The fascinating story of Calgary's historic 120-year-old Firehall No. 6
Once an active fire station, the historic Firehall No. 6 in Calgary now stands as a restored landmark overlooking the Bow River.
The two-storey building dates back to 1906, when it was built using locally made bricks from the Brickburn Plant. Some of the bricks were stamped with early company markings like “E.H.C” for Edward Henry Crandell, who bought the Brickburn Plant and surrounding area in 1905.
Remains of the Brickburn Plant still exist today and can be found in Edworthy Park. Some of the bricks used for Firehall No. 6 were also stamped with “CALGARY,” for the Calgary Pressed Brick and Sandstone Company, which Crandell incorporated around 1906.
City of Calgary
The fire station was active until 1967, and while it’s been decommissioned for decades, some say it’s still alive, just with ghosts.
Locals have reported hearing distant bells ringing, horses whinnying, the clatter of hooves and other unexplained sounds that seem to come straight from the station’s early days when horses powered the city’s firefighting crews.
In 2002, the building underwent a $1.4 million restoration, which helped preserve the brick exterior and make it more energy efficient.
Today, while there is an active Firehall No. 6, the historic fire station sits at 1111 Memorial Dr. NW and is surrounded by Poppy Plaza, an 86,100 sq. ft. war memorial park. The setting gives the historic building a quiet, reflective backdrop, just a short walk from the Bow River.
Firehall No. 6 isn’t the only historic fire station in Calgary with a spooky reputation. The city’s historic Firehall No. 3, which is now a pub, is said to be haunted by a mischievous monkey.