A city hall report recommends designating Fire Hall No. 4 on Colborne Street as a heritage property. Morris Lamont/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network
It’s a city fire hall, and a heritage site, all wrapped up in one.
The city is looking to give heritage designation to a stately old fire hall on Colborne Street, with a staff report calling it a “significant cultural” site in the city.
Fire Hall No. 4, at 807 Colborne St., “is a significant cultural heritage resource that meets the criteria for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act for its physical/design values, historical/associative values, and contextual values,” states a report to an upcoming city planning committee.
The hall was built in 1909, designed by architect Arthur Nutter. The report calls it a “civic landmark” in Old North.
“The building was purpose-built to serve the expanding residential area in the north end of London. The picturesque design of the building is encompassed by its asymmetrical plan with inspirations from the Italianate villa style, particularly demonstrated by the tall Tuscan tower that was historically used to dry leather hoses,” states the city report.
In 1979, the Historic Sites Committee of the London Public Library erected a plaque commemorating the historical significance of the hall. The property has been included on the Inventory of Heritage Resources since 1991 as a Priority One resource.
A report from Tara Jenkins, member of the London Advisory Committee on Heritage (LACH), states the building, “displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit” and “demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.”
Since 2001, Fire Hall No. 4 has been part of Doors Open London and has had more than 12,500 visitors.
It would not be the first heritage-designated fire hall in London. Fire Hall No. 5, at 155 Adelaide St. N., was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1998.
Fire Hall No. 4 is the oldest operating station in the city and was adapted from horse-drawn fire trucks in its early days to modern fire trucks.
The planning committee meets Jan. 9.
Source: London city hall: Heritage status sought for Fire Hall No. 4 | London Fired Press
