Dickinson's Fire Station #1 has been named a historic local landmark.
The building, at 25 Second Ave. W., was the site of Dickinson's first city hall in 1900, its second city hall in 1930, the headquarters of both Dickinson Fire Department and Police Department in 1966 before exclusively becoming Fire Station #1 in 1982.
City Commissioners at their July 2 meeting officially recognized six buildings designated as local landmarks by the Dickinson Historic Preservation Commission.
Fire Station #1 is the seventh building to receive the honor.
The historic preservation commission is tasked with developing and particpating in programs that increase public awareness of the value of historic preservation and historic properties, Robert Fuhrman, Dickinson Museum Center director, explained.
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In 2008, the HPC established its local landmark program, which was proposed to and approved by the city commission in January 2009.
Five properties were nominated and approved: Stark County Courthouse, 51 Third St. E.; Dickinson Post Office, 15 First St. E.; Dickinson Public Library, 139 Third St. W.; The Elks Club building, 103 First Ave. W.; and Dickinson State University, 219 Campus Dr.
A sixth building was added in 2012: Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge and J.P. Moir building, 30 and 36 First Ave. W.
Beyond the HPC designation, no formal recognition for the landmarks was ever sought from the city, Fuhrman said.
Commissioners approved a resolution on July 2 awarding official recognition to the six original landmarks and approving Fire Station #1 as the seventh.
For national recognition, buildings require a minimum age of 50 years, Fuhrman said.
"We have more leeway in the local landmarks," he said. "This one is both architectural and also its tied to local history, as a seat of government."
Several buildings along East Villard Street downtown would qualify for the designation.
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"There are a significant number of those brick blocks that represent that building boom from between about 1900 to 1912, 1914," Fuhrman said.
Commissioner Carson Steiner asked if Dickinson's 1910 railroad depot, owned by BNSF Railway Company, would qualify for the designation.
"One of the things about local landmarks is it does have to have the blessings of the building owner," Fuhrman said. "We certainly have done some research on the depot, and if BNSF were interested, I'm sure the (HPC) would say that's a great property to add."
The HPC requested formal recognition of the landmarks from the city in part to create greater public awareness of the local landmark program, Fuhrman said.
"We feel it's a good venue to bring it to the city commission and have it recognized," he said, "and hopefully it will encourage building owners to approach us with the idea for nominations for other properties."
Fuhrman noted that there are no restrictions placed on improvements to buildings that have the local historic landmark designation.
