About The LaVilla Brickhouse

The Jacksonville Fire department opened Fire Station #4 in 1897, On Adams St, between Broad and Jefferson. The current building housing station #4 was built in 1927, replacing the still standing original structure. The addition of a ladder company to Station 4 required the move to an increased in size station house. A high pressure unit was housed at # 4 during the period the city maintained the high pressure hydrant system.

The turbulent 1960s saw the area of LaVilla go through a downward turn in economics, and during the civil unrest that swept the country, Fire Station 4 was even taken over by rioters for a few short hours! The large wooden two story houses that lined the streets of the neighborhood kept the station busy during the 1970s, as it seemed the constant ringing of the bells meant another structure, or two, was ablaze. The 80s and 90s brought the razing of many dwellings and the empty lots seemed endless. New commercial endeavors now make up the bulk of the old LaVilla area, but Station 4 still stands as a testament to the bygone days.

Now known as the LaVilla Brickhouse to its current crews, it has been renovated by duty personnel to restore the flavor of yesterday, while still sending firefighters out the door, with echoes of yesteryear’s firemen shouts still faint in the air.