Washington Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 1
Why it's listed
Built of red brick in 1878 for the Washington Fire Company in Conshohocken, this two-story firehouse is an example of Italianate architecture of the late nineteenth century. Its original design included arched doorways, Italianate windows with white voussoirs and keystones, and a bell tower. Additions in 1883, 1908 and 1962 extended the building, and the 1908 work added a third story and an Italianate belfry with a Palladian-window motif. Alterations were generally faithful to the original character. The interior remains largely unaltered, including an old parlor with a chandelier, radiators, hardwood floors, wainscoting, carved ceilings and moldings, as well as furniture bought in 1877 and a brass fireman's pole. The building has been in continuous use for nearly a century, and its interior offers insight into the daily life of firemen in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The company is the oldest in the town, established in 1874.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a good example of Italianate style architecture of the late nineteenth century, with design and detail that are unusual in functional public buildings of its type. Its interior is described as well preserved and valuable for showing the living and working conditions of firemen in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as well as the taste of that period. The fire company is also stated to be the oldest in Conshohocken, established in 1874.
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 75001655, listed November 20, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 15 W. Hector St., Conshohocken |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 20, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001655 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use for nearly 100 years; interior largely original, with the firemen's living quarters in the upper stories. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.07352, -75.30747 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 75001655.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971938
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.