Manistee Fire Hall

ARCHITECT: F.W. Hollister
CONSTRUCTED: 1888

By the late 1880s, a major topic of discussion at the local city commission meetings was the need for a proper municipal building to house the fire department. To that end, a Saginaw architect, F.W. Hollister was hired to draw up specifications for a new building. In early October 1888, bids were advertised with the low bid coming from the local firm of Gore A. Brownrigg & T.N. Reynolds.

The building was completed the following spring and seems to have been occupied with little fanfare.

The two-story, pressed-brick and cut-stone structure is flanked by a a two and one half story copper domed tower. The unique structure is a cross-gabled Romanesque Revival style building and has not undergone any alterations in usage or design since it was built.

On June 17, 2019, The Manistee Fire Station at 281 First Street was awarded the title for Oldest Continuously Manned Operating Fire Station by Guinness World Records.

The fire hall also houses a small display, complete with artifacts and photos, on the history of Manistee’s Fire Department. It is open for tours daily except during mealtime or in an emergency.