Engine Company 42 (Former)

Address: 228 W. Illinois St. Year Built: 1887 Architect: Unknown Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: December 12, 2007

This distinctive former firehouse, located on the Near North Side of Chicago, was constructed in 1887 to house Engine Company 42 of the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Built during a period of rapid expansion of the CFD, the firehouse reflects the growing city's commitment to the health and safety of its citizens. The three-story, single-bay firehouse is distinguished by an exceptionally intact "storefront," ornamented with elaborate wood trim, incised metal columns, and rusticated stone base. Historically, the size and design of a firehouse was shaped by the equipment it housed. This building represents the tradition of Chicago's earliest firehouses: simple, functional structures built to accommodate horse-drawn equipment. Through its history, this firehouse, together with twelve other Historic Chicago Firehouses (designated as Chicago Landmarks in 2003), conveys the evolving ideas about fire protection in Chicago over time.