The Fireproof Building
(Sorry that I’m not in the photo, I forgot about that part!)
The Fireproof Building is a very specific building to Columbus, and it has a very interesting history behind it! The Fireproof Building is a whopping 90,000 square feet and was built in 1909 as a storage and delivery facility for the expensive goods of the wealthy people of Columbus. It was named “Fireproof” because the building is basically a fortress, and well, because it’s literally fireproof! It’s made out of so much concrete that there is no possible way that the building could ever go up in flames. The building is so solid that it was used as a Civil Defense building during World War II.
In its prime, Fireproof Warehouse & Storage held everything from Oriental rugs to fine crystal for protection while their owners spent their winters in warmer climates. There was a steam-heated room built specifically for pianos. There was a large bank-like vault for storing money and precious jewels. You could store anything in the building and feel confident that it would still be there when you returned.
Over time, Fireproof Warehouse & Storage converted its facility to do the less labor-intensive task of records storage and data protection, which I also think goes along well with the name. Nevertheless, visiting this building and researching more about its history left me feeling very intrigued. I really enjoy historic buildings, so going inside the Fireproof building makes me feel like I have witnessed history first hand. It was almost a euphoric feeling, of being so close to a building that was once so incredibly important to the people of Columbus.
Alex really showed her passion for the Short North and for history through this blog. It was really cool to read a little about the civil aspect of this building. Although it was a little alarming that she could just walk into the building while it is a data storage facility, it was cool to know that she actually took time out of her day to see first-hand what the building looked like. I appreciated the picture and how it was taken at night, it really accentuated the feel of the Short North. I would like to attend this location in the near future solely because of this blog!
Great!