Old Engine Company No. 10

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Erected in 1894, Old Engine Company No. 10 served the Stanton Park neighborhood, or the northern portion of Capitol Hill and the emerging suburban subdivisions of Trinidad and Ivy City. At that time, the area was sparsely developed with some modest homes. The construction of a firehouse at that time indicates the anticipation of future development; by 1903, the neighborhood had grown into a middle-class neighborhood, with more than half of its lots built upon with sizeable row homes.

Old Engine Company No. 10 was designed by architect Leon Dessez (1858-1919), who was responsible for the design of eight of the city's firehouses—the largest number of firehouse commissions awarded to any one architect in the city. The two-story, red brick firehouse is a relatively ornate Queen Anne style of architecture, characterized by intricate brick and terra cotta work. The building is divided into two bays, defined by large apparatus doors on the first story and large arched window openings on the second story.

Old Engine Company No. 10 served its immediate and larger community for more than forty years when a major restructuring of the DC Fire Department occurred, merging the company with Truck Company No. 13. Subsequently, the firehouse was vacated. Old Engine Company No. 10 was used for a time as a community center with small offices. Today, the firehouse is an apartment building.

DC Inventory: January 24, 2008
National Register: November 19, 2008