Built in 1883 and opened on Jan. 1, 1884, Engine House No. 11 is the oldest surviving firehouse in the City of Detroit. Steam Fire Engine Company No. 11 was originally operating with a Silsby steam engine and horse-drawn hose reel cart. In 1916, the company modernized with a Seagrave gasoline-powered pumping engine, replacing the horse-drawn equipment.

The station housed Engine Company No. 11 continuously until 1972, when the company moved to a new facility. From 1972 to 1976, the building served as an Emergency Medical Unit. It also holds a unique personal legacy: four generations of the De Caussin family served with Engine Company No. 11, beginning in 1886 and continuing through Robert De Caussin, who was still a member when the company left the building in 1972.

After standing vacant for years, Phoenix of Detroit officially purchased Historic Engine House No. 11 in 2002 to restore and preserve this important piece of Detroit’s firefighting heritage. Today, Engine 11 serves as the organization’s home office, meeting space, and training center, and is also available for members to rent for private events. Recognized as an architectural and historical landmark, the building is listed on the local, state, and national historic preservation registers.