Mechanics Engine House No. 4
Also known as: Fire Engine Company House No. 4
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 by the City of Macon, this two-story brick firehouse at 950 Third Street first served the Mechanics No. 4 volunteer company, formed in 1868 by machinists and iron workers from nearby factories. It has Italianate details: corbeled brick cornices, arched windows with decorative crowns, masonry arcading, gabled parapets, and a square hose tower with a wrought-iron grid in its opening. A wide round-arched entrance, framed by brick voussoirs and quoins, once let the engine out. In 1890 the company became the paid Fire Engine Company No. 4, and the building served as a city firehouse until 1930. A one-story rear addition dates to about 1905. The building is recognized as the only intact 19th-century firehouse left in Macon and as a clear example of how cities designed public firehouses in the late 1800s. It also reflects the change from volunteer to paid firefighting and from hand pumpers to steam and motor engines.
Significance in brief: It is described as the only intact 19th-century firehouse remaining in Macon and a good example of a late 19th-century masonry firehouse with a hose tower and large arched engine entrance. It also represents the city's fire department and the shift from volunteer to paid crews and from hand engines to steam and motorized equipment. It was used as a city firehouse until 1930.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001434, listed September 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 950 Third St., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | September 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001434 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1870-1930 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitation work was under way, with missing windows and doors replaced and the first-floor arched entrance uncovered; the first floor has been divided into offices. Current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.82886, -83.63269 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001434.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60747662
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.