08857DEB-1DD8-B71B-0B658A5CA9687169

Feature 224: 219-223 North Main Street (in 2011)

Commercial style building

Classification: Contributing. Historic Name: Independence Fire Station No. 1. Architectural Style: Commercial. Construction Date: 1928. Period 3 of Harry S Truman's Life: Developing Political Skills and Associations, 1920-1933. Tax Identification: 26-230-02-01 (owned by the city government). Legal Description: Old Town, part of lot 2. Description: Contributing two-story masonry building; irregular in shape; flat roof behind shaped parapet with inverted scallop design; rusticated red brick exterior walls with terra cotta scored to resemble cut stone blocks on lower portion of facade; two garage openings with folding wood doors on the facade; four groups of rectangular windows on the second floor, two center groups have three windows with three decorative arches above creating the effect of a Palladian window; north wall has three vertical panels; building has poured concrete foundation and basement. Located at the southeast corner of North Main Street and Truman Road at crest in hill that slopes down to the east; the building abuts concrete sidewalks to the north and west and with the Marshal's House and Jackson County Jail, adjoining to the south. History/Significance: The National Park Service (NPS) became the Fire Station No. 1's new occupant in 1983, shortly after the creation of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. The building, owned by the City of Independence, functions as the Visitor Center for the historic site and also houses some NPS administrative offices. The 1928 construction of Fire Station No. 1 came as a result of a major upgrading undertaken by the Independence Fire Department. On February 8, 1928, the "Independence Examiner" reported that the City Council awarded the contract to J.E. Dunn Construction Company of Kansas City to rehabilitate the fire department by tearing down the old Station No. 1 firehouse and erecting a modern two-story structure in its place. A week later, work began to raze the old structure along with sheds to the rear of the building. Architect Hal Wheelock, who designed several notable Independence buildings (including William Chrisman High School and Young School), drew plans for the new fire station. Fire Station No. 1 was completed several weeks later, and immediately became home to new 750-gallon American La France fire trucks, purchased by the city as part of its fire department rehabilitation efforts. Several decades later, when the fire department determined that the building was no longer able to serve its needs, the building was used as a community theatre. In the 1970s, the City of Independence used the building to house municipal offices. Note: Despite the original 2011 nomination form stating Fire Station No. 1 adjoins the Marshal's Home, a narrow passageway actually separates the two structures.

U.S. National Park Service

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Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, Code: HSTR

39.093238830566406,-94.4156265258789, Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

NPS.gov Collection

5/9/2011 12:00:00 AM

Public Can View

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 3:02:15 AM

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 3:02:15 AM

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Monday, January 1, 0001 12:00:00 AM

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Scenic