No. 2 Fire Station

No. 2 Fire Station is designated as a Local Historic Place for it Utilitarian Italianate architecture and for its importance in the history of Moncton’s Fire Department.

In 1898, Fire Chief George Ackman and the Fire Committee Chief, Alderman Fred Givan, issued reports indicating the need for a larger and more modern firefighting facility. The wooden structure had been used since 1885. John Edingdon, city engineer, drew up the plans for the brick fire station that would house No. 2 Hose Company. G. O. Dunham began work on the building in 1899. During the construction of the building, the wooden structure was destroyed by a fire. In September 1900, No. 2 Fire Station was officially opened. It became one of four brick fire stations of similar design that served Moncton in the early 20th century.

The utilitarian Italianate design was appropriate for the space needed for the firefighting equipment which included a motorized Waterous fire engine that marked the end of horses at the station, a Diaphone Horn, a Standard Triple combination motor fire engine (restored and still used in a PR capacity today) and the first combination resuscitator-inhaler-aspirator. The westernmost third of the building was added when Ford’s Pharmacy purchased it in 1962. The fire department relocated to St. George Street in 1961. In 1996, the No. 2 Fire Station was designated a Heritage Property through the City of Moncton Heritage Preservation By-Law #Z-1102.