Portsmouth Fire Department No. 1
Why it's listed
Built about 1895 at 642 Seventh Street in Portsmouth, this brick fire station replaced an 1882 engine house on the same site, and the earlier building's keystone was reused in the new doorway. The building has two and a half stories, a three-bay front with segmental arched openings, paired windows with brick lintels and stone sills, porthole attic windows below a paneled cornice frieze, and a small rear hose tower. A red-tiled canopy and multi-light garage doors were added about 1915-20, but the original arched openings remain. Inside, glazed brick walls and a pressed metal ceiling survive. The station served as Fire Station #1 for more than 80 years and was departmental headquarters until 1929. It stayed in service until 1977, when a new facility was built and the building was sold. Its architectural integrity and its position as the best remaining 19th century fire station in the city are the reasons it was listed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is Portsmouth's best remaining example of a 19th century fire station under criterion C. It is one of two stations left from that period and is more intact than the one at Gallia and Lincoln Streets. It keeps its original openings, exterior details, hose tower, glazed brick walls and ornamental ceiling.
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 87002091, listed December 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 642 Seventh St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | December 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002091 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant on the inventory form, with interior and exterior condition rated excellent. The fire department used it through 1977, when it was sold. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73553, -82.99876 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 87002091.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60747689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.