Old Firehouse - Silver City, New Mexico
Posted by: 
linkys
N 32° 46.207 W 108° 16.712
12S E 754925 N 3629081
This former firehouse has served in many capacities over the years and is currently the town museum.
Waymark Code: WM7HT3
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 10/28/2009
Views: 2
A very brief history of the old Silver City Firehouse. The building began life in 1881 as the H.B. Ailman house. Because of financial problems, the building ended up in the hands of Hobart family. They lived in it for 16 years before a judge ruled they actually didn't own the property, and then forced them to give it up, where upon it was placed on the auction block.
From 1908 until 1926 it was used as a boarding house, at which time the Town of Silver City purchased it for use as their City Hall. In 1931 the local fire department moved into the building, with three fire engine garages eventually being added.
In the 1930's a fire bell was at the front entrance. Until the 1950s, living quarters for the fire chief and his family were provided in the house by the Town, with other rooms occupied by volunteer firemen in exchange for their services. In 1970 a new firehouse was constructed and the old firehouse, which had started out as a private dwelling would eventually become the home of the Silver City Museum.
For more detailed information on the interesting history of this building, the Silver City Museum website has a more extensive history of the building which can be found here.