Peabody Central Fire Station
Also known as: Peabody Engine House; state survey no.:50
Why it's listed
Built in 1873, the Peabody Central Fire Station at 41 Lowell Street is a two and a half story red brick building with granite trim, a mansard roof and a rear hose tower. Salem architects Bruce and Copeland designed it, Charles Folsom served as contractor and Samuel Trask as mason. Town meeting appropriated $31,000 for construction on the recommendation of a building committee of local citizens. The facade is dominated by two jerkin-headed cross gables with round windows in granite frames, and the cornice is supported by modillions and decorative brickwork. The first floor originally held two steam fire engines, a hook and ladder truck and hose carriages, with stalls for six horses in the rear ell. A one-story ell for equipment was added in 1921. Local newspapers called the building remarkably fine and a model engine house. It is considered one of the finest and earliest surviving fire stations of its type in Massachusetts, and it still serves downtown Peabody as a fire station.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station is significant for the quality of its architectural design and its continuous role as a fire station. With its rich brick detail and deep bracketed cornice, it is described as one of the finest examples of its type in the state and one of the earliest surviving fire stations. Local newspapers of the time praised it as a model engine house.
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 79000344, listed April 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 41 Lowell St., Peabody |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000344 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873 |
| Architect / builder | Bruce & Copeland (architects); Charles Folsom, contractor; Samuel Trask, mason |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in use as a fire station serving downtown Peabody; rated good condition, with a one-story ell added to the west in 1921. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.52733, -70.93073 (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 79000344.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7157223
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.