This is my local fire house, in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, NY. It is the home of FDNY Engine 240/Battalion 48.
In 1894, the city of Brooklyn (at this point still independent of New York City) annexed the towns of Flatbush, Gravesend, New Utrecht, and Flatlands, and subsequently began a campaign to replace the old firehouses of the volunteer fire departments of those towns with modern facilities for companies of professional firefighters. This one, at the Southern end of Prospect Ave., was constructed in 1895. It was designed by Peter J. Lauritzen, a Danish immigrant who designed eight other firehouses for the Brooklyn Fire Department, five of which are still extant.
Lauritzen used the same Romanesque Revival Style for other Brooklyn firehouses. It is faced with Wyoming bluestone, Indiana limestone, and pressed brick. As seen in this historical photo, the exterior looks very much the same as when it was built, except for the conical roof atop the oriel turret, and the doors to the interior, which was a horse stable rather than a garage for trucks at the time.
I've drawn this firehouse before. These were done between 2014 and 2015. I'd done a series of firehouse drawings. I don't often re-visit old subjects, but seeing this old work makes me want to go back and re-do them all! And come back and draw this firehouse in another six years and see how I've changed.
Reference:
Brownstoner: The Little Fortress Watching Over Windsor Terrace Since 1896
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