For Sale: 1 Firehouse. Fire Engine Included

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S.F. Chronicle photo 

BACK IN 1974, SAN FRANCISCO’S ENGINE HOUSE 33, BUILT IN 1896, COULD NO LONGER admit the larger fire engines that were being made.  That and the need for modernization of the interior led to the City’s decision to build a new firehouse around the corner and sell old #33 as surplus property.

Enter Robert and Marilyn Katzman, two successful artists who were looking for something unique to call “home.”  After looking at the property they just knew that this was “it” and attended the property auction where they had the winning bid of $79,000 for the 4,000-sq. ft. building that still had the 30-ft. brass pole in it.

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Marilyn Katzman slides into the engine bay.
Chroncle photo

They kept the pole and upgraded the kitchen, turned the officer’s quarters into their son’s bedroom, and converted the dormitory into their (huge) bedroom.  After a few years residence and sculpting, they started researching the history of the firehouse and the neighborhood.

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Their office is in the former watchroom
Chronicle photo

   “We started discovering memorabilia and meeting people,” Marilyn said.  “We started creating products with a fire theme like toys in little fire buckets and fire chili base.”

The couple set up booths at firefighter musters to sell their products. At Christmas time they opened the firehouse to the public.  Then they decided that they should have a fire engine to park in the bay.  So they went out and purchased a 1955 Mack pumper.  One thing led to another and they turned their knowledge of local fire history into a tour business, converting the hose bed into a 15-seat passenger area.

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Fire Engine Tours photo

Now they are ready to retire and have put the firehouse, engine and the active tour business up for sale as a package deal.  They’re asking $3.3 million for the whole shebang.

Read the details in this San Francisco Chronicle ARTICLE.
Check out their tour company’s WEBSITE.  Lots of pix in there.

Now…Watch Their Sales Video
(it includes a tour of the firehouse)