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Property Location
Property Features
A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation.
When originally built in 1899, the fire station was a two-story, hipped roof building with clapboard siding and no ornamentation. Sometime in the early 20th century the building was substantially remodeled into the present form. Although the rectangular plan still reflects functional requirements, the facade makes a passing nod at the irregular silhouette and rough textured surfaces, favored by turn-of-the-century builders. The hipped roof was altered to include flared eaves and gabled projections. A rusticated wine brick, familiar to other Beloit buildings, contributed a rich textured quality to relieve the otherwise unadorned exterior. Brick quoins added a further formality to the composition. Nevertheless, the main utlitarian features remained: a wide entry for the fire wagons, a louvered attic ventilator, and regularly spaced windows in the second floor dormitory.
Beloit has maintained a full-time paid fire department since 1885. The East Side Fire Station #2 was originally constructed in 1899 on land purchased from the nearby Fairbanks Morse Company. Because of the proximity of the station to the plant, it is safe to assume that the station offered protection to the company. Since 1965, the structure has been the home of a predominantly Black Masonic Lodge, which was founded in Beloit in 1925.
2019: This 2 ½ story Queen Anne building was constructed in 1899 as Beloit’s East Side Fire Station No. 2 and was converted to W.B. Kennedy Masonic Lodge – Prince Hall No.3 in 1965. The building has a concrete foundation, red brick walls with brick quoins, and an asphalt-shingled hipped roof with gabled dormers. The front elevation faces west and is asymmetrical in plan with a large vehicular entrance at the center of the first story; this entrance has been closed off and clad in vinyl siding. South of this is a single pedestrian doorway containing a metal security door. The second story of the façade contains three singly-placed 1-over-1 windows. Gabled dormers are located in the front and side roof slopes; each dormer contains paired, louvered ventilation panels.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
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Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
