The first tax-supported fire department was established in 1910 on 12th Avenue and Heights Boulevard, behind the Durham home. The station opened into the alley between Heights Boulevard and Yale Street. J.L. Durham was the first paid fire chief and his firemen were Lee Nixon, Lee Butler and Mr. Haxthausen. When Fraternal Hall, the town's community center at 12th and Yale Streets, burned in 1912, a combination city hall, jail and fire station was built on that site in 1914. The architect for the building was Alonzo C. Pigg. On March 1, 1915, Hugh Montgomery was appointed fire chief for Houston Heights. His new crew included Captain M.T. Robinson, Lieutenant Ed Kohlman and pipe and laddermen G.K. Parker, 0. M. Phillips, Roy Crush, S. Lowe and E. Hueboetter. 

The building has changed little since this early photograph and still remains an active community center. (Photograph courtesy of Houston Fire Museum through HMRC).