Blair in Washington County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Blair Firehouse
1891
| | Washington County Heritage Trail | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
1. Blair Firehouse Marker
Blair's first firehouse was built on this site in the 1870s. It was made from wood and did double-duty as the police station and jail. The Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1874 with a bulky fire extinguisher as their only piece of equipment. Later, a bucket brigade of 20 men with leather buckets carried water from a local cistern and passed the buckets from man to man. The public demanded better protection, so in 1885 the town allocated $20,000 for a waterworks system consisting of water lines and fire hydrants. This meant horses and carts were needed. When the alarm sounded, the volunteers ran to the carts and pulled them to the nearest hydrant to fight the fire.
In 1891 the original wooded firehouse was replaced with this structure. By 1898 the firehouse owned a hook and ladder truck and four house reels. By 1912 they had outgrown the facility and relocated. The bell was saved and moved to the new location. Consequently, this building was used by the city for storage, and in the 1930s, it housed transient men. Later this building and the one to the east merged. The firehouse door opening was made a part of todays building.
Erected 2023.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 41° 32.577′ N, 96° 8.207′ W. Marker is in Blair, Nebraska, in Washington County. It is on Lincoln Street just east of South 16th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1612 Lincoln Street, Blair NE 68008, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska and in Greater Omaha. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Blair City Hall and Fire Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Pilot Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blair State Bank Bldg. (about 400 feet away); Congregational Church of Blair (about 700 feet away); Central School 1899 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Washington County Courthouse 1891 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blair Depot 1880 (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blair.
2. Marker detail: 1891 Firehouse
3. Marker detail: Fireman and Hose Reel
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
4. Blair Firehouse Marker
Looking south across Lincoln Street; no trace of the old firehouse today.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
