Ishpeming Police Department

 Ishpeming Fire Hall 

History of Ishpeming Fire Department

The Ishpeming Fire Department (IFD) was first established in 1870. The downtown fire hall was first located on First Street behind Congress Bar and Pizza, and was then moved to its current location on Lake Street. The new and current station was originally built in 1912 and was equipped with a state-of-the-art Gamewell alarm system. There were alarm boxes on poles throughout the city so when the alarm was signaled at one of the boxes the siren automatically signaled at the station, the lights went on, and the stable doors opened. The horses were trained to back themselves under harnesses suspended from the ceiling and to leave when the doors opened. The fireman had signal bells at in their homes, which would ring when the alarm was sounded. The number of chimes that they heard would be the numbered box and, by referring to a list, the firemen would know the general location of the fire.

The bell tower is a landmark of downtown Ishpeming. In the late 1990's the upper portion of the tower was removed due to structural concerns. The bell that was kept in the tower was removed and put in storage until 1982 when it was refurbished and put on display at the side of the fire hall on the ground. The bell was manufactured by McShane Bell Foundry of New Jersey in 1870. The bell is cracked, much like the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. At the end of World War II, children were permitted into the tower to strike the bell with sledge hammers to celebrate the war's end. The IFD submitted a grant to make the Hall a historic structure. A grant was permitted to rebuild the upper section of the tower and reinstall the bell in the tower. The tower is still used today to hang and dry soaked hoses. Many fire departments use the more modern blow driers to dry out hoses, but IFD preserves their hoses, some are over 50 years old.

100 South Lake Street Ishpeming, Michigan 49849

Non-emergency phone number: (906) 486-4426   Emergency: 911

(Police department and Fire hall same building)

Ishpeming Police Department Webpage

Ishpeming Fire Department Webpage