Argyle Street Hook & Ladder

Argyle Street Hook and Ladder House (1856–1864)

The Argyle Street Engine House, sometimes associated with the Hook and Ladder Company, was one of Halifax’s key fire stations for over a decade. It was built in 1856 to replace the Government House Lane engine house, which had become "almost useless to the City."

Establishment and Early Years (1856–1864)

• On November 16, 1855, City Council considered three locations for a new firehouse:

  • Sackville Street

  • Hollis Street

  • Argyle Street

• The Argyle Street site was selected, and the city leased the land from Nicholas Knight for £15 per year.

• The engine house was 16 feet wide and 30 feet deep, becoming the fourth firehouse built on Argyle Street. The other three were:

  1. The first Argyle Street firehouse, later replaced by the Grand Parade Engine House.

  2. The St. Paul’s Church Grounds engine house, which faced Argyle Street.

  3. The Grand Parade Engine House, which operated from 1837 to 1871​.

Construction and Operations

• In January 1856, City Council approved plans and called for tenders.

• On March 7, 1856, Nelson Marvin's tender was accepted, but he withdrew, and the contract went to James R. Graham, who completed the building by June 1856 for £92.17 (around CAD $9,640)​.

• The Etna hand-pumped engine was stationed here.

• The Hook and Ladder Company, formed in the late 1850s, also used this station, though it initially operated independently from the city’s fire service​.

Hook and Ladder Company (1850s–1866)

• The Hook & Ladder Company was established in the late 1850s with 12 men.

• Unlike the Union Engine Company and Axe Fire Company, it was not directly controlled by the city.

• By 1860, it was seeking a dedicated building.

• By 1866, the Union Engine Company, Axe Fire Company, and Hook & Ladder Company were officially recognized by the city. The Hook & Ladder firefighters were paid $1 per fire if their ladders were used​.

Later Years and Closure (1864–1864)

• The Argyle Street Engine House remained in use for over a century.

• Over time, it housed different fire companies, including those specializing in ladder operations.

• The station was closed in 1864 as part of a modernization effort.

The Argyle Street Hook and Ladder House played a key role in Halifax's firefighting history, providing a base for hand-pumped engines and the hook and ladder crews.