Engine House No. 3
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 at the junction of Meigs Street and Sycamore Line in Sandusky, this medium-sized fire engine house is made of limestone ashlar. Its front is basically Richardsonian Romanesque with some classical touches: a dormer gable with a dentiled cornice, raking cornices ending in unusual bull's-eye ornaments, six round-headed second-story windows with rusticated voussoirs, and two wide, slightly flattened arched doors beneath a name stone reading "S. F. D. No. 3." The side and rear walls drop most architectural pretense, with irregular windows set by interior function, yet the stonecutting remains as fine as on the facade. C. N. Biehl built it for $47,095. Sandusky had volunteer fire companies by 1851 and a paid force by 1874, and horse-drawn equipment served here until 1919. The building was listed mainly for its architecture, and as a civic work built in cut limestone, reflecting local material. It remains in excellent condition and still houses fire equipment.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is primarily significant for its architecture, a sophisticated and functional Richardsonian Romanesque design with some classical elements. It is also a good example of a nineteenth century civic work built for the public good. Its cut limestone construction, rather than common brick, reflects Sandusky's native building material.
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 75001386, listed April 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Meigs St. and Sycamore Line, Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | April 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001386 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894 |
| Architect / builder | C. N. Biehl (builder) |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque, with some classical elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; still in use as a fire engine house, its original purpose. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45264, -82.69803 (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 75001386.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60521327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.