APPRECI8 (Appreciate)
Collection: Houston Fire Department (HFD)
2011
Stainless steel firepole, concrete, water, acrylic, drywall
Location:
Houston Fire Department, Fire Station 8, Kirk Baxter, APPRECI8 (Appreciate), 2011
1919 Louisiana St.
Houston, TX 77002
About the Artwork:
APPRECI8 (2011)
by Kirk Baxter
Within the entrance vestibule to Fire Station 8 in downtown Houston is a 40-foot-high, stainless steel fire pole. The fireman’s pole has history that goes back to 1870s Chicago when fire stations had spiral staircases or sliding chutes; in multi-level fire stations, the first floor had all the firefighting equipment while the upper floors were for sleeping, recreation, and storage. Specifically, the all-Black Engine Company No. 21 was often seen to be the first company to respond to calls; the chief of Chicago’s fire department learned that their station had installed a wooden pole in 1878 that allowed fire fighters to get to the first floor faster, inspiring the practice to be expanded to all Chicago fire stations. This firepole extends from the first floor of the building to the ceiling of the vestibule, which features an image, provided by the Hubble Telescope, taken during the month of Fire Station 8's dedication in 2006. Fire Station 8 has history dating back to 1895, located on Polk and Crawford before being combined with Station 1 in 2001. Also, the firepole was originally set into a well of water, but the well was covered in 2024 due to environmental hazards.
APPRECI8 (2011)
por Kirk Baxter
APPRECI8 (2011)
by Kirk Baxter
Within the entrance vestibule to Fire Station 8 in downtown Houston is a 40-foot-high, stainless steel fire pole. The fireman’s pole has history that goes back to 1870s Chicago when fire stations had spiral staircases or sliding chutes; in multi-level fire stations, the first floor had all the firefighting equipment while the upper floors were for sleeping, recreation, and storage. Specifically, the all-Black Engine Company No. 21 was often seen to be the first company to respond to calls; the chief of Chicago’s fire department learned that their station had installed a wooden pole in 1878 that allowed fire fighters to get to the first floor faster, inspiring the practice to be expanded to all Chicago fire stations. This firepole extends from the first floor of the building to the ceiling of the vestibule, which features an image, provided by the Hubble Telescope, taken during the month of Fire Station 8's dedication in 2006. Fire Station 8 has history dating back to 1895, located on Polk and Crawford before being combined with Station 1 in 2001. Also, the firepole was originally set into a well of water, but the well was covered in 2024 due to environmental hazards.
APPRECI8 (2011)
por Kirk Baxter
En el vestíbulo de entrada de la Estación de Bomberos 8 en el centro de Houston se encuentra un poste de bomberos de acero inoxidable de 12 metros de altura. La historia del poste de bomberos se remonta a la década de 1870 en Chicago, cuando las estaciones de bomberos contaban con escaleras de caracol o rampas deslizantes. En las estaciones de bomberos de varios niveles, el primer piso tuvo todo el equipo contra incendios, mientras que los pisos superiores tuvieron a los dormitorios, la recreación, y almacenamiento. Específicamente, la Compañía de Bomberos N.º 21, compuesta exclusivamente por personal negro, solía ser la primera en responder a las llamadas. El jefe del departamento de bomberos de Chicago vio que esa estación había instalado un poste de madera en 1878 que permitía a los bomberos llegar al primer piso con mayor rapidez, lo que inspiró la expansión de esta práctica a todas las estaciones de bomberos de Chicago. Este poste de bomberos se extiende desde el primer piso del edificio hasta el techo del vestíbulo, donde se puede ver una imagen, proporcionada por el telescopio Hubble, tomada durante el mes de la inauguración de la Estación de Bomberos 8 en 2006. La historia de la Estación de Bomberos 8 se remonta a 1895, ubicada en Polk y Crawford, antes de fusionarse con la Estación 1 en 2001. Además, el poste de bomberos se instaló originalmente en un pozo de agua, pero este se cubrió en 2024 debido a riesgos ambientales.