Found one in Toledo...
"Dedicated to over 150 year history and heroes of the
Toledo Fire Division
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Saving a Life
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Conveniently located five minutes from downtown Toledo.
Toledo Firefighters Museum
918 Sylvania Ave.
Toledo, OH 43612
(419) 478-FIRE (3473)
Click here for map
Here's to the firefighters, one and all
Always at your beck and call
Vigilant and unafraid
Volunteer or city paid
Solentific men are these
Fighting fires or a dread disease
Challenging a flaming hell
At the ringing of the bell
Unknown heroes clad in blue
They give up their lives just for you
Pray for them as they go past
As every ride may be their last
By: Nick Kenny
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T.F.D Homepage
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The T.F.D. has been protecting the lives and
property of Toledoans since 1837. It has evolved from
a volunteer "bucket Brigade" into a highly-trained
workforce schooled in the most current methods of
modern-day fire fighting and life-saving
technology. Authorized strength is 525
firefighters. They are responsible for
protecting Toledo's 333,000 residents
living throughout an 84 square mile area.
Old Fashioned Training
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The Toledo Fire/Police Alarm Office - Report from 1937
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Founded in 1976 for the purpose of preserving the history of the
Toledo Fire Division and educating citizens about fire prevention
and safety. In memory of fallen firefighters, the two-story museum
is located in a working fire station, "Old Number 18 Fire House",
circa 1920, which was replaced by a new station in 1975.
Old #18 Fire House
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The museum's million dollar display includes many large pieces
of vintage fire fighting equipment. The centerpiece of the museum
is the 1837 "Neptune", Toledo's first fire pumper. Lovingly restored
by Toledo Firefighters, the hand-pulled, hand-operated Neptune
required a 20-man crew and could deliver about 300 gallons
of water per minute.
Other major fire equipment includes:
1927 American-LaFrance pumper
1929 Pirsch pumper
1936 Schacht service ladder truck
1969 Willy's Fire Jeep NEW
Steam Pumper No. 2
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Toledo Steamers
by Tim Boaden, Historian - reprinted from The Hook and Letter, fall 2002
The first steam fire engine or "steamer" as they were commonly known, made its appearance in Toledo even before there was a paid fire department. Two of the early volunteer companies purchased steamers from the H.C. Silsby Island Works Company of Seneca, New York in 1861, six years before Toledo started paying its firemen.
Although the technology had been around for several decades, the first practical working steamer was used in Cincinnati in 1852. Its arrival signaled the end of large volunteer departments in most big cities, which by this time had become a political embarrassment because of fighting more with each other than fighting fires.
Since it only required two men to operate a steamer with an additional four to six hosemen as opposed to the 20 to 40 men it took to operate each hand engine, it is easy to see why city governments quickly adopted the steamer.
Between the first steamer purchased in 1861 and the last one in 1908, the Toledo Fire Department had a total of 23 from such manufacturers as the aforementioned Silsby, along with Amoskeag, Clapp and Jones, Ahrens and LaFrance.
When the department ultimately decided to convert to motorized fire engines, many of the steamers were relatively new so tractors replaced the horses.
The last steamer went out of service at Number 5 station on March 1, 1930, thus ending an era that spanned nearly 60 years. Although the last of the Toledo steamers went with the scrap metal drives of early World War II, the Toledo Firefighters Museum is actively seeking to buy or acquire one on loan.
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Photos of some items at the Toledo Firefighters Museum
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Old Alarm Office
Firehouse Gongs
Helmet Display Case
Models of old rigs
Speaking Trumpet & Helmet
Museum Study/Research Ctr.
Fire Marks/Old Equipment
TFM Stained Glass Window
The Firefighting "Ladies"
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Ornate speaking trumpets, sweat sticks used to sweep lather
from the horses, fire gongs, bells, badges, buckets and...
