Post by wardengine on Aug 30, 2010 11:36:24 GMT -5
For a change of pace, members of the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society took their monthly meeting on the road Tuesday, taking a trip back in time to learn about the history of firefighting.
The group visited the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society museum in Shenandoah and viewed its exhibits, which include an 1809 horse-drawn, hand-powered pumper from Orwigsburg.
The museum is at 105 South Jardin Street, formerly the Columbia Hose Company. Prior to it being a firehouse, the building was Shenandoah Borough Hall and the police station.
The fire society was organized in 1997 to preserve the firefighting heritage of Schuylkill County. In 1998, the building was purchased to be used as headquarters and museum. Major renovations, including handicap accessibility, were made recently thanks to a $250,000 state grant secured in 2008 by the late Sen. James J. Rhoades.
After a brief meeting of the society conducted by President Valerie Macdonald, the tour began with guide Albert Bright, fire society trustee.
The museum holds six pieces of antique fire equipment, only a fraction of its inventory. Due to space restrictions, most of the equipment is stored in a Frackville area warehouse.
In addition to the hand-operated pumper, another historic piece in the museum is a steam-powered, horse-drawn unit. Bright pointed to the ceiling and walls, which were covered in embossed tin, and explained that the metal was used to prevent sparks from the coal-fired boiler of the pumper from igniting the firehouse.
Bright also demonstrated the old fire bell, which was used to alert firefighters of a blaze in the borough.
After the tour, Macdonald said she was impressed with what has been done with the building and the history within it.
"This was great. I've been here before, but not since the renovations. It's just beautiful what they've done," said Macdonald, acknowledging the convenience of a new elevator along with the other upgrades. "It really is different from what it was and what they inherited. They do fantastic work."
standardspeaker.com/news/schuylkill-historical-fire-society-puts-heritage-on-display-1.880888
The group visited the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society museum in Shenandoah and viewed its exhibits, which include an 1809 horse-drawn, hand-powered pumper from Orwigsburg.
The museum is at 105 South Jardin Street, formerly the Columbia Hose Company. Prior to it being a firehouse, the building was Shenandoah Borough Hall and the police station.
The fire society was organized in 1997 to preserve the firefighting heritage of Schuylkill County. In 1998, the building was purchased to be used as headquarters and museum. Major renovations, including handicap accessibility, were made recently thanks to a $250,000 state grant secured in 2008 by the late Sen. James J. Rhoades.
After a brief meeting of the society conducted by President Valerie Macdonald, the tour began with guide Albert Bright, fire society trustee.
The museum holds six pieces of antique fire equipment, only a fraction of its inventory. Due to space restrictions, most of the equipment is stored in a Frackville area warehouse.
In addition to the hand-operated pumper, another historic piece in the museum is a steam-powered, horse-drawn unit. Bright pointed to the ceiling and walls, which were covered in embossed tin, and explained that the metal was used to prevent sparks from the coal-fired boiler of the pumper from igniting the firehouse.
Bright also demonstrated the old fire bell, which was used to alert firefighters of a blaze in the borough.
After the tour, Macdonald said she was impressed with what has been done with the building and the history within it.
"This was great. I've been here before, but not since the renovations. It's just beautiful what they've done," said Macdonald, acknowledging the convenience of a new elevator along with the other upgrades. "It really is different from what it was and what they inherited. They do fantastic work."
standardspeaker.com/news/schuylkill-historical-fire-society-puts-heritage-on-display-1.880888