Goldsboro Former and Historic Firehouses

Last updated May 6, 2025

Photos from 2006 See more photos.

Revision history: Added entry for the original Station 4 (May 2025).

Introduction

The history of the Goldsboro Fire Department dates to the late 19th Century, when Goldsboro Fire Company No. 1 was organized in May 1881. Also active at that time was the Eclipse Fire Engine Company, which was organized several years earlier. Mary Alice, a third-class Silsby steam engine, was the primary piece of firefighting apparatus until the arrival of hose wagons after the installation of a municipal water system in 1890.

By the turn of the century, the Goldsboro Fire Department had 50 volunteers, a paid engineer, and three paid drivers. Apparatus included the steamer, a hook and ladder truck, two hose wagons, and two hand reels. Another chemical wagon, hose wagon, and hose reel were in reserve. Goldsboro's first motorized fire engine was delivered in 1913 and subsequent motor trucks were soon added in 1919 and 1923. The first full-time Fire Chief was hired in 1929, and the department was fully-paid by the 1930s

Market House on Ash Street (c1880 to 1894?)

Around 1880, a market house was erected on Ash Street just east of Center Street. The first floor of the two-story structure was utilized as an engine house. A separate 50-foot combination bell and hose tower was located just east of the structure. The market house was demolished before the end of the century.

Central Fire Station on John Street (1894 to 1939)

The original Central Fire Station was located in the 100 block of North John Street. Erected by 1896, it first served as a hose house addressed 804 North John Street. The two-story structure was doubled in size by 1901. A bell tower was added behind the building by 1908, and a replacement steel bell tower was added by 1913. After the fire station was relocated to Ash Street in 1939, the John Street building was sold. The city conducted an auction of the property on May 9, 1939. [GNA, 4/6/39] By 1950, the old station served as an auto parts store. It was subsequently demolished.

Walnut Street Fire Station (1890s)

By 1896, the fire department also occupied a building at 715 Walnut Street, today addressed 202 E. Walnut Street. The two-story row building was built by 1891. Within five years, the facility had closed and all fire companies were housed on nearby North John Street. The Walnut Street building served a variety of purposes in the early twentieth century, including as a combination grocery store and beer bottling plant (by 1901), a sewing machine store (by 1908), and a furniture repair store (by 1911). In 2006, the 2,520 square-foot structure served as office space for a county agency.

Eclipse Fire Company on Ash Street (1900s)

By 1901, the Eclipse Fire Company occupied part of a one-story row building at 129-130 Ash Street.

Electric Hose Reel Company on Slocumb Street (1900s to 19??)

East of the city's center, the community of Webtown was protected by the Electric Hose Reel Company. The fire company operated out of a hose house at 705 Slocomb Street by 1908. It closed by 1918 and the structure was demolished by 1924.

Station 1 on Ash Street (1939 to 1976)

On April 5, 1939, a new Goldsboro Fire Department headquarters opened at 109 East Ash Street. The $50,000 facility was built as a WPA project and included a five-story training and bell tower in the rear. With 12,063 square-feet, the Art Deco-designed station was nearly four times the size of the central fire station on North John Street.

Purchase of the $8,000 lot was authorized by city officials on August 15, 1938. Construction started in October 1938. The initial construction cost was reported as $38,543. The construction contract was awarded to Ervin-West Construction of Statesville. The building was turned off to the city on March 29, 1938. [GNA, 3/30/39] A housewarming was planned on April 7 with a "fireman's barbecue." [GNA, 3/30/39]

Apparatus used during its decades of operation included American LaFrance, Mack, and Seagrave pumpers, a Mack service truck, and an American LaFrance aerial ladder. The Goldsboro Rescue Squad also operated from the station. Formed in 1954, the volunteer organization assumed operation of a rescue unit that was placed in service one year earlier.

In 1976, the facility was closed when the department relocated to a joint fire and police municipal complex at 204 South Center Street. On June 20, 1977, city officials approved the sale of the property to Central Service Motor Company for $41,500. [GNA, 6/21/77]

The structure subsequently served a variety of functions including as an auto shop, a retail shop, and a residence. Empty in recent years, the building was condemned in 2005 and slated for demolition in early 2006. After a successful petition drive and a last-minute sale, the historic structure was spared. As of 2006, the new owners plan to restore the building.

Station 2 on Vine Street (1915? to 192?)

Goldsboro's first Station 2 opened north of the city center at 209 E. Vine Street. Construction bids appeared in December 1914 newspapers. Likely constructed in 1915, the 2,442 square-foot fire station had both a two-story and one-story section. By 1918, the two-story station first housed a horse-drawn hose wagon equipped with 700 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose. That year, the fire department had nine paid men and 20 volunteers. One person was on duty at Station 2 at all times.

The property was apparently not owned by the city until 1924, when they acquired the deed to the site.

By 1928, Station 2 on Vine Street had closed and all fire companies were housed at Central Fire Station on North John Street. In 1930, with the delivery of new fire apparatus, the old engine house was used for housing reserve apparatus.

By 1943, the old engine house was serving as a National Guard armory. On April 22, 1954, the city sold the building to S. D. Wooten for $9,850. Proceeds would be used for construction of the new east Goldsboro fire station or other city projects.

Since the 1950s, the building has been used as an auto repair establishment.

Station 2 on Beech Street (1956 to 2000)

Rapid growth in the 1950s saw the opening of a new Station 2 at 1615 East Beech Street on August 27, 1956. [GNA, 7/4/76] Located on the rapidly developing eastern side of the city, the 3,795 square-foot fire station was staffed by Company 4 from the Ash Street station. The Goldsboro Rescue Squad was also planning to assign a truck to the new station.

Construction started in September 1955. The contractor was W. P. Lowrimore. The station answered its first call on September 7, 1956, for a small fire in a garage and workshop at 704 E. Holly Street.

The $45,000 facility opened with two shifts of four men operating a 500 GPM pumper and a rescue unit. A 1000 GPM reserve pumper of pre-war vintage was also housed at the new station. Though the city provided basic furnishings such as beds, linens, and kitchen equipment, a radio and television set were provided by the firefighters with money raised at various events.

In 2000, Station 2 was relocated to 1900 Royall Avenue. In 2006, the building was used as a Goldsboro-Wayne Transit Authority facility.

Station 4 on Poplar Street (1982)

The original Station 4 at 1300 Poplar Street was a single-story, single-bay station facing Poplar Street that opened on December 13, 1982. The station cost about $100,000. The general contractor was John Armstrong. The architect was Billy Griffin.

In 2010, the station was expanded with a connected second building housing two apparatus bays and facing Harris Street. The addition was dedicated in September 2010. The original dormitory section of the section was later demolished and replaced with a new structure was under construction by March 2019. During that project, fire station personnel were moved into a modular building on the site.

Goldsboro News-Argus, December 13, 1982.

The Fire Bell

By March 1898, the first electric-telegraph fire alarm system was installed in Goldsboro. The Gamewell system was connected to a bell in a tower behind the Mayor's office on East Walnut Street. When activated, the bell tapped the numbers of the reporting fire box. After a major fire destroyed the original bell in 1908, it's replacement was delivered in 1909. Cast by the McNeely Bell Company of Troy, NY, the 2,000-pound gong was hung in a tower at the rear of Central Fire Station at 127 North John Street.

When Central Fire Station relocated to Ash Street in 1939, the bell was also moved to the new engine house. It continued to ring until 1952, when its worn mechanisms could no longer be replaced. After Central Fire Station relocated to South Center Street in 1976, the bell was removed on February 18, 1977. It was placed in storage and later installed in an outdoor display in October 1977.