Fire Station No. 1 (Roanoke, Virginia)

With a purely volunteer force in place within the city beginning in 1882, the first paid firefighters were hired in 1906, and ground was officially broken for No. 1 on February 19, 1906. Completed by 1907, the station exhibits the Georgian Revival style of an Edwardian-era firehouse. By 2003, the aging facility received a facelift to repair and restore the original limestone mortar on the facade. Additionally, the former bell tower was completely restored and the station was completely operational again by December. Although officials stated that No. 1 would retain its status as a fully staffed fire station even with the completion of a replacement facility, the station stopped running fire and EMS calls on May 9, 2007. Today the facility houses a local furniture showroom, restaurant, and boutique hotel. ==References==