| Engine House No. 11 | |
| Location: | 2737 Gratiot Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates: | 42.3544°N -83.0314°W |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Marker: | building |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 13 |
| Mapframe-Caption: | Interactive map |
| Built: | 1883 |
| Architect: | William Scott & Company |
| Builder: | Gascione & Sons |
| Architecture: | Queen Anne |
| Added: | January 9, 1978 |
| Refnum: | 78001519 |
| Designated Other1: | Michigan State Historic Site |
| Designated Other1 Date: | May 14, 1975[1] |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
The Engine House No. 11 is a fire station located at 2737 Gratiot Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is the oldest remaining firehouse in the city of Detroit;[2] it was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975[1] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
According to the September 9, 1883, edition of the Detroit Free Press, William Scott & Company was the architect of the building. Detroit's Engine Company No. 11 was organized as the "Steam Fire Engine Company #11" on January 1, 1884. The original equipment included a horse-drawn Silsby Steam engine and hose reel cart.[2] The company converted to motorized operation in 1916, obtaining a Seagrave gasoline propelled pumping engine.[2]
The firehouse tower on the southeast side of the building was shortened during World War II so an air raid siren could be installed.[2] In 1972, Engine Company No. 11 moved to new quarters. The building was used by the Emergency Medical Unit until 1976, and then as a Detroit Fire Department museum, containing several pieces of historic fire fighting equipment.[2]
Engine House No. 11 is a -story brick building with a hipped roof. The front facade contains a wide center section flanked by two small bays. The first story of the center section contains four wide doors, the second story has two large windows. A dormer atop the center section contains the attic story. A hose-drying tower is centered on the east side of the building. This tower had an air raid siren installed during World War II, which reduced its height somewhat.[3]
On the interior, the first floor contains the apparatus room, kitchen, dining area and a lounge. The walls are wainscoted, and the ceiling is plastered. The second floor contains a dormitory style sleeping quarters, showers, locker room, and two private sleeping rooms for the Captain and Lieutenant. At the rear of the dormitory, but on a slightly lower level, is a room that was originally the hay loft, but has been turned into a recreation room.[3]