Lee's Summit Old Firehouse and City Hall

Built in 1909, this historic brick building served both as the Lee's Summit Firehouse and City Hall until the 1960s when City Hall moved to the former post office which is now home to a museum. After the building's completion, the mayor's staff occupied the second floor while the fire department used the first story. The retail entrance and windows at 13 SW 3rd Street are the location where early-model firetrucks once entered and exited the building. Though alterations have been made to the building which has been home to many retailers, the "1909" at the top of the front exterior and its overall look serve as a reminder of its original purpose.

For much of the 20th century, this building was home to the fire department and City Hall with the mayor's offices on the second floor. Several notable fires destroyed buildings in downtown Lee's Summit during the late nineteenth century, making the fire department a valued service for Lee's Summit. The fire station's brick exterior speaks to the transition from wood structures to brick by the early twentieth century, which also helped mitigate issues with large blazes. 

In the years leading up to the completion of this building, the city leased space on the second floor of the Harbaugh Building at 235-239 SE Main Street, which was constructed in 1890. The lower floor held a hardware store. The completion of this building proved a space for both the mayor and the fire department. City Hall also occupied another Lee's Summit historical building during the 1960s, when it moved into the Old Post Office, which is now the Lee's Summit History Museum. 

The historic firehouse has functioned as the home to numerous commercial enterprises since its early days as a government facility. As such, alterations to the building have changed its appearance. The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Lee's Summit Downtown Historic District) noted that "the asymmetrical primary facade has two bays. The shaped parapet's stone coping, the dentiled cornice below the parapet, and limestone quoins distinguish the second story of the primary facade. Limestone windowsills and lintels accent the window openings. The paired window openings above the primary entrance contain brick infill. The primary entrance opening is intact; however, the central door with sidelights is no longer extant. The window units in the second story are non-historic. All other openings and features remain intact." 

Today, what used to be the wide door that served fire trucks now exists as a typical storefront door and window at 13 SW 3rd Street, which as of 2021, is home to a photography business. It sits adjacent to another retail entrance (a salon). But, the large "1909" adorning the building's exterior near the top of the structure exists as a reminder of its lengthy history. 

"May is Historic Preservation Month." Downtown Lee's Summit (Facebook). May 5, 2014. https://www.facebook.com/downtownls/photos/br.Abq1vot1RuRaIn-czFbdWvCpO_wStFe5OWyOiU44uya2z7ZalU6sDQyjUYuKrHf73jyqpukIZCovs00W6daYCSYU_bfowuul-6ShtQ5SeB2Elt1in02eBTtsEEWtpmQZtSI/10152070592872078/?type=1. 

"Places in Jackson County." Jackson Co. (MO) Historical Society (Twitter: @JCHSMissouri). November 2, 2021. https://twitter.com/JCHSMissouri/status/1455640114466590731

"THIS is Lee's Summit Old Fire Station." City of Lee's Summit (YouTube). August 22, 2018. https://youtu.be/lqQuOk8APag. 

"Lee's Summit Missouri: The Official 2021 Lee's Summit Relocation Guide." Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce. 2021. https://issuu.com/lschamber/docs/2021_ls_relocation_guide/52.

Schwenk, Sally F. "Nomination Form: Lee's Summit Downtown Historical District, Entry 19: 11-13 SW 3rd Street." National Register of Historic Places. mostateparks.com. 2005. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Lee%27s%20Summit%20Downtown%20HD.pdf.

--- --- ---. "Multiple Property Documentation Form: "Historic Resources of Lee's Summit, Missouri." National Register of Historic Places. nps.gov. 2005. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/538072d0-08db-4ed1-9247-a112a7e55037.