Hundreds of antique fire toys
Watchman's desk and tape register
Vintage uniforms
Command officers room
Toledo area memorabilia
Firefighters sleeping quarters
Old #16's Firehouse
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Over one-hundred fifty years of Toledo fire fighting history
can be found on the second floor of the museum. An
extensive collection of scrapbooks, reference materials
and Toledo Fire Division journals dating back to the
1800's is housed in the museum's library.
Hundreds of photographs of notable fires and Fire Division
history can be found throughout the museum.
In addition, the chronological history of the T.F.D.
is displayed on the first floor of the museum.
This turn of the century display was made possible through
the combined efforts of area businesses, local labor
organizations and the City of Toledo.
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Click HERE for a report (Spring, 1985)
on the Toledo Firefighters Museum
from the Ohio Professional Fire Fighter
Wayne Trail Gasoline Tanker Fire
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Located near the second floor library is the safety
and learning center that was once the firefighters
sleeping quarters. "Jed's Bedroom" and
"Fireman Freddy's Fire Station" were constructed
to allow children to actually role play situations
they might encounter in their home.
Under the trained supervision of the Fire Prevention
Bureau, children are taught how to roll out of bed,
keep low in case of smoke, and feel the door for heat
with the back of their hand. Families are encouraged
to plan escape routes from their homes, designate a
common meeting place, and test smoke
detectors regularly.
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The Man Who Created Fireman Freddy
Home Fire Escape Drill - Escape Plan and
Practicing your Plan
Home Fire Escape Tips
The Thank-You Board - from children who visited TFM
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Click on Spot
for history of
Dalmatians
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The Toledo Firefighter's Museum, Inc., a non-profit
organization, was founded in 1976, as part of the
City of Toledo's celebration of
America's Bicentennial.
The museum's first display was located in the
Museum of Science in the Toledo Zoo.
As the collection grew, it became evident
that larger facilities were needed.
"Old Number 18 Fire House" seemed the perfect
home to display this collection.
"Neptune" built in 1837
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Click here for information on becoming a Lifetime Member of the Toledo Firefighters Museum.
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Donations
If you have items in your attic, basement, garage, etc., consider donating them to the museum so everyone can enjoy seeing them. Items can also be loaned to the museum, if you wish.
We also have fund donations set up including the Stamp Fund to help us pay newsletter mail costs, and the Coloring Book Fund.
Contact us for further information (419-478-3473)
or e-mail us.
We are a 501c3 charitable organization and all donations
are tax deductible for those who itemize.
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Open
Summer: Saturday 12-4 pm
Winter: Saturday 12-4 pm
Group Tours
Also available weekdays or
evenings by appointment
Admission
Always Free!
Elevator
All public areas handicapped
accessible.
For more Info...
(419) 478-FIRE
Visit our Gift Shop!
Museum Patches Available
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Play music? Old Fire
Sheet music here!
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Taking the Museum
On the Road
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The Last Alarm
(List covering 10 years of TFD
firefighters who have passed on)
If I Knew...a poem
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The Ultimate Sacrifice
(Those who died in the line of duty)
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Five Chiefs Reminiscing -
200 years aggregate of fire-
fighting in Toledo
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Toledo Firefighters Federal
Credit Union Homepage
Toledo Firefighters Health Plan
Toledo Convention/Visitor Bur.
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Volunteers Painting the Fire Museum
We have provided links to
our various pages as
well as others.
The Firefighter's Prayer
Fire Museums listing
Firefighter
Jim the Fire Horse
Toledo Fire Horses
The Fireman's Wife
The Fireman's Dream
Hall of Flame
Music -Hear
The Midnight Fire Alarm
Society Preserving Old Fire
Vehicles (SPAAMFAA)
"Hand Tubs"
(Neptune-like vehicles)
Fire Collector News
Twas the Night Before Christmas for Firemen
Creation of a Firefighter
What is a Fireman?
The Saddest Job
Firefighters Humor
The Chief's Laws
Misc. Fire Pictures
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The Littlest Firefighter
10/05/01 Symphony Photos
"When I Grow Up, I Want To Be A Fireman"
God Bless Firefighters
See our tribute to 911"
http://www.toledofiremuseum.com