Chimney - The chimney sits on the northwest corner of the building. The chimney adds height interest to the building, a sense of depth, and a balance to the building’s appearance, which is particularly evident when viewed from the front of the building. This use of elevation and balance is common within the PWA Moderne style.
Tiered Tower - The rear tower is tiered and provides several important examples of PWA Moderne characteristics. Its lower tiers wrap around from each side to the front and back sides. On the rear wall is an historic door to the pump room, though other openings have been modified on this side. The front-facing east wall of the tower has two brick, capped projections. The spaces between the tiers and these middle projections contain columns of small, glass block windows. This use of verticality (windows on the front) and layering (tiers) are excellent examples of Moderne architectural characteristics.
Corner Window - At the southeast corner of the building is a corner window, which would have been considered a current and fashionable look for the time. This window is built with aluminum and have been covered with a metal screen/grate. The pattern of the window’s construction is similar to those on other parts of the building, even the windows that have been covered with plywood.
Entrance - The south part of the façade has an entry door opening that is accessed from a concrete step and has been covered with wood painted to resemble the color of the overhead garage door. To each side of the door are four rows of inset bricks, and above it is a flat, rectangular, metal awning. This configuration, particularly the metal awning, would also have been considered a current and fashionable look for the period.
Apparatus Entrance - The north part of the façade is taller and projects farther toward the street than the south part of the façade. It also features the wood, overhead garage door through which the apparatus room (where the fire engine was kept) can be accessed. The overhead door has two rows of wood panels that have replaced former windows. To each side of the door is a brick projection that is capped at the same height as other parts of the building, and each projection wraps around slightly to the sides. On each of these two projections is the opening for a decorative, metal and tinted glass wall sconce, both of which have been removed and reused at the city’s modern fire station.
Chiseled Name - In the brick above the garage door, “ENGINE 2” has been chiseled into the brick in a stylized font that is very indicative of the style and age of the building. This text can be seen in the original architectural drawings and marked as chiseled.
Kitchen - The kitchen was an important part of resident firefighter life, and it was supplied with modern kitchen equipment. It has been stripped of many of its prominent appliances and fixtures. The kitchen set used here was considered cutting edge and was even displayed at a local trade show before its installation at Engine House No. 2.
Hose Tower - The hose tower (a.k.a. hose drying tower) is contained within the south part of the rear tower. It is open to the top of the tower and down to the basement level. It has a grate platform at the main level and another near the top of the tower. Also near the top of the tower are the hose racks on which used hoses could be hung to drain and dry. There are other original fixtures and hardware, including rungs on the wall that lead to the upper grate platform.
Pump Room - The pump room is accessed through the wide, metal doors at the west end of the apparatus room and is contained within the north part of the rear tower. It can also be accessed from the exterior, on the back side of the tower. The room contains some original fixtures and hardware. There is also a wood door at the ceiling that gives access to the tower’s roof. The glass block windows on the front of the tower let in natural light.
Locker Room - The locker room is missing its original, wood lockers, which were originally positioned along the walls where there are no wall tiles. It is also missing its original wood bench. Both the south-facing window and door to the dormitory have been covered with plywood. At the northwest corner of the room is a door to the toilet room, which has an intact radiator, sinks, mirrors, and light fixtures.
Bathroom - Wood shelving has been built into the shower to create a closet in the northwest corner of the room, but a faucet and valve/handle are still present. Part of the toilet room’s concrete and plaster ceiling remain intact as well. On the toilet room’s south wall, the window opening has been covered with plywood.
Apparatus Room - The primary room of the building is the apparatus room, which was used to house the fire engine equipment, but it also acts as a central hall for the other rooms. It has a concrete floor with a few floor drains. It has tiled wall. and above the iron bar joists, the modern metal roof can be seen. There are several original, or at least historic, objects affixed near the ceiling: light fixtures, garage door opener motor, and heating units. Near the east end of its north wall, an object such as a bulletin board has been removed to reveal studs and the back sides of the brick-and-mortar exterior; the original windows of this wall are also visible along this side. It also has a niche with an original cast iron sink. At the west end of this wall is a door to the north vestibule. The west wall has a large set of doors for the pump room and a door to the hose tower, both of which are within the rear tower. Along the south wall, from west to east, are doors to the kitchen, locker room/bathroom/shower, dormitory, and watch desk/office. On south wall between the dormitory and watch desk room, is an historic, recessed, porcelain drinking fountain.
Dormitory - The dormitory doorway from the apparatus room is flanked on each side by a window opening, though the door and windows have been removed and are now lying on the floor in the dormitory room. The south wall of the room reveals the original pair of window units covered with clear plastic. Its west wall has a door to the locker room. Notice the circular inlay in the wood floors; it has the number 2 on it.
Office and Watch Room - The watch desk room is connected to the apparatus room by a large opening with two short walls. It can be accessed from the façade’s entry door. On its south wall is a doorway to the main office, which features the notable corner window. The office also has a small closet in its east corner.