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Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum

Journey Indiana- Heated History: Touring The Fort Wayne Firefighers Museum March 20, 2024 Journey Indiana on YouTube.
The Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum gives visitors a glimpse into more than 200 years of firefighting history. https://www.fortwaynefiremuseum.com/ Producer- Nick Deel Videographer-John Timm
Experience the Hoosier state like never before on Journey Indiana. Take a road trip with us to discover the distinctive culture, history, people, and artistry that shape our state. Each week, hosts Ashley Chilla and Brandon Wentz travel to new destinations to learn what makes those communities special.
Journey Indiana is produced by WTIU – Public Television from Indiana University. For more information, check us out at: journeyindiana.org

March 20, 2024 shows Episode 619 and May 14, 2024 shows Episode 623 of same video post by Journey Indiana on Facebook.

Around 0:47, the two bay building was built around 1893, with the two-bay west side added in 1907. At its peak there were 12 horses in the station!

πŸš’ Do you know how people called for help during a fire in the 1800s? πŸ”₯ In the 1870s, they used street boxes on the...

Posted by Journey Indiana