Built on history

Origins & Public Use (Pre-1940s to 1940s)

• Before the current structure, the site housed Palatine’s old Village Hall, which also accommodated fire apparatus on the ground floor with a bell tower overhead (serving both civic and fire functions).

• In the early 1940s, the Village replaced the older hall with a dedicated fire station on the same lot—what became the Slade Street Fire Station. Local historic accounts place construction around 1942–43.

• Some commercial real estate sources later document a “year built/renovated” date of 1947, likely reflecting a formal record or substantial modification rather than original construction.

During its days as Palatine’s active firehouse, the building played a dual role: it sheltered fire engines on the ground floor and hosted community events, fundraisers, and civic meetings upstairs.

Mid-Century & Volunteer Fire Service Era

• Over the 1950s through the 1970s, the Slade Street station operated under a partly volunteer model as Palatine grew outward.

• A major event shaping local fire service identity was the 1973 downtown Ben Franklin store fire—although not occurring at 117 W Slade, that tragedy factored into departmental standards, culture, and community memory.

• By the late 1970s, municipal growth and modernization needs made the Slade location limiting. Plans emerged to relocate or retire it in favor of newer stations.

Decommissioning & Transition (1981–1984)

• In 1981, the fire department vacated 117 W Slade, ending approximately four decades of active service from that address.

• In 1984, the building reopened as Slade Street Station, repurposed as a small commercial/office complex. The new name honored its heritage while marking its change in function.

Adaptive Reuse & Modern Era (1980s–Present)

• Over subsequent decades, the building was adapted to house retail, offices, restaurants, studios, and mixed commercial tenants.

• In listings from the 2000s–2020s, the property is consistently described as about 10,000 sq ft, two stories, with significant renovations (notably in 2015) documented in commercial real estate sources.

• One listing notes that the upper level was, in a previous incarnation, used as a dance studio with ~20-foot beamed ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, full HVAC, three bathrooms, changing room, and auxiliary spaces. allprohomes.com

• Another listing describes a 2,666 sq ft open upper floor area, ideal for uses like fitness, studio, or open office, complemented by street-front access and visibility, plus 7 dedicated parking spaces in the rear. @properties

Architectural & interior highlights:

• The upper floor lends itself to open, lofty space with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. allprohomes.com+1

• Ground floor storefronts possess direct street access and visibility—key for retail and customer-facing businesses. @properties+1

• The property has dual appeal: historic character (especially its fire station roots) paired with modern functional upgrades (HVAC, plumbing, finishes).