Click the links in the table below to check our progress! (See below for the history of the building).

WELCOME TO OUR FIREHOUSE! Built in 1917 as the Sierra Curtis “Engine Number 7” Fire Station, this property has had quite a “checkered” past.  It has served as a work shop/print shop for the City of Sacramento, a boy scout headquarters, was denied a permit to become a halfway house for 15 youth offenders, and finally converted to a personal residence since 1969.

For at least 20 years, fire engines roared out of the front doors at 2562 Portola Way. Said a neighbor that lived down the street as a teenager, "There were fire engines and fire bells.  It was quite a noisy place! The roaring fire engines didn't have traffic problems then.  There were not more than six cars on the block!"

By the mid-1930's, Engine Number 7, as the station was called, was moved to Fifth and Freeport.  The city then converted the property into a work shop and print shop.  The old fire station later became the headquarters for the Golden Empire Council of the Boy Scouts.  In the late 50's or early 60's the neighborhood successfully fought a move by the City Council to demolish the building and two adjoining homes to build an office building and parking lot.

In 1969, the Scouts sold the building to Ernestine Walton.  The house was again the source of controversy when Walton proposed a halfway house for 15 youthful offenders be established under the auspices of the California Youth Authority.  Neighbors successfully quashed the proposal. 

On May 2, 2004, Rich Baumhofer and Cindy Bechtel took possession of the firehouse and will rehabilitate the property to reestablish it's "firehouse charm".  Rich, Cindy, Emma, Hannah and Mackenzie are looking forward to moving into their new home, complete with a fire pole!

After six long months of navigating the City of Sacramento, we secured all of our permits and began the demo in November 2004.  Click in the boxes at the table at the top of the page to track our progress.