Kansas City Fire Station No. 11

Kansas City Fire Station No. 11. . , In 1890 Fire Chief George C. Hale was authorized by the City of Kansas City to form a new Hose Co. No. 11, as the first all-black fire company for the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD). Having been hired by KCFD in 1887 as its first black firefighter. Edward S. Baker was assigned to the new company as Supplyman. On July 3, 1890 he was then promoted to Captain of Hose Co. No. 11. On May 7, 1890 Supplyman Joseph Wheeler was the second crewman hired for the new Hose Co. No. 11. Also hired in 1890 were William H. Baker (son of Captain Baker) as Watchboy, along with Thomas H. Elliott and William P. Campbell as Hosemen. , On July 3, 1890, KCFD set up a temporary tent on the southwest corner of Independence Avenue and Park Street from which Hose Co. No. 11 operated until November 1890, moving then to a new two-story, single-bay, brick fire station at 1309 Independence Ave. A new two-bay fire station was put in service at 610-12 Virginia Avenue on March 5, 1908, and Hose Co. No. 10 of Engine House No. 10 at 1812 Vine Street was transferred to it. A new Ladder Service Truck No. 8 went into service and was assigned to the second bay. , The original Fire Station No. 11 at 1309 Independence Avenue was closed, with operations transferring to Engine House No. 10 at 1812 Vine St., which was re-designated as No. 11. In April 1917, Hose Co. No. 11 changed from horse drawn to a motorized Hale/Velie Hose and Chemical Truck. A 1926 Stutz, 750 gallons per minute pumper, replaced the 1917 unit. During this period, the department worked a two-platoon shift, 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Captain John Todd, Driver Joseph King, Hosemen Edward Simpson and John N. Kennedy were on A-shift. Acting Lieutenant Eugene Lacy, Driver Poet Kennedy, Hosemen Frank Clark and Amos Smith were on B-shift. , On September 23, 1931, Station No. 11 at 1812 Vine Street closed, with its operations relocated to a new facility at 2033 Vine Street. , On May 22, 1941, Pumper No. 11 and Pumper No. 12, in responding to a fire, collided at the intersection of 24th and Chestnut Streets. Firefighter Donald Lewis on Pumper No. 11 died at the scene, and Firefighter Oliver B. Wilson on Pumper No. 12 died two days later. Mr. Lewis was the first black firefighter to die in the line of duty. , On October 22, 1945, Raymond E. Daniel became a member of the KCFD, and on March 11, 1960, was the first black officer to be promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief. Officer Daniel was later promoted to Deputy Chief on April 4, 1969, and retired December 28, 1975. Edward E. Wilson Jr. was hired on June 18, 1943, and later was the first black officer to serve as Fire Chief of KCFD. Mr. Wilson retired December 22, 1989. , On May 5, 1958, the KCFD was integrated, with all various firefighters transferred to stations throughout KCFD units. , The former Fire Station building at 1812 Vine was demolished in 1967 for a parking lot. Old Fire Station No. 11 at 2033 Vine St. closed on May 1, 1976, and its Pumper No. 11 and crews transferred to Fire Station No. 18 at 3211 Indiana Avenue. Pumper Unit No. 11 was changed to Rescue No. 11, going to inactive status March 19, 2005. In 1976 the first Black Archives of Mid-America moved to old Firehouse No. 11 at 2033 Vine. Today the Archives occupy the former KCMO Park Maintenance Building at 1722 E. 17th Terrace. , The Gem Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Inc. purchased Fire Station No. 11 at 2033 Vine from the City of Kansas City in 2015. It presently houses offices of the Vine Street Studio.