House of the Rising Sun

 February 2026.

← Engine House No. 4 [demolished] & Station 4 | Engine House No. 5 & Station 5 | Engine House No. 6 & Station 6 →

Engine House No. 5 is perhaps the most architecturally distinguished historic fire station in Columbus still standing today. Though it is not the oldest of these buildings, it has a unique design, versus the similar expression that several others shared. It has been altered over time but has remained in constant use.

Engine House No. 5 is located at 121 Thurman Avenue in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. It is bordered by Thurman Avenue and a Columbus rowhouse to the north, houses to the south, 4th Street to the east, and more houses to the west.

History

As Columbus grew in the late 19th century, the city built several new fire stations to accommodate the larger population. Previously, the fire department used hose reels, a primitive type of fire engine that was simply a cart with a spool that held a fire hose. In neighborhoods further from the center of Columbus such as German Village, water pressure was poor, so the fire department began the use of steam-powered pumping engines to compensate. However, the existing fire stations were built for the smaller hose reels, meaning they could not fit the larger pumping engines. This meant that several new stations needed to be built across the city.

Historic photo of the station shortly after completion. (Wikimedia)

Engine House No. 5 was completed in 1894. A Richardsonian Romanesque building, it was designed by architect John Flynn at a cost of $15,000. It originally had eight men, four horses, a fire engine, and a wagon. The fire station also held Police Substation No. 5 for a time, possibly the source of the extra garage doors in the rear.

Like many historic Columbus fire stations, Engine House No. 5 has been modified over time. These changes included the removal of the tower’s cupola and roof, as well as the decorative gables on the roof. 

The current Station 5. (Wikimedia)

Engine House No. 5 was decommissioned in 1968, as these Gilded Age fire stations were becoming too small for modern fire engines. Its numbered replacement, Station 5, opened in 1972 and is located on the far east side of Columbus at 211 McNaughten Road. Station 5 is nicknamed “House of the Rising Sun” due to its eastern placement, hence the name of this article. Engine House No. 5’s direct replacement was probably Station 3 on Greenlawn Avenue just across the Scioto. In 1974, the former Engine House No. 5 was converted to a seafood restaurant that operated under that name. Servers would famously slide down the fire pole with birthday cakes for patrons.

The fire station as a restaurant. (German Village Society)

Engine House No. 5 (the restaurant) closed in 1993, and in 2004, the interior was once again modified for office use. Since then, it has held the Big Red Rooster’s offices, an advertising company.

Photos

A good oblique view of the station today:

The overall design is symmetrical, with two garage doors and a balanced facade, though the hose tower and stable addition add touches of asymmetry. The removal of original features that added vertical emphasis, such as the dormers and tower roof, now result in a more horizontal-appearing building.

Thurman Avenue facade:

Lots of dark stone here, which creates a pleasant contrast with the brick in both color, size, and placement. The massive, randomly set stone is more medieval and castle-like than the smaller, regularly placed bricks. The masonry construction also gives a sense of solidity.

The two original doorways:

The doors and driveway have been removed, but the windows do a fair job at appearing similar to doors. Their vaulted shape is also rather unusual.

The voussoirs vary in shade and thickness:

Interestingly, there is also a window between the two arches, which is at pretty much ground level. The opening seems to be original, but its intended purpose is unclear.

Second floor:

The more intricate bits have been lopped off by angry Modernists in the 60s, so all that remains is simpler stone decoration. In particular, the roughly hewn stone columns that support the vaulted windows and the circular pinnacles give the fire station an air of primeval roughness.

Engraved panel with the station’s number:

Looking up at the pinnacles:

I like this little arcade of vaulted windows, and the double columns in the middle is interesting:

The cornerstone names John Flynn as the architect, but lacks other identifying information such as a date or fire department members:

A good shot of the entire east facade from across 4th:

The northern edge of the east facade is simpler, with rectangular windows and prominent string courses:

These towers always look so lonely without their missing cupolas.

Straight-on view of the tower:

It has a thick, rusticated stone base that flares outward (it is battered in architecture jargon), giving an impression of solidity. The tower’s windows are mere slits, since this was a tower used for drying hoses. At the top, the stumps that once were pedestals to columns and pilasters give it a more medieval appearance.

The battered stone base:

The stone’s rough cut (rustication), shade, and exaggeratedly large lintels above the windows are all common features to Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.

 

The windows are also super deeply punched.

Always love messing with a super close angle to make towers look like diving boards.

Although no sources seem to mention it, I think that this area with the three window openings is an addition to the station that extended the stables further towards the street:

You can see some remnants of the former stables function via the pulley to get hay up to the hay loft, where it was stored before feeding it to the horses.

The windows above have a large stone lintel supported by squat columns with disproportionately large capitals. Again, pretty common Richardsonian move to emphasize the building’s solid appearance.

The lamps here are modern recreations of historic ones that are super common in German Village:

The south facade:

The smaller one-story portion was originally the stables for the horses that pulled the fire engines. After the stations gradually motorized, the space was converted to other uses, such as a kitchen and rec room for Engine House No. 6.

I thought the odd roofline here was interesting:

The second-floor entrance is also weirdly placed. I don’t think it’s original, either.

Engine House No. 5 is definitely one of the better-looking fire stations still standing, and it has been restored pretty nicely. Granted, that could be because of its location.

Sources:

Columbus Neighborhoods by Tom Betti

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988402

https://columbusunderground.com/work-big-red-rooster-fills-engine-house-no-5/

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2012/05/31/fire-hazard-1979/24019286007/

https://www.wosu.org/news/2021-03-15/curious-cbus-how-did-columbus-fire-stations-get-their-nicknames

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_stations_in_Columbus,_Ohio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_House_No._5_(Columbus,_Ohio)