various volunteer groups with a unified professional fire department. After the 1900 hurricane destroyed the Church Street Engine House, the city built this replacement at 2828 Market. Galveston-born architect George B. Stowe designed the building in the Queen Anne style, though later additions obscured its exuberant masonry details. In 1927, mayoral hopeful Jack E. Pearce planned to place Engine House No. 3 under the jurisdiction of Galveston's African American community. The proposal collapsed after newspapers reported the arrangement as a secretive political maneuver.

Thirty years later, police and fire commissioner Walter B. Rourke, Jr. decided to integrate the fire department by hiring the city's first three African American firemen: Lucious Pope, Leroy Small and Genoice Walker. Initially, the men had segregated cooking and sleeping accommodations, as well as separate fireman's pole. During the early 1960s,

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the station established communal living quarters as more African American men joined the department. In 1967, the city closed Engine House No. 3 and began to use the building for city offices and storage. In the timeline of decisions that led to a more integrated community in Galveston, the desegregation of Engine House No. 3 represents acknowledgment by city leaders that the increased political power of African American citizens entitled them to important roles in municipal services.

Erected 2018 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 20037.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work.

Location. 29° 18.225′ N, 94° 48.035′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. It is at the intersection of Market Street and 29th Street, on the left when traveling east on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2828 Market Street, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area.

It is also

Engine House No. 3 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 22, 2024

2. Engine House No. 3 and Marker

in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gulf, Colorado,& Santa Fe Railway Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Santa Fe Union Station (approx. 0.3 miles away); Galveston Office of the National Weather Service (approx. 0.3 miles away); Clarke & Courts Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wesley Tabernacle United Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Powell Arch (approx. 0.4 miles away); Davidson Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Leon & H. Blum Building (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 25, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.