Photos
The original 1878 Laurel fire station, as built with two arched doorways for hand-drawn apparatus. Photo taken prior to the construction of the horse stables (1887) or the Rex fire station (1888). |
The Laurel and Rex fire stations circa 1888. The facade of the Laurel has been converted to a single bay door with small windows on each side. The brick stables have been added to the rear of the building. The Rex facade has the original bay door, and the man door on the front facade next to the bay door. |
The Laurel and Rex fire stations. The Rex facade has the enlarged bay door, and the man door has been moved to the north side of the building. |
The front facade of the Rex station after the bay door was enlerged. |
A three-horse hitch poses with the Rex ladder truck part-way through the bay door. |
The Laurel steamer and hose wagon in front of the station. Note that the pediment has not yet been added above the Rex's bay door. |
The Rex and Laurel fire stations as decorated for York's tercentenary in 1899. Note the elaborate arches and the roundabout placed in the middle of the intersection of King and Duke Streets for the occasion. In the distance can be seen the large Helb's Brewery building at King and Queen Streets. |
An image showing the Rex and Laurel's horse-drawn apparatus posed in front of the stations. |
The Rex and Laurel fire stations circa 1960. The Electrical Bureau building can be seen next door the the Rex. Note the newer, shorter belfry atop the bell tower of the Laurel, and the pediment atop the Rex's doorway. |
The Rex and Laurel stations as seen from Duke Street in the 1960s. |
The Rex and Laurel stations circa 1965. |
The Rex and Laurel fire stations circa 1976. The stations were waterblasted and the trim repainted in preparation for a firemen's convention in York in 1976. For the first time, most of the brick surfaces are unpainted. The brick quoins would later be painted dark brown. |