A modest building with a remarkable past. That’s Seattle Fire Station No. 37 for you. Constructed in 1925, Seattle Fire Station No. 37 is the second oldest fire station still operating in Seattle.
Let’s step back to October 14, 1925. Seattle Fire Station No. 37 opened its doors. It was built to serve the expanding West Seattle district. This station has been in continuous operation since that day, with one exception.
Between April 1933 and January 1934, Seattle Fire Station No. 37 faced a temporary closure. Many stations closed during the financial depression. Hundreds of firemen were laid off due to Mayor John F. Dore’s economizing measures.
Seattle Fire Station No. 37 held the distinction of being the furthest southwest station in the city. It was occupied by Engine 37. It stands out as the only small-scale fire station. Its distinctive Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival stylistic features set it apart.
Interestingly, West Seattle was annexed in 1907. The city was slow to provide full municipal services. Before annexation, West Seattle had a volunteer fire department. Their fire station stood at 44th Avenue SW and SW Walker Street.
The Seattle Fire Department’s first West Seattle fire station operated in the 1904 building. In 1921, the company moved to a new brick Bungalow-style fire station nearby. Fire Station No. 29 was the first in operation. Fire Station No. 32 was the first built by the Fire Department in the district. Constructed in 1914, this Craftsman Shingle Style fire station was also in the northern end of the district.
In 1919, Fire Station No. 36 was built on SW Spokane Street near the West Seattle Bridge. Sadly, none of these early fire stations remain. Modern stations eventually replaced them. Seattle Fire Station No. 37 was the first built in the southern end of West Seattle. It remained the only fire station in that area until 1971. That year, Fire Station No. 11 was built in the Highland Park neighborhood to the east.
Seattle Fire Station No. 37’s design is significant. It is associated with the development of the Seattle Fire Department and the West Seattle neighborhood. The building stands on a corner lot at 35th Avenue SW and SW Othello Street.
The one-story building has two sections. There is a gable front southern half. It is flanked on the north by a large hip roof wing. The engine bay occupies the southwest corner. The office is at the northwest corner. Crew quarters wrap the northeast corner. Stairs lead to a basement level.
Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival elements are evident. These include a smooth stucco exterior, red tiled roofs, arched window openings and brick trim. Bargeboards cover the gable ends. Ornate brackets line the roofs’ overhanging eaves.
The engine bay dominates the west elevation. It has two overhead metal doors below a shallow tile roof. A concrete pier separates the doors. Small brick arches embellish the upper portion of the wall.
The hose tower at the rear has a front gable roof and narrow arched openings. The chimney has similar decorative treatment. The office wing has tall narrow window openings with brick sills and an entrance door.
Seattle Fire Station No. 37 earned a Historic Landmark Designation in 2004. City planners decided to relocate Seattle Fire Station No. 37 several blocks north. A new facility of comparable size was built to meet current seismic safety codes. The existing structure was sold to help fund future projects. The new 2-story station is 8,875 SF. It houses one engine company and a reserve engine. The project team’s efforts earned LEED Gold certification. The basement of the new Seattle Fire Station No. 37 will be used as a storm water vault.
Seattle Fire Station No. 37 stands as a testament to the city’s history.