Ballard’s Fire Station No. 18

June 4th, 2009 @ 12:09 am by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |

Ballard’s Fire Station No. 18 had been in continuous use for 63 years before being retired by the city in 1976. The 1911 Germanic Revival brick structure was designed by famed Seattle architects Bebb & Mendel. This incredible space now houses one of my favorite restaurants in the city, The Hi-Life. Check it out for the food and the history. While you’re in the neighborhood, you can cross the street to admire the Carnegie Free Library. Click on the photos for higher resolution.

Fire Station No. 18, front.

Building edge and overhanging eaves.

What remains of the original bell tower. The building is now used as a restaurant and office space.

Closer view, showing restaraunt seating.

Illuminated sign.

The station originally used horse-drawn engines.

6 Responses to “Ballard’s Fire Station No. 18”

1. Bryan says:

   June 4, 2009 at 8:31 am

   Great pictures of the building and love the adaptive re-use of the building. Hopefully we can get a similar re-use of the Art Deco style firehouse at 23rd Ave and Yesler Way when the fire station moves to it’s new building!
2. Shannon says:

   June 4, 2009 at 8:32 am

   This was the Ballard Firehouse, a club, for a long time, too. Before it became the Hi-Life. It is a great building.
3. Matt the Journeyman says:

   June 4, 2009 at 9:34 am

   I remember boogieing to Duffy Bishop at the “Ballard Firehouse”. But it’s an even better restaurant, as Jess says. Great breakfasts!
4. D T Nelson says:

   June 4, 2009 at 10:20 am

   I believe the tower is not a bell tower, but a hose-drying tower. They hang the fire hoses in there to dry out after use. Just about all fire houses have one.

   http://www.seattle.gov/fire/firestations/stations.htm
5. Scott Schrantz says:

   June 4, 2009 at 2:30 pm

   What a great old building! And I’m guessing there aren’t any old pictures of it when it was still a firehouse, or else they would have been here too.

   It makes you wonder what they tore down to do that new construction in the back.
6. Acee says:

   June 4, 2009 at 3:48 pm

   Scott – the “new construction” in the photos is where Wilson Ford was, at least most recently. It was mostly parking lot, and a service garage. I’ve only lived here since 1987, so I don’t know what was there before, but the dealership was nothing special to look at.