Former Shirley Police Headquarters.

This building is located at the intersection of Leominster and Lancaster Roads and close to the beginning of Harvard Road, Center Road, Front Street and Ayer Road. While doing the drawing, one of the policemen told me it used to be the fire station. It was designed as a fire station by the same architect, Henry M. Francis, who designed the original Hazen Library. It was built in 1894 and converted to a police station in 1972. That was when the two engine entrances were replaced by bay windows.

Less than a year after I finished the drawing, the station was abandoned for a new station built over on Devens land. I had to move at one point to accommodate a snow plow coming down the side walk. I also fielded questions from a kid and his nervous mother about my drawing and whether I earned anything with it.

The March 3, 1999, Volunteer reports the station is currently serving as storage for hospital equipment loaned out to Shirley residents by the Council on Aging. That issue also reports that the "station is only in fair condition and needs at least remedial attention or it will dissolve before our eyes."

If you're curious about the ragged upper and lower left corners I drew around here, see Fredonian Park Gazebo for an explanation.

January 13, 1996