The Gerrish (Maynard) Street Engine House (1872–1896)
The Gerrish Street Engine House, later more commonly known as the Maynard Street Engine House, was established in 1872 in direct response to two critical needs: the housing of the newly acquired steam fire engine "Albert" (designated Steam Fire Engine № 2, or SFE #2) and the provision of a dedicated facility for its operating crew. Located on Maynard Street, facing Gerrish Street, the engine house was constructed on a site that also accommodated a North End police station, reflecting its role as a key public safety facility for the area.
The engine house was purpose-built for Halifax's expanding firefighting capabilities in the era of mechanized fire suppression, particularly steam-powered equipment. It operated under the banner of the Union Engine Company (U.E.C.),
The station was officially ready for occupation by May 23, 1873, and just days prior, on May 11, it is believed to have participated in the response to a significant fire at the International Hotel. That fire overwhelmed the building’s interior through concealed wall and floor spaces before firemen could bring it under control. Though the Maynard station was not yet formally opened, its apparatus and crews may have been mobilized for this early incident, demonstrating the immediate need for its capabilities.
Throughout its 24 years of service, the Maynard Street Engine House responded to multiple fires in the North End and contributed to Halifax’s evolving fire protection strategy during a period of significant urban and industrial growth. Its use of steam-powered technology marked a shift from hand-drawn, manual apparatus to mechanized firefighting.
The station remained in operation until 1896, when it was decommissioned following the opening of the West Street Engine House. In January 1897, city authorities confirmed that the Maynard station would be vacated and the property sold, with proceeds contributing to the final completion of the West Street facility. The personnel and equipment from Maynard Street were officially transferred to the new location.
While no fatal casualties of firefighters are explicitly recorded at this station, its members were active during a dangerous era, including during the Stairs, Son & Morrow fire in 1893, where a firefighter was nearly killed and another was severely injured. Whether the Maynard Street house directly responded to that specific fire remains uncertain.