Excelsior Engine Co. No. 2 Firehouse

The Excelsior Engine Company Number Two firehouse on Polk Street serves as a rare reminder of a time when firefighting was a community-led volunteer effort. Built in 1897, the two-story brick building stands as a distinct example of Romanesque Revival architecture, featuring decorative terra cotta Corinthian capitals that once signaled the pride of a neighborhood volunteer force. The building was so integral to local life that its completion in 1897 was marked by a grand parade and a celebratory banquet for the town.