Preservation Texas Begins Rehabilitation of the 1939 Linden Fire Station

Preservation Texas, the only statewide non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation, is pleased to announce that the rehabilitation of the 1939 Linden Fire Station has begun.

“The Linden Fire Station holds a special place in the town's history and has witnessed decades of change”, said Evan Thompson, Executive Director of Preservation Texas. “We are excited about the transformative impact this project will have, contributing to ongoing efforts in Linden, and hope it will serve as a model for rural preservation efforts across the state.”  

The first phase of the project is being done by Andrei Moore Construction of Texarkana, and will address the exterior envelope of the building. The walls will be reinforced and repaired, and a new roof will be installed. Later phases will include the installation of historically accurate windows and exterior doors, and finally, rehabilitation of the interior. The total project is expected to cost in excess of $150,000. Donations are welcomed and can be made by check or online at preservationtexas.org/linden. Upon completion, the building will be made available for short-term overnight rentals.

Located on West Rush Street near Linden’s historic courthouse square, the old Fire Station was built in 1939 to house Linden’s existing volunteer fire department and a fire truck. It was constructed as a complement to the city’s Public Works Administration-funded 1934 Sanitary Waterworks, which was one of the first such infrastructure projects approved in the state of Texas. The station was expanded in 1949 to make room for additional department vehicles and equipment. The City of Linden had the only fire station in Cass County until the 1950s, and many businesses and residences county-wide owe their survival to this early firefighting tradition. 

This station ceased operations in 1961 and the building subsequently suffered decades of deterioration due to neglect and water infiltration. It was included on Preservation Texas’s Most Endangered Places List in 2016, and upon threat of demolition, the building was purchased by Preservation Texas from the City of Linden in 2022.

Left: The 1939 Linden Fire Station in its current condition
Right: Rendering of the 1939 Linden Fire Station after the proposed rehabilitation