Georgetown Fire House and Old City Hall

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Georgetown Fire House and Old City Hall, over in Williamson County. Now settle in, because this little building has carried more weight than most structures twice its size. It was designed by a man named C.I.

Belford, and in 1892, a builder by the name of C.W. Schell put it up. One building, one year, and right from the start it was doing the work of five.

Inside those walls you had the mayor's office. You had the city council chambers. You had the city jail, which I imagine made for some interesting neighborly arrangements.

You had the fire department. And you had the Georgetown Water Co., all operating under the same roof. Now if that sounds like a lot to ask of one address, well, it was.

But the building obliged. It even features some Italianate detailing, which is just a genteel way of saying somebody cared enough to make it look good while it was doing all that civic heavy lifting. And the story didn't stop there.

Over the years it also opened its doors to the Second Baptist Church as a meeting place, and later took on chamber of commerce offices for good measure. Today, the marker tells us, it stands as one of few remaining examples of 19th-century city hall-fire stations in the entire state of Texas. Not just in Georgetown.

In Texas. One building, designed by Belford, built by Schell, opened in 1892, and still here to talk about it. Some things just refuse to be forgotten.

What the marker says

Designed by C.I. Belford and constructed in 1892 by C.W. Schell, this building originally housed the mayor's office, city council chambers, city jail, fire department, and the Georgetown Water Co. Over the years, it also has served as a meeting place for the Second Baptist Church and as chamber of commerce offices. The building, which features some Italianate detailing, is one of few remaining examples of 19th-century city hall-fire stations in Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1984