Nevada City Firehouse No. 2

Nevada City Firehouse No. 2
The firehouse in 2012
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 is located in California
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 is located in the United States
Nevada City Firehouse No. 2
Location420 Broad Street,
Nevada City, California
Coordinates39°15′47″N 121°1′9″W / 39.26306°N 121.01917°W / 39.26306; -121.01917
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1860–1861
ArchitectKent and Mackay
Architectural styleClassic Revival
Part ofNevada City Downtown Historic District (ID85002520)
NRHP reference No.74000544
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 3, 1974
Designated CPSeptember 23, 1985

Nevada City Firehouse No. 2, also known as Eureka Hose Company Firehouse No. 2, Pennsylvania Engine Company Firehouse No. 2, and Broad Street Firehouse No. 2, is a historic former firehouse located at 420 Broad Street in Nevada City, California. Completed in January 1861 as the city's first firehouse, it is notable for its architecture and its relation to the California gold rush.

History

Construction and use

Nevada City was California's most important mining town during the California gold rush,[1] and by March 1850, it was the third largest city in the state.[2] The first great fire that leveled Nevada City occurred in 1851, and by 1859, the city had been rebuilt and re-leveled by fire four additional times.[3] In December 1859, the women of the city decided to act; on December 26, they raised $923.50 ($32,319 in 2024) from a ball and a week later they raised $149 ($5,214 in 2024) from a theatrical show, all of which were to be put towards the construction of a firehouse.[3]

Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 was the first firehouse built in Nevada City. At the time, the city had three groups competing for firehouse funds: the 37-[3] or 47[4]-member Nevada Hose Company on Main Street (organized June 12, 1860), the 34-member Eureka Hose Company on Broad Street (organized June 13, 1860), and the 37-member Protection Hook & Ladder (organized June 23, 1860). While Nevada Hose Company officially organized a day before Eureka Hose Company, Eureka Hose Company was offered the money raised by the women in the city. These private funds and an additional $1,000 ($34,996 in 2024) in public funds were used to build Eureka Hose Company Firehouse No. 2, which was completed before Nevada Hose Company's firehouse despite it being labeled No. 2.[3][4][5]

Eureka Hose Company Firehouse No. 2 was designed by Kent and Mackay.[6] Its cornerstone was laid on October 17, 1860, and it was completed and equipment moved in on January 14, 1861.[4] Soon after, the company discovered the fire engine they purchased was inscribed with the name "Pennsylvania Engine Company No. 12", so they scratched off the "1" and in August 1860 they renamed their firehouse Pennsylvania Engine Company Firehouse No. 2.[3][5][7]

Pennsylvania Engine Company Firehouse No. 2's roof and interior were damaged by fire in 1880[6] and the firehouse's front columns have also been damaged by vehicle accidents.[8] At some point, the firehouse was also renamed Broad Street Firehouse No. 2.[9]

Historic building

The firehouse in 1936

In 1968, the firehouse was included by the city of Nevada City in its historic district, where it was mentioned as an example of a building that has "great historical interest and esthetic value", contains "important historical exhibits and unique architectural specimens", and is "symbolic of the City's historical past".[10] In 1974, the firehouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places, at which point it was known as Nevada City Firehouse No. 2 and was still in use as a firehouse.[4] In 1985, the firehouse was included as a contributing property in the Nevada City Downtown Historic District, where it was described as "virtually unchanged from [its] earliest available photographs".[6]

By 2002, the firehouse had been converted to a museum, with the original Pennsylvania Engine Company No. 12 fire engine on display. The engine is also occasionally used for Fourth of July parades.[3]

Architecture and design

The firehouse is 16x30 feet, two-stories, and is made of brick and wood. It features a Classic Revival design that includes:[4][6]

The building is considered "simple," "utilitarian," and "a good example of period and style of architecture."[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bean's history and directory of Nevada County, California (Public domain ed.). Daily Gazette. 1867. p. 40.
  2. ^ Bing, Alison (November 2011). "Day Trip Nevada City". Sunset Magazine – via Nevada City Chamber of Commerce.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Wyckoff, Bob (April 13, 2002). "Firefighting's storied history in Nevada City". The Union.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Mrs. Leland S. (September 1973). "Nevada City Firehouse #2". National Park Service. Retrieved March 2, 2015. Accompanied by a photograph.
  5. ^ a b E Clampus Vitus (May 5, 1979). "Pennsylvania Engine Co. No. 2". City of Nevada City – via hmdb.org.
  6. ^ a b c d "Nevada City Downtown Historic District". National Park Service. September 23, 1985. and accompanying photos
  7. ^ Koeppel, Elliot H. (2000). "Pennsylvania Engine Company No. 2 Firehouse". Malakoff & Co.
  8. ^ "Nevada City Newsletter: January - February 2023". 2023. p. 8. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  9. ^ "Pic 3-Jul 150-2". Nevada County Historical Society. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  10. ^ "Ordinance No. 338". City of Nevada City. August 12, 1968.
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