The city’s Common Council, the precursor to the City-County Council, passed an ordinance establishing the Indianapolis Fire Department in 1859. Fire stations started organizing throughout the growing city. In 1883, IFD Station #3, a brick two-story structure, was constructed at 1136 Prospect Street. This Victorian-era fire station was then replaced in 1959 with a mid-century modern style fire station, which was built by the architectural firm of Burns & Burns. Many of the 1940s and 1950s-era fire stations you see throughout the city today were designed by Burns & Burns. 

In 2019, the Indianapolis Fire Department upgraded to a larger, contemporary fire house two blocks east at 1308 Prospect Street. Previously to this, the 1300 block of Prospect Street was occupied by single family wood-sided dwellings and empty lots in the 1880s-1890s. The block was the location of a funeral home business – Tolin, then Tolin & Herr, then Tolin-Herr & Singleton, from the 1930s to the 1980s. The 1308 lot was cleared in 2015, and construction of the new station was completed 2018-2019. 

For over 40 years, a large, half-ton bell hung at the top of the tower of the historic engine house. According to the Indianapolis Times newspaper, “…the big bell was used to recall firemen practicing the horses. It was later struck when a fire alarm sounded anywhere in the city.” The bell was cast in Pittsburgh in 1885. In 1925, it was melted into smaller bells to be attached to the fire fighting apparatus.

Photograph of the first fire station at 1136 Prospect Street.
Credit: “Engine Company No. 3, Indianapolis Fire Department,” Indianapolis Fire Station Photographs, Indiana Historical Society, Circa 1904.

Photograph of the second fire station at 1136 Prospect Street.
Credit: “Photo Fire Station 3 with Engines,” Indianapolis Firefighters Museum Collection, Via Digital Indy-Indianapolis Public Library, 1990s.

Firefighters outside of Station No. 3, including Lieutenant Henry Rothermel, Oliver Hayworth, Clarence Hobbs, Walter Kellemeyer, and Matthew Mullally.
Credit: “Group Photo Fire Truck No. 3,” Harold Brown Adkinson Fire Photo Collection, Indiana State Library, Via Digital Indy-Indianapolis Public Library, Circa 1930s,

Article showing how large the old fire station bell was after it was taken out to be converted into smaller bells for the fire apparatus.
Credit: “Bell That Was and Belles To Be,” Indianapolis Times, June 2, 1925,