The design of Fire Station No. 11 by the Ottawa architectural firm Millson, Burgess, and Hazelgrove exemplifies a rare fusion of utilitarian function and civic grandeur, reflecting the Modern Classical style that dominated early 20th-century municipal architecture. Completed in 1924, the two-storey red-brick structure features a four-storey hose-drying tower at its rear, a defining pre-1930 technological innovation. The façade, laid in a robust Flemish bond pattern, is accented with smooth limestone trim that underscores its civic importance. A broad stone band horizontally separates the first and second storeys, while a stone stringcourse runs beneath the second-floor windows, punctuated by stylized stone brackets supporting the cornice. These decorative elements contrast sharply with the plain brick warehouses of Hintonburg, elevating the station’s role as both a public institution and neighborhood landmark. Above the central bay, bold cast-iron lettering (“STATION NO. 11”) declares its identity, a flourish uncommon in firehouses of the era.

A notable innovation is the cylindrical hose-drying tower, rising 50 feet above the roofline. Inside, a central steel column supported wooden racks where leather hoses were hung after use. Strategically placed vents at the tower’s base and crown facilitated cross-ventilation, drying hoses efficiently to prevent rot (a critical feature before synthetic materials became standard). The tower’s peaked roof and stone banding mirror the façade’s decorative motifs, while its verticality made the station instantly recognizable as a civic safeguard. Though such towers were once common in North American firehouses, few survive today, rendering Station No. 11’s preserved tower a rare artifact of pre-1930 firefighting technology.

The ground floor was engineered for speed and adaptability. Two 14-foot-wide equipment bays, framed by steel-reinforced brick arches, accommodated both horse-drawn steam engines and early motorized trucks. Their arched openings allowed rapid exits, while their 25-foot depth provided shelter for maintenance during harsh winters. Flanking the bays, the pedestrian entrance features a recessed vestibule with terrazzo flooring, a subtle nod to the building’s civic stature. The second storey, designed for communal living, includes five large eight-over-eight sash windows that flood the interior with natural light. These windows dominate the symmetrical façade, complementing the dormitories, compact kitchen, and administrative office that once housed firefighters working 24-hour shifts. Fire-resistant materials, such as plaster walls and steel door frames, highlight the architects’ foresight in safety design.

Though the interior is excluded from heritage designation, the exterior’s meticulously crafted details, from the rusticated stone trim to the rhythmic brickwork, reflect a commitment to merging civic duty with architectural beauty. Preserved through its 1996 heritage designation, the station stands as one of only three pre-1930 fire stations remaining in Ottawa, alongside Station No. 5 (1890) and Station No. 10 (1921). The City of Ottawa’s designation report lauds it as “a sophisticated example of adaptive design,” where aesthetics and utility coexisted to serve firefighters and the public alike. Today, its unique blend of Modern Classical elegance and functional ingenuity cements its status as a cornerstone of Hintonburg’s built heritage.

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