This firehouse was built in 1869 as part of the Fire Department of the Town of Dorchester. The Dorchester fire company assigned here was Torrent Engine No. 3. In the photo at bottom left, the original firehouse on this site was located at the rear of the 1869 brick firehouse.
The firehouse is located at 30 Harvard Street, at the corner of Chamberlain Street, in the Four Corners section of Dorchester.
View a city report on the construction of the firehouse in 1869 by the Town of Dorchester: City Report
Upon annexation, Engine Company 18 of the Boston Fire Department was organized here on January 3, 1870. Earlier, on June 2, 1868, all fire companies were authorized to have a Name and Number, a practice that been used in years past. Thus Engine 18 became Torrent Engine No. 18. The name and number concept stayed in effect until 1873, when Torrent Engine 18 reverted back to Engine 18.
Engine 18 stayed here until June 11, 1960 when the company moved to 1884 Dorchester Avenue, Peabody Square, Dorchester, and the firehouse at 30 Harvard Street was closed.
The building was sold for use as a pre-school and day care center. Prior to 2011, the pre-school and day care center moved out. In 2011, the building was up For Sale.
In 2012, the building was sold to private parties. See the on-line story from the Dorchester Reporter: Newspaper Story
In 2013, the new owners were rehabilitating the entire building, inside and outside. See photos from Inside and Outside the old firehouse.
