December 11, 2004
City Fire Officials have announced the closing of one of it's Fire Stations. The Fire House, at 1019 Spruce Street, housed Engine 13 and one of the Department's Brush Units, Brush 2. Both of the apparatus will remain in service and have relocated to 8th and Court Streets with Engine 1.
The move to shut down the station stems from the passage of the 2005 City Budget, the budget includes more cuts to the Fire Department but the closing is the first implemented. The City estimates the cut will save about $17,000.00 annually.
 The Building was erected in 1881 for the Washington Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2, at a cost of $5,500.00. The Company members must have been elated to have a new home for their 1875 - 60' Hook and Ladder Wagon. Originally purchased as a Hand Drawn model, horses soon began to power the truck when it was discovered it was too heavy to pull by hand.**
Within the last two decades, the Station housed Ladder 2 and then Engine 13 when the City closed their Station at So. 15th and Muhlenberg Streets, and finally, Engine 13 alone when Ladder 2 was placed out of service.
Personnel stationed at the Fire House are naturally upset about the move, losing their home, response times, and fears of further cuts of apparatus are the major complaints. The Engine covers a large area in the SE section of the City including a portion of Mt. Penn surrounding Reading's landmark Pagoda.
According to published reports, a prospective buyer is working with Officials to purchase the property, which may have hastened the closing by a few weeks.
**excerpts from a Reprint of the book, "Reading's Volunteer Fire Department" being sold to benefit the Reading Area Firefighters Museum
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