Former Engine Company 26 station approved as Cleveland landmark

A Cleveland City Council committee voted to designate the former Cleveland Fire Department Engine Company 26 station house as a Cleveland landmark under Ordinance 1080-2025.

Dan Muslin, secretary of the Landmarks Commission, presented historical context including the station’s construction timeline, architect William Ruggles Waterson and neighborhood industrial growth that prompted the station’s 1898 dedication. The building retains substantial integrity to its 1939 configuration despite alterations such as changed garage doors and filled-in windows. The city still owns the building, which is leased to the Vanguards of Cleveland as a community resource center and public safety museum.

Why it matters: The station is a long-standing visual feature in the neighborhood (Ward 5) and exemplifies late-19th century civic architecture and the city’s public safety history. Landmarks staff cited archival sources from the Western Reserve Fire Museum and referenced the building’s role in local heritage.

Details and next steps The presentation noted changes over time — removal/lowering of the bell tower in 1939, interior features such as wainscoting and original finishes, and reuse as a museum and community space. Landmarks staff said they had the consent of the fire chief/director to move forward with designation. The committee approved the ordinance.

Ending note Staff said the property maintains historical integrity and that the new Fire Station 26 has opened in a different location; designation will formalize preservation expectations for the former station house.