Greensboro Former and Historic Firehouses

Last updated July 3, 2024

See photos from 2020, 2009, 2005, 2004 in this Flickr gallery.

Revision history: Updated and expanded and reformatted. May 8, 2025.

From the volunteer fire companies of the late 1800s to the fully-paid fire department started on June 1, 1926, the history of firefighting in Greensboro is on display throughout the city. Eight old engine houses include downtown's Central Station, College Hill's West End Hose Company buildings, and a soon-to-be-moved fire station on South Elm-Eugene Street.

Old Central Fire Station

318 N. Greene Street
Opened 1926 / Closed 1980

Originally home to four fire companies, downtown's Central Fire Station opened on May 15, 1926. The two-story structure replaced the original Central Station at 108 West Gaston Street. One of the features of the new station was a Gamewell alarm and recording system connected to the city's 40-plus alarm boxes, and which silenced the fire bell at the old West Gaston Street location. The new station also housed a garage, and was equipped with a training tower.

The construction contracts were awarded in July 1925. The total amount of bids was $102,716. The architect was Charles C. Hartman. [GR, 7/29/25] The architect's plans were approved in March 1925. [GR, 3/17/25]

Both were supplanted in October 1956, when a Training and Maintenance Center opened at 1512 North Church Street. Both Central Station and Station 3 closed in 1980, when a new Station 1 opened at 1514 North Church Street. Engine 3 became Engine 1, responding north; Engine 2, from Central Station, responded south.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Old Station 3

2315 Yanceyville Street
Opened 1948 / Closed 1980

Built with funds from a bond issue approved in 1947, Greensboro Fire Station 3 opened on December 17, 1948, at 2313 Vine Street, now named Yanceyville Street. [GDN, 12/17/48] The single-story station first housed a pair of American LaFrance pumpers, a 1948 and a 1932 reserve. Station 3 protected Mill Village, a large residential area that included the Cones Mills' plants.

The architect was Albert C. Woodroof. It was designed to look like a residential structure. The city had approved condemnation of a lot for the station. [GR, 12/3/47] The station cost $50,000. [GDN, 12/17/48]

In 1980, the station closed and Engine 3 was relocated to a new Station 1 at 1514 N. Church Street. A new Station 3 opened in 2001 at 4854 Lake Jeanette Road. The 4,144 square-foot facility is presently used as a child-care center.

Old Station 4

414 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Opened c1905 / Closed 1962

Around December 1905, the volunteer Southside Hose Company relocated to 414 Asheboro Street, now named Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The building that became Greensboro Fire Station 4 originally housed a horse-drawn hose wagon.

On December 15, 1962, Engine 4 was relocated to 401 Gorrell Street. The new station housed Greensboro's first African-American firefighters until the department integrated in November 1967.

The 3,552 square-foot structure was subsequently rented for use as a radio repair shop. It later housed a graphics arts business. Completely remodeled inside, the old station presently serves as community development center.

Old Station 5

549 South Mendenhall Street
Opened c1897 / Closed 1919

Greensboro's volunteer West End Hose Company originally occupied 547 South Mendenhall Street, now numbered 549 South Mendenhall. The 2,670 square-foot two-story station originally housed a horse-drawn hose wagon. It was reported as under construction in September 1897. [GT, 9/6/97] Located in College Hill, the historic engine house presently serves as a grocery store.

Old Station 5

442 South Mendenhall Street
Opened 1919 / Closed 1964

On October 9, 1919, Greensboro Fire Station 5 was relocated one block north to a smaller, single-story station at 442 South Mendenhall Street. It cost about $10,000. [GDN, 10/10/19] The 2,941 square-foot, bungalow-style building first housed a motorized engine built by the White Truck Company. In 1964, Engine 5 relocated to 1618 West Friendly Avenue. The old station presently serves as a residence.

Old Station 5

1816 West Friendly Avenue
Opened 1964 / Closed 1992
Presently commercial space

Greensboro Fire Station 5 opened at its third location at 1618 West Friendly Avenue on May 22, 1964, on what was then-addressed as Madison Avenue and Radiance Drive. Bids for the new station were opened in October 1963. The architect was H. R. McLawhorn Jr. [GR, 10/21/63] The single-story station first housed a 1955 American LaFrance pumper, a 1964 American LaFrance aerial ladder, a rescue unit, and a chief's car. In 1992, Station 5 was relocated one mile north to 1401 Westover Terrace, the site of Old Station 6, which was closed in 1989. The 3,201 square-foot building remained empty until 1994 when purchased for commercial use. Present tenants include a beauty parlor.

Old Station 6

1401 Westover Terrance
Opened 1949 / Closed 1989
Demolished

The original Station 6 opened on March 1, 1949 at 1401 Westover Terrace. It had a seven-man crew and housed a 750 GPM pumper, former Engine 4. The station cost about $44,000. It would house a ladder company in a few more months. [GR, 3/1/49] It was closed in 1989 and subsequently demolished. The present Station 6, formerly numbered Station 17, is located at 4504 Lake Brandt Road.

Courtesy Greensboro Fire Department.

Old Station 7

800 Church Street
Opened 1925 / Closed 1957
Demolished

Also known as the Northside Fire Station, the original Station 7 opened on January 27, 1925, at 800 Church Street. It housed an American LaFrance Type 75 pumper that was transferred from the Eagle Hose Company station. The new station was also equipped with a telephone. [NR, 1/27/25] In 1957, it was relocated to 1064 Gatewood Avenue. The old engine house became a Civil Defense office until it was later demolished when Church Street was widened.

Bids for construction were opened in August 1924. The design was Spanish Mission style. The architects were Simmons and Sawyer. [GR, 8/18/24]

Courtesy Greensboro History Museum.

Old Station 7

1064 Gatewood Avenue
Opened 1958 / Closed 2020
Demolished

On May 20, 2020, the second location of Station 7 on Gatewood Avenue closed. Engine 7 was relocated to temporary quarters at 715 Elwell Avenue and Ladder 7 was relocated to Station 63. The 1958 engine house was demolished the following month and a replacement station was constructed on the same site.

Old Station 8

1735 West Lee Street
Opened 1925 / Closed 1970
Presently empty

Also known as the West Lee Street Station, Greensboro Fire Station 8 first housed a refurbished 1915 American LaFrance Type 75 pumper. It formally opened on November 12, 1925. It housed an American LaFrance Type 75 pumper. It cost about $14,000. [GR, 11/12/25] The property was purchased in April 1925. [GR, 4/4/25]

In 1970, the single-story station was closed and Engine 8 was relocated to its new quarters at 2201 Chapman Street, later renamed Coliseum Boulevard. The 3,282 square-foot, single-bay building is presently empty.

Old Station 11

2606 South Elm-Eugene Street
Built 1960 / Closed 2006

Bids for construction were awarded in February 1960. [GR, 2/10/60] Construction was nearing completion in late August 1960. It cost $95,000 and housed Engine 11, operating a new 1000 GPM pumper. It was the fourth new station opened since a major annexation of property in 1957. [GR, 8/27/60]

In 2006, Engine 11, Quint 11, and North Carolina Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team 5 moved across the street to a new municipal facility at 2602 South Elm-Eugene Street. The $9.6 million complex housed the Water Resources Operations Center, a police substation, and a four-bay fire station.

Old Station 56

820 Franklin Boulevard
Built 1960 for Fire District 14 FD / Opened 2005 as Greensboro FD / Closed 2020

In 2006, Engine 56 was relocated to newly construction temporary quarters built behind the fire station site. The 1960 engine house was subsequently demolished and a new fire station was erected on the same site.

Other Historic Firehouses

Station 4 - 401 Gorrell Street - Opened December 15, 1962. It housed Engine 4 and an 85-foot aerial ladder relocated from Central Fire Station. [NR, 12/2/61]
Bids for construction were opened in May 1961. Cost about $107,000. Architect was H. R. McLawhorn Jr. [GR, 5/19/61]
Station 14 - 3633 Summit Avenue - Opened July 16, 1973. [NR, 7/4/73]
Station 40 - 1805 Pisgah Church Road - Opened July 16, 1973. [NR, 7/4/73]
Station 48 - 1400 Vandalia Road - Opened 1975
Station 49 - 4302 W. Friendly Avenue - Opened 1958