billings, mt - helena, mt - seattle, wa

~ The Old Maverick Fire Station ~

HOME OFFICE THE NORTHERN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

Christmas 2009

maverick

Street view of Office

At one time, the Old Maverick Fire Station was the hub of social gatherings in Billings as well as a busy fire station. After the Fire Department moved out in 1965, the two-story building has served many groups including the Salvation Army, a youth boxing association, a children's theater and finally, a youth assessment center.

The Maverick Fire Station on 201 S. 30th St., took on a new life when it was sold to the Old Maverick Fire Station Development Venture and converted into loft apartments on the second level with the home office for Northern Industrial Hygiene on the main level.

Reception area

Conference/Multi purpose room

This exterior photo of the fire station,
including a training wall was taken in the 1940's.

Chief Thomas F. Kennedy stands in front on the
left side of a fire truck in the Old Maverick Fire
Station with members of the Maverick Hose
Company. Kennedy was the first chief at the station.

Built in 1911 as the city's second fire station, the Maverick Station is the only commercial building in Billings built in the Prairie Style of architecture. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings and is considered to be architecturally and historically significant to the city.

The Prairie Style was considered avant-garde in 1911, and the construction of the fire station in that style was viewed as progressive, even controversial by some. When the station opened in Billings in 1911, it was staffed with 10 paid firemen and about 25 active volunteers. The top floor of the building was divided between a residence for Chief Thomas F. Kennedy and the living quarters for the firemen, who were on duty continually six days a week. The main floor was used as the garage for the fire truck and various pieces of horse-drawn equipment. Part of the main floor also served as stables for the two horse teams and a feed-storage area.

The closely spaced windows and continuous cornice on the building's exterior identify it with the Prairie Style that was popular primarily in the Midwest from 1890 to 1920. Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan are credited with this style of architecture.

Two Wright projects with elements similar to the Maverick Fire Station are the United Temple in Oak Park, Ill., and the Robbie House in Chicago.