Plymouth Fire Station
220 North Center Street, Plymouth
Sounding the Alarm
In the center of downtown Plymouth, a towering firehouse has been at the heart of community life since it was built in 1875. So, when the building’s exterior brick showed signs of accelerating deterioration, residents raised the alarm.
Originally home to both the city’s fire department and city hall, the building’s arched bays and bell tower reflected its civic importance, supporting firefighting operations for over a century until a new station was built in 1980. The National Register-listed building continued to serve the city in the intervening years, alternately housing the city’s ambulance service, visitors’ bureau, preschool programs, and art exhibits. The original city hall chamber and fire pole remain, pointing to the firehouse’s heritage.
A study of the building estimated much-needed exterior repairs will total over $1 million. A recent grant from the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs is a great step toward preservation, but the City of Plymouth will need additional funding to ensure the firehouse’s longevity.
Around the state, historic fire stations have been repurposed as a community center, restaurants, coffee houses, an antiques store, and even a private residence, proof of their enduring value as beloved and adaptable community landmarks. As one of the oldest of its kind in Indiana, the historic Plymouth Fire Station deserves a similar positive outcome.
Todd Zeiger
Vice President Preservation Services & Heritage Trades
Indiana Landmarks
574-232-4534
tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org
Sandy Garrison
Executive Director
Marshall County Museum
574-360-9913
sandygarrison@mchistoricalsociety.org
Saving threatened buildings takes teamwork. You can be a part of that team. Reach out to local leaders. Let them know these buildings are important to you. And support state and local preservation groups.