Was this building ever a firehouse?

[sabre999uk]

Hi all,
Was 225 West 53rd Street in Manhattan ever a firehouse?

225 West 53rd Street, New York, NY, United States - Google Maps

Is there a list anywhere on the www of closed NYC firehouses giving their addresses? I'd like to plot them on a map and see just how fire cover has changed over the years.

Thanks
Steve

 

[catry]

225 W. 53 st has always been an NYC Transit substation; I believe it was part of the original IRT.

Mike Boucher has an excellent history of all FDNY companies and their present and former quarters at http://nyfd.com/cityhist.pdf

 

[raybrag]

Wow, what a list.  Have fun plotting all of those units and their history, Sabre.  Should take you an hour or two.  8)

 

[guitarman314]

There are a few NYC Transit power substations that look like 2-bay, 1912 thru 1925 firehouses. There is one in the Bronx on Simpson St. just north of Westchester Ave. near the site of the old 41st (Fort Apache) Pct.

 

[Lionheart]

Here is a link to a website called "Forgotten NY Subways & Trains".
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/substations/substations.html
If you scroll a little bit down, you will find a better pic from the substation at 225W 53rd Street.

 

[sabre999uk]

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies, sounds like I'm going to be busy  - unfortunatly the web address given by catry is timing out for me in both IE and Firefox, I'll try again later.

Thanks again.
Steve

 

[sabre999uk]

Oh boy, just managed to download the file - It may take some time.....

Thanks again
Steve

 

[3511]

Lion,
Great link. I too have been fooled by those sub stations over the years, most recently by the one on West 143d st. Never got the full story till now. Thanks.