Circa 1900
Formerly known as West Needham, Grantville and Lower Falls, the Town of Wellesley was incorporated from these three villages as a town on April 6, 1881. The permanent fire department was established shortly thereafter. The earliest station still in existence was a barn in the Lower Falls area. The barn currently located at Bow Street was replaced in the 1880's by a brick two bay station on Walnut Street. Located there originally to protect the several woolen mills located along the Charles River, this Station was the home of Engine 3 and the department mechanic.
Station 2 was built in 1889 on Worcester Street in Wellesley Hills and was used simultaneously as Fire Headquarters, Police Department, Board of Health and Highway Department. The highway department horses were stabled in the rear of the building and were used to pull the fire apparatus. This building was razed in 1987 and replaced with the current station that houses Department administration offices, Engine 2, Engine 3, Tower 2 and a well equipped mechanics shop that can handle most vehicle repairs.
Engine 1 in Wellesley Square was housed in a wooden structure on Church Street until 1929 when it was replaced by a stone building at Weston Road and Central Street. The Station was built at this location because of the close proximity to Wellesley College. This Station is the home of Engine 1 and up until the early 1980's Ladder 1. Ladder 1 was removed from active service at that that time because of budget cut backs.
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