Tulsa Fire Alarm Building

Tulsa Fire Alarm Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Tulsa, Oklahoma
Built	1931
Architect	Kershner, Frederick V.; Smith & Senter
Architectural style	Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	03000879
Added to NRHP	September 2, 2003

The Tulsa Fire Alarm Building is a historic Art Deco building at 1010 East Eighth Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was built in 1931 and served as the central reporting station for the Tulsa Fire Department. Fires were reported from alarm boxes spread around town to this building and the firemen in this building would alert the fire station closest to the fire. At the time of its construction this system was the best available alarm system.

The building was designed by architect Frederick V. Kershner and inspired by Mayan temple design. The building has an extensive terra cotta frieze program, with several fire-related motifs. A recurring theme on the front facade is a double-headed dragon. The large frieze over the front door depicts a naked male figure holding in his hands Gamewell alarm tape (part of the first alarm system used in this building; the paper tape was punched with the number of the fire alarm box making the call) and who is flanked by two helmeted firefighters. The building originally had two large art deco style lanterns above the front doorway.

The building was used by the Fire department until 1984. It was left vacant and fell into disrepair. In 1994, it was purchased by Martin Newman, chairman of the Tulsa Preservation Commission. In 2000, The American Lung Association of Oklahoma purchased the building as its new headquarters. After a $5 million fund-raising campaign, the renovation of the building was completed in 2005. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

External links

• Tulsa Preservation Commission
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Online
• Hall of Flame Fire Museum on Gamewell alarm system
• 1991 Tulsa World Article - Fire Alarm Building and Brooke Callery