(formerly Church St.)
(new facade on front, not original)
I was told by the, now, late Brace Godfrey, deceased partner of Cyntreniks, of which company that now occupy the building, that the lettering on the front were the original sign of the firehouse. I was also told that a facade was added to the front which disqualified it from being registered with the 'National Register of Historic Places'.
Mr. Godfrey showed me the old slide poll that the firemen slid down on; and the double French windows was where the bay was that housed the horse drawn fire fighting apparatus wagon.
By 1825, the town organized a volunteer fire fighting unit called The Bucket Company. The company's name tells how they fought fires - by bucket brigade. Eleven years later the Bucket Company evolved into the more highly organized Washington Fire Company Number One.
The building was used as the City Hall later and in the early 1900s as a public library instituted by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Source
Washington No.1 Voluntary Fire Company's firehouse was the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Headquarters from 1998 to 2003. Source
By 1825, the town organized a volunteer fire fighting unit called The Bucket Company. The company's name tells how they fought fires - by bucket brigade. Eleven years later the Bucket Company evolved into the more highly organized Washington Fire Company Number One.
The Washington Fire Company No. 1 enjoyed a long and useful firefighting life. All structures within Baton Rouge came under their protection, including the State Penitentiary... (Source for last two paragraph)
The building was used as the City Hall later and in the early 1900s as a public library instituted by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Source
Washington No.1 Voluntary Fire Company's firehouse was the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Headquarters from 1998 to 2003. Source
Excluding the Old State Capital building, Pentagon Barracks, and the Arsenal/Powder Magazine, the Washington Firehouse may be the oldest structure in Baton Rouge.
I found this firehouse by chance as I walked down 4th street, formerly Church Street, and I can't tell you my excitement, you'd have to love history as I do to understand, I had only learned of it before, but to actually find it, and that it wasn't destroyed, but it is perfectly intact -WOW!
The early Baton Rouge volunteer fire company was community active putting on such events as the 'Firemen Parade' with rides that they would decorate and put little girls on them. The firehouse horse that pulled the rides and fire fighting apparatus wagon is buried under 4th. street, it was off the street long ages ago, but the street widened.
VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEFS Source
[The following list is verbatim as I received them.]
Samuel Hart, term 1875-1877
Robert Fairie, term 1877-1883
J. C. Favrot, term 1883-1891
Andrew Jackson, term 1893-1894
(possible owner the Andrew Jackson store, see sidebar for store photo.)
Austin Williams, term 1884-1901
R. A. Hart, (term unknown)
Irnee Pujol (term unknown)
[The following list is verbatim as I received them.]
Samuel Hart, term 1875-1877
Robert Fairie, term 1877-1883
J. C. Favrot, term 1883-1891
Andrew Jackson, term 1893-1894
(possible owner the Andrew Jackson store, see sidebar for store photo.)
Austin Williams, term 1884-1901
R. A. Hart, (term unknown)
Irnee Pujol (term unknown)
Jules Roux, (term unknown)
(Roux had a "tonsorial parlor" (a barber shop) on Third St.
Joseph Duncan (term unknown)
(possible namesake for two Duncan Building)
Hugh Waddill (term unknown)
(Possibly, Aid-de-camp, La. Div. U.S. Sons of Confederate Veterans;
Commandant, Henry Watkins Allen Camp, LA Division USCV) Source
King H. Strenzke, term 1917-1918
(Birth about 1885) Source
(possible namesake for two Duncan Building)
Hugh Waddill (term unknown)
(Possibly, Aid-de-camp, La. Div. U.S. Sons of Confederate Veterans;
Commandant, Henry Watkins Allen Camp, LA Division USCV) Source
King H. Strenzke, term 1917-1918
(Birth about 1885) Source
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