A historic Kalamazoo fire station will reopen as a community resource center after a $155,000 renovation. Built in 1907, Public Safety Station 5 is one of three Kalamazoo stations built by architect Forrest Van Volkenburg.
City Historic Preservation Coordinator Sharon Ferraro said firefighters at station 5 responded to emergencies through the use of horses when it was built, and the station remained active until the early 1990s.
"This is the last historic fire station that the city still owns," Ferraro said.
After the first phase of renovations, the 109-year-old former KDPS building will serve as a community resource center, hosting programming by the city's Parks and Recreation Department and other community events.
The community is invited to take a tour and celebrate its reopening from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Residents can learn about the history and future use of the building, hear from a former firefighter who was stationed at the firehouse, learn about upcoming programming, and enjoy complimentary refreshments from area restaurants.
Station 5 is located on the corner of Douglas Avenue and North Street, near the Stuart, Northside and Douglas/Fairmont neighborhoods. Ferraro said the new building will house various kinds of meetings, events and after-school and summer camp programs held by the parks and recreation department.
The station was built to accommodate Kalamazoo's growing population in the early 1900s. Its typical characteristics include a gabled roof, stucco and half-timbered walls, and large arches with keystones. The columns are decorated with imposts.
Van Volkenburg was a Kalamazoo architect who also designed Engine House 3 on Charlotte Street and Fire Station 6 at the southwest corner of Wheaton and South Westnedge Avenues, as well as the demolished Central Fire Station formerly at the northeast corner of East Lovell and South Burdick Streets