The year was 1979, and the fire station at the corner of Pine Street and Hartford Road in Manchester was about to meet a cruel fate. After all, it had been around since 1901, and since it was no longer in use, then-Town Manager Bob Weiss knew that he would have to demolish unless anyone could come up with a way to save it. The Connecticut Firemen's Historical Society quickly provided a way: they wanted it for The Fire Museum.
So a lease was signed and The Fire Museum was born. Now nearly 40 years later, the museum continues to memorialize the first responders who served as part of Connecticut's history. The museum plays host to a permanent collection of firefighting memorabilia donated by local collectors, as well as changing exhibits in the Connecticut Room. The current exhibit highlights Connecticut's Bravest — The Early Years. The exhibit showcases photos of firefighters from around the state that date back as far as 1800 all the way up through the 1950s. It's a great spot to learn more about local history and pay your respects to those first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to save civilian lives.
