Thiensville Village Hall & Fire Department
Photo by Harold Dobberpuhl |
Engraved in the stone work
above the two front windows of this rather strange
looking structure in downtown Thiensville are the words
"Thiensville Village Hall & F.D.". The
building was constructed in 1914 to house the horse and
hand drawn equipment of the Fire Engine Company that had
been organized in 1857. The Village of Thiensville was
incorporated in 1910 after John Henry Thien purchased
land and founded Thiensville in 1842. Thien became the
first Captain of the Engine Co. He was also the owner of
the grist mill, store and sawmill that stood about a
block to the east of this building. The tower at the
front of the building was called a hose tower. The great
height of the tower permitted the hanging of a 100 foot
section of fire hose to dry after being used at a fire
scene.
After motorized fire equipment was acquired, only two vehicles could be stored in this building, so the fire department moved to larger quarters in 1958. The village offices were housed on the second floor of the building until that space was also outgrown and caused a move to a Municipal Center on Elm Street in 1974. The Municipal Center then also became the home of the fire department. The fire station part of the Center again became too small, and so several years ago, an addition half the size of the original new firehouse was built. |
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