254 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 254 Commercial St

Architectural Description: 254 Commercial St. is a 2-story, 2-bay Italianate-style firehouse converted to residential use; gable-front roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles, wood cornice with partial returns; exterior is clad in clapboard siding and concrete block, with wood pilaster corner boards, bracketed eave at 1st story; building sits on an obscured foundation; fenestration includes 1/1 wood DHS with storms; primary entrance is a wood garage door and adjacent metal panel-and-panel entry door.

Historical Narrative: As per Josephine Del Deo (1976): "The firehouses in Provincetown are a significant part of the community development. They house the pumpers for each section of the town and all fire fighting equipment. NI additional they were important social gathering places for the volunteers of the fire department. Which is an old and distinguished organization of the town dating back to 1836 (see Jennings) Many of the original memorabilia of each of the five pumper houses is now displayed at the Provincetown Heritage Museum. The location of the old engines still held by the town: 'Ulysses' Pumper #3, by Adams Pharmacy; 'Franklin' No. 2 Provincetown Heritage Museum, 'Washington', Pilgrim Monument Museum. 'Old Steamer' now owned by Edaville Railroad. The meetings and drills general social life of the fire department is carried on in the firehouses today just as it was in the beginning days of the companies and is therefore significant as a social legacy completely unchanged." As per Tom Boland (1994): "Constructed around 1859 under the direction of E.G. Loring, Chief of the Board of Engineers, 254 (FOMERLY 252) Commercial Street served as the Rescue Hook & Ladder Company #1. The original engine was built in Wellfleet, Mass. by the B.A. Ellison Co. in 1859. According to Jennings, the officers of the company as of January 1, 1890 were: James A. Small, Foreman; Joseph A. West, Assistant; and, Andrew T. Williams, Clerk. In 1993, the house ceased operation and commenced use as a Police Department substation for the summer season.

Bibliography and/or References: Barnstable County Atlas., 1880. Barnstable County Atlas., 1907. Cape Cod Directory, 1901. The Extremity of Cape Cod. Map, 1836. H.F. Wallings Co. Map of Provincetown Village. Atlas, 1858. Jennings, Herman A. Provincetown. or Odds and Ends from the Tip End. 1890. Resident Directory. W.F. Richardson & Co., 1886. Resident Directory. W.H. Hopkins, 1889. Town Report, 1872.

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Commercial Street (Provincetown, Mass.), Dwellings, and Historic Districts--Massachusetts--Provincetown

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)