An opera house, firehouse, and former telegraph bureau headquarters are the newest individual landmarks in the Bronx! At a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on June 13th, the commissioners voted unanimously to designate these three structures which each represent a different aspect of the borough’s history. All of these sites were part of a comprehensive borough-wide survey of the Bronx conducted last year by an LPC research team with the intention of identifying eligible structures in areas that are less represented by landmark designations. Here, we explore what makes these Bronx landmarks so special!
1. Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 Firehouse, built in 1908
Engine Company 88/Ladder Company 38 Firehouse was built to serve the growing population of the Belmont neighborhood at the turn of the 20th century. Its design represents a transitional era in firehouse construction when firefighting methods were evolving from relying on manual tools and horses to more mechanized equipment. The firehouse was designed by the architecture firm of Herts & Tallant, Broadway theater designers who designed the New Amsterdam Theater, the Lyceum Theater, and the Booth Theater. They were also experts in fireproof building design and this structure is the sole firehouse designed by the duo.
