Park Street Firehouse
Also known as: Adams Ambulance Service
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 on the east side of Park Street in Adams, this three-story brick building was constructed for the Adams Fire District, a quasi-governmental body created in 1872 to protect the town's mills and other buildings from fire. It was the largest of the district's nineteenth-century stations and may have acted as its central station. The facade combines a granite plaque reading A.F.D. and 1890, bands of decorative brickwork, rock-faced granite sills and lintels, and double-hung windows with colored glass panes that reflect Queen Anne styling. Though built free-standing, the small lot and the design suggest it was meant to join a row of buildings, and neighboring blocks later covered its north and south sides between 1893 and 1896. Most original features survive. The main change is a modern sliding garage door that replaced the original wagon doors when the building became the town's ambulance service in the mid-twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an interesting example of Queen Anne design elements adapted for a firehouse, and that it retains integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It is also tied to the Adams Fire District, a quasi-governmental body formed in 1872, and was the most substantial of the district's nineteenth-century buildings, possibly serving as its central station.
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 82004949, listed January 28, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 47 Park St., Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | January 28, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1890) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne design elements adapted for a firehouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Town-owned and occupied; converted in the mid-20th century to the town's ambulance service, with condition described as good and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.62264, -73.12000 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 82004949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7138056
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.