Engine House #8
Warranty Deed
Lyman D. Field and Nettie Field, his wife,
To the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date of Instrument - April 21st, 1883
Recorded - April 23rd, 1883, at 4:30 P. M. Liber 148 o Deeds on Page 199.
Consideration - Twelve Hundred Dollars
Description
Lot 9, Jefferson Street, upon and according to the recorded plat of Scribner’s
Addition CE
Scribner's Addition 1854
40 Lexington Ave NW Erected 1884
The 1888 Sanborn map shows the engine house was originally a straight rectangle.
Sanborn 1888
City Assessor's 1941
City Assessor's 1975
Details: solid brick construction, stone foundation with small
basement (large coal bin),
1st floor has concrete floors, plaster walls with beaded wood wainscoting
walls and partitions, ceiling is wood.
2nd floor is hardwood floors, plastered walls and ceiling.
Rear addition's (no date) second floor has no interior finish (could this be the
former hay loft?)
Heat - coal hand-fired steam boiler and radiators (replaced in 1967).
Roof - tar and gravel on wood
Bath - (unclear) 1 toilet, 3 sinks - 1 toilet, 1 sink - 1 toilet, 1 sink, 1
shower, 1 tub
Land 66 x 132 $15,800 in 1950
The real estate card says: brick veneer, total square feet -
6328
1st floor ceiling height - 16'
2nd floor ceiling height - 8' 11"
3 overhead truck doors, 4 large beautiful offices, 2 lavatories, new electrical,
new heating unit, loading ramp, kitchen
When working for the City, and inspected the house next door, II saw that many years ago the Captain lived downstairs and the Lieutenant lived upstairs in the two-family house just north of this station. I inspected this house at 42 Lexington. It is not on the 1888 Sanborn map. For further information on this house: see Lexington
This building was being used by an interior decorator for many years perhaps starting in 1967. It is vacant now (2010) and for sale.
Real Estate Card
According the the City's official website, this station was moved to 1154 Covell Rd, the annexed Walker Township Hall and fire station in 1961. I remember the old wooden two-story country station since replaced by a modern brick one-story building. City of Grand Rapids - Covell Avenue Fire Station.
All Around 2010
1888 Sanborn
In this house next door lived the Captain downstairs and the Lieutenant upstairs. I inspected this house. The two apartments were nearly identical. 42 Lexington
150 Years
When the Walker Township Hall and Fire Station on Covel Road and
Leonard Street was annexed it became the new # 8.
I remember this old station, now gone.
Walker Twp
I have tried to impact every source with corrections or comments so everything on this site is copywrighted. The information may be used for your project but the source must be cited.
From Article Fire Department
From Heading Architecture
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info