The company & apparatus of Engine 18 in front of the firehouse at 30 Harvard St., Dorchester, c. 1900. 
The firehouse of Engine Co. 18 at 30 Harvard St., Dorchester, circa 1930. 
The original firehouse of Dorchester Torrent Engine 3, at 30 Harvard St., Dorchester, circa 1880. |
HISTORYThis firehouse was built in 1869 as part of the Fire Department of the Town of Dorchester. The Dorchester fire company assigned here was Torrent Engine No. 3. In the photo at bottom left, the original firehouse on this site was located at the rear of the 1869 brick firehouse. The firehouse is located at 30 Harvard Street, at the corner of Chamberlain Street, in the Four Corners section of Dorchester. View a city report on the construction of the firehouse in 1869 by the Town of Dorchester: City Report Upon annexation, Engine Company 18 of the Boston Fire Department was organized here on January 3, 1870. Earlier, on June 2, 1868, all fire companies were authorized to have a Name and Number, a practice that been used in years past. Thus Engine 18 became Torrent Engine No. 18. The name and number concept stayed in effect until 1873, when Torrent Engine 18 reverted back to Engine 18. Engine 18 stayed here until June 11, 1960 when the company moved to 1884 Dorchester Avenue, Peabody Square, Dorchester, and the firehouse at 30 Harvard Street was closed. The building was sold for use as a pre-school and day care center. Prior to 2011, the pre-school and day care center moved out. In 2011, the building is up For Sale. 
Circa 1910 map of the Harvard Street, Dorchester, location of Engine 18's firehouse. 
The former firehouse as it appeared in 2011. |