National Register of Historic Places

Fire Station No. 12

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Listed
October 24, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90001558

About this property

The city of Birmingham, Alabama, saw a vast period of growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With its growth came an expansion in city services, notably the fire department. A number of new stations were constructed from 1910 through 1929, many of which are still standing. Together, ten of these historic fire stations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Historic Fire Stations of Birmingham Multiple Property Submission. Birmingham's first volunteer fire station was established in December 1871, shortly after the city was incorporated. The city purchased its first fire engine in 1873 after a large fire affected the city. The modern fire department was founded in 1885 with two stations. It had grown to employ 21 firemen and 15 horses by 1890. During the early 20th century, although Birmingham spent less money per capita on services than similarly-sized Southern cities, it spent more on fire and education. The insistence on first-class fire protection came from downtown business leaders; better fire coverage kept their insurance rates low. In 1910 Birmingham annexed a number of suburban towns, more than doubling the city's population. Soon after, residents in the suburbs began to demand better fire protection, leading to many new stations being constructed; by 1929 there were 24 fire stations in Birmingham. Stations built before 1920 tended to be in the central business districts of the suburban towns, and their architecture reflected the commercial styles of their surroundings, with little decoration. Similarly, stations built after 1920 were primarily in residential areas, and were built in styles popular at the time, including Spanish Revival, Tudor Revival, and Beaux-Arts. National Register of Historic Places listings in Birmingham, Alabama National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Submissions in Alabama

Location

15 57th St. S.
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
33.54183, -86.75010

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Woodlawn Comercial Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Woodlawn Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Woodlawn City Hall
Industrial
0.3 mi
Woodlawn Highlands Historic District
Early Republic
0.3 mi
First Baptist Church, Kingston
Industrial
1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Elyton (AL) – Wilson's Raid
1865Civil War
3.4 mi
Wilson's Raid — Elyton (Birmingham) Engagement
1865Civil War
3.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fire Station No. 12 listed on the National Register?

Fire Station No. 12 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 24, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Fire Station No. 12?

Fire Station No. 12 is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fire Station No. 12?

The period of significance for Fire Station No. 12 is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1910.

Can I research the history near Fire Station No. 12?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fire Station No. 12 will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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