Post by wardengine on Feb 16, 2008 16:12:07 GMT -5
The Schuylkill County Fire Museum was formally dedicated during the fall of 1999 with several commemorative events and a dedication parade. The museum serves as the headquarters for the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society and is housed in the former Columbia Hose & Steam Fire Engine Co. #1 station 105 South Jardin Street in Shenandoah.
The Columbia, organized in 1870, utilized the fire station for over 125 years before relocating to a new facility. The building also served as borough hall, police station, Gamewell fire alarm system and jailhouse for the borough of Shenandoah for over 100 years. The dedication parade of
October 2nd featured almost 100 antique, and modern fire trucks and an open house event during the fall brought several hundred guests to the museum.
The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society acquired the fire station in the summer of 1998, and its members have been restoring the station to its 19th Century glory. The Columbia station has its original hardwood floors, pressed tin ceilings and walls, and 1880's Gamewell housebell, indicator, and bell striker. The station also contains numerous artifacts dating to its early years, including large framed photographs of its original members and several historical paintings and lithographs. Additionally, the building houses a five-cell jailhouse dating back to 1880 and an original 19th Century oak bar and back-bar in its basement social room.
The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society currently maintains an interesting collection of antique fire apparatus in the museum. The oldest piece on display is the 1809 Pat Lyons hand pumper, owned by the Friendship Fire Company #1 of Orwigsburg. The Pat Lyons pumper was built in Philadelphia and was the first piece of fire apparatus used in Schuylkill County. The museum also houses "Little Daisy"; an 1815 hose cart owned by the Citizens Fire Company #2 of Mahanoy City. An 1859 Studebaker water wagon, owned by the Ryan Township Fire Company, is currently on display at the museum and serves as the society's only horse-drawn apparatus.
Twentieth Century fire apparatus displayed at the museum includes an early 1900's hose cart owned by the Joliett Fire Company; a 1910 American LaFrance chemical cart purchased new and owned by the Defender Hose Company #3 of Shenandoah; and a 1924 United States Fire Apparatus combination pumper/chemical truck privately owned by William Kline of Pottsville. Additional privately owned fire trucks include a 1941 Diamond-T pumper owned by Kline and a 1928 American LaFrance chain driven pumper owned by historical society president Michael J. Kitsock.
The fire society has set up numerous displays and exhibits of fire equipment and memorabilia for visitors throughout the building. Displays include over 150 year of fire helmets, parade uniforms, a historical display of fire nozzles and breathing apparatus, an in-house Gamewell Alarm system, and a photo wall of Schuylkill County's most serious fires.
Using the apparatus of its members, the society has also prepared a "Century of Progress" fire truck mobile display that will make its appearance in several parades for the year 2000. The "Century of Progress" will feature at least one example of fire apparatus from each decade in the 1900's.
Aside from its restoration projects of fire apparatus and fire equipment, the fire society is also publicly active in preserving the Schuylkill County's Gamewell Fire Alarm Systems. Schuylkill County remains the last bastion of Gamewell Fire Alarm Systems in Pennsylvania. Society members recently restored the city of Pottsville's 99 street boxes as well as Shenandoah's 42 street boxes as community projects. Additionally, the society has sponsored fire alarm maintenance programs in Cressona and St. Clair to train fire department members on proper maintenance of their Gamewell system. Mr. Robert Fitz of New Hampshire and "Alarm Doctor" Thomas Donathan of West Virginia conducted these training seminars.
The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society is open for fire department, school and private tours. There is no charge for tours, but donations are accepted. Interested groups should contact President Michael Kitsock at (570) 628-3691 or Vice-President William Kline at (570) 622-3678 to schedule a tour. Membership inquiries are also welcome.
museum phone number 570-642-4400