03 Apr photographic survey of orson burlingame’s 1895 abandoned fire station in racine, wisc.

exterior photographic survey of the richardsonian romanesque style fire station number one (1895), located at 1412 racine street, racine, wisc.

the cream city brick and rusticated stone building with three-story tower was designed by architect orson burlingame and built by nichola reichert.

the junction engine house no. 1 at 1412 racine street served as a fire station until 1968. approved for construction in 1894 at a cost of $4,000, it was later purchased by roger olshanski in 1980 before being sold to s.c. johnson. known for its distinctive medieval romanesque revival architecture featuring battlemented parapets and a robust tower, the building resembles a castle and is considered one of racine’s most architecturally unique structures. it was designated a racine landmark on july 21, 1981. (source: robert d. long for the city of racine landmarks commission, “racine’s historic firehouses,” 1982).

photographic images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bld. 51 archive. all rights reserved, 2026.