Fire Hall #1 was designed by W T Whiteway on East Cordova Street in 1905, replacing a grocery store. Here it is a year later in a VPL image. In 1950 a new Firehall #1 was opened, and the Firehall #2 on Seymour Street was closed. This building wasn’t decommissioned – it just had a name change to Firehall #2. A new hall was built nearby on Main Street in 1974, and in 1982 the Firehall Arts Centre opened in the decommissioned building. At least, that’s 
the official version, and while not in any way incorrect, it’s slightly misleading – it wasn’t the first fire station in the city. The first fire Fire Hall #1 was located on Water Street – there was a hose tower, and Engine House with sleeping hall above, and a hose house and gymnasium, all to the west of the Alhambra Hotel where the 1930 Nagle Brothers Garage was later built, and more recently converted to a retail and condo structure. Firehall #1 today is on Heatley Avenue – to the left are Vancouver’s early fire fighters in 1895.
Image source: VPL and City of Vancouver Archives FD P41
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Changing Vancouver 