Original Fire Headquarters - 65 South Front Street at Union Avenue. Demolished in 1966.

Memphis Fire Headquarters in 1899

The original Memphis Fire Department headquarters building was located at 65 South Front Street at the

corner of Union Avenue. It was built in 1891. All apparatus was horse-drawn. Beginning in 1912,

Memphis fire apparatus started converting over to motorized vehicles. Over the next 75 years, this

building housed Engine 5, Engine 9, Ladder Co. 1, Truck 1, Snorkel 1, the Water Tower, High Pressure

1, the Flood Light Truck, Magnum 1, the Division 1 Deputy Chief, along with nearly all chief officers of

the department. In the rear of this building was the first Apparatus Maintenance shop and the first Fire

Alarm Office. In 1966, demolition began to make way for a modern fire headquarters building at the

same location. The Fire Chief's office was moved to Armour Center. Engine 5 was relocated to Station 2

on Main Street. Engine 9 was relocated to Station 1 at 118 Adams. Snorkel 1 was relocated to Station 3

at 200 Linden Avenue and High Pressure 1 was relocated to Station 8 at 832 Mississippi. Construction

lasted for over another year and the new, modern headquarters building was opened in 1968.

Demolition of old Headquarters began in 1966.