It's part of a budget measure to save New York City approximately $55 million by closing 20 fire stations in the greater New York area. The merits and flaws of this decision, in terms of finances and public safety, have been debated by people far more qualified than myself. All I can really contribute is my sadness that such a landmark building will no longer serve in helping to keep the people of New York safe.
I grew up on Ghostbusters. When I was 8, that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. I specifically wanted to go to New York, buy that firehouse, and become a Ghostbuster, logic be damned! Even today Ghostbusters has such a special place in my heart that my wife and I made a point of going to see the firestation when we were in New York on our honeymoon (I took that picture above). The father of Nathan Shepherd, the main character in my novel, is an ex-firefighter who worked at Hook & Ladder Co. 8. So I guess I have this double sadness, realising that the place that was Mike Shepherd's second home, his calling, is closing.
I hope, whatever happens to the building, that it remains a New York landmark, and that whoever now comes to own it treats it with the repsect worthy of a building that has both served the public for over a hundred years, and is such a cultural symbol.
I wonder, can I see Nathan moving in?
Oh, how sad! My husband is a firefighter in Los Angeles, and they're shutting down stations also. I share your hope that Station No. 8 is well cared for after it's shut down.
ReplyDeleteKaren: Yeah. I'm just glad I got to see it while it was still an operating firestation.
ReplyDeleteJulie: I hope your husband's station isn't one of the ones shutting down.
This post fascinates me. That you took a picture of it when you came to NYC, that you have a character in your novel work there, and that you feel such a connection to this building. So intriguing. Is there a story here LOL?
ReplyDeleteHehe. Ghostbusters was one of the first things I really loved. I grew up idolising the characters. It was also the first thing I'd seen where people could stand against monsters and demons and, purely through their own decisions and knowledge, face them on even footing. That idea of normal people taking on something scary and defeating it shaped how I though about storytelling.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone asks if you're a God, you say YES.
ReplyDeleteI tried to work that in to an actual comment, but I just decided to throw it in there. What a great movie. Your connection to it is awesome.