Capitol District in Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Hope Fire Station

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

1. Hope Fire Station Marker

Inscription. Directly across this street stands the Hope Fire Station, oldest fire station in Harrisburg and one of the oldest in the U.S. It was originally owned by the Hope Fire Company, which was organized in 1814, and which built this building in 1871. Distinctive through its Italianate architectural design with tall arch-headed windows and corbelled exterior brickwork, the building remains a symbol of the classic neighborhood fire station of the 19th Century. The Hope Company, which was a volunteer unit as all were at the time, later became absorbed into the City of Harrisburg's Fire Bureau. The City continued to operate what had become known as the Hope Fire Station into the second half of the 20th Century. Upon the construction of two new state-of-the-art fire stations in the City in the late 1970's, the Hope Fire Station, and other smaller fire stations at various locations in Harrisburg, was sold for alternate use. The Hope Fire Station's important historic and architectural significance led the City at that time to require that the building's purchaser retain many of the building's original interior and exterior features which

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are still in place today.
Photo
1914 view of the Hope Fire Station before the roof bell cupola was removed.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.

Location. 40° 15.831′ N, 76° 53.274′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in the Capitol District. It is on North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north. Between North and Liberty Streets. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 621 N 2nd St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once

Hope Fire Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

2. Hope Fire Station

Now occupied for commercial purposes.

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Harrisburg Cotton Factory and The Central YMCA (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Civic Club of Harrisburg (about 400 feet away); The Obelisk (about 500 feet away); Parish Church of St. Lawrence (Former) (about 500 feet away); St. Michael’s Lutheran Church (about 500 feet away); Genevieve Blatt (1913 - 1996) (about 500 feet away); Grace Methodist Church (about 600 feet away); The John Crain Kunkel and Katherine Smoot Kunkel Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Richard Schlegel (1927-2006) (was about 500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,231 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.