At the turn of the twentieth century, Barre was determined to crown downtown with outstanding civic architecture. As part of this City Beautiful zeal, a committee visited other New England cities to find the most attractive firehouse that Barre could afford to build. They selected the Wollaston Fire Station in Quincy, Massachusetts (1900), and the City of Quincy loaned Barre its plans. The two-story result is likely the finest firehouse in the state, with a striking pressed-yellow-brick facade, granite trim, and a three-story hose-drying tower. Barre has maintained all the defining architectural features of its exuberant station, including the original double wooden doors in its two fire-truck access archways. In most other towns in the state, the equipment-bay doors have been replaced.