Firehouse Gallery

The Firehouse Gallery of Bordentown, New Jersey was built in 1886 (as seen in stone above windows). It was originally called the Citizen's Hook and Ladder, built soon after a fire destroyed the city's baptist church, on Church Street in 1885.

The company housed a ladder truck and interviews with previous Fire Chiefs and Firemen report that its original membership was limited to the town's doctors and lawyers, and large land-owners. After the first generation of members passed on, its membership opened to all Bordentown residents.

The front of the building was widened with the advent of gasoline vehicles, and a concrete floor replaced the old wooden one.

The building had 1 large bay for the truck, a hole cut into a rear wall to accommodate the ladders, and 2 meeting rooms on the second floor. Evidence of a horse stall remains within the walls of its first floor bathroom.

The building fell into disuse around 1966 and was purchased in 1969 for $5000 by recently divorced Juanita Crosby, who called it "The Firehouse Gallery of Juanita Crosby." She turned the old firehouse into a classroom for area students and operated successfully for 25 years making few alterations to the building except for the removal of its bell tower due to excessive leaks in the ceiling.

In 1994, Eric Gibbons bought the building from Ms. Crosby and made major conversions in 2002-3. He re-named it "The Firehouse Gallery of Bordentown." The single garage was turned into 2 rooms, bathrooms were added, and the upper meeting rooms were converted into the present owner’s living space of 900 Sq ft.

Many exhibitions and art events were held in the space with its artistic owners. As of 2005 though, the popularity of Mr. Gibbons’ work internationally caused a change. The Gallery has become his exclusive studio; his work is shipped to galleries across the USA and Europe. The gallery continues to represent a smaller stable of artists and quite a few volunteers, interns and helpers to help promote the various missions of the Firehouse Gallery.

As of 2007 the gallery still hosts classes for both children and adults year round and has been running a summer art camp program since 1995 under the direction of Mr. Gibbons.

http://www.firehousegallery.com