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Old firehouse renovated for use as new police substation

Photos: Firehouse now a police station

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Marshall Gorby/Springfield Police Division Chief Stephen Moody speaks with Officer Paula Rich and visitors at the new police substation, a renovated 100-year-old firehouse, on Johnny Lytle Avenue Tuesday morning, Oct. 13.

Updated 7:28 AM Wednesday, October 14, 2009

By Valerie Lough

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — A 100-year-old fire house that closed three decades ago is back in service as the new police substation, thanks to private funding and some hands-on work by the officers who will use it.

The fire house at 17 W. Johnny Lytle Ave. has been renovated and is now the new Springfield Police Division substation, a move from the old one right across the street at 24 W. Johnny Lytle Ave.

“We were running out of space,” said Chief Stephen Moody. “This was the right move because there are so many other things we want to do in the community.”

Members of the Springfield Police Division donated volunteer time to do the renovations that began in June 2008, said Sgt. Joe Tedeschi.

The location will house the community response team, canine unit and be a gathering place for community outreach events like cook-outs and movie nights for neighborhood children, said Tedeschi.

“It’s all about relationships between police and the community,” he said.

An open house for the public will be held Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

The project was funded through private donors, said City Manager Jim Bodenmiller.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the work that they’ve done,” he said.

The location closed as a fire station in January 1975, said Moody.

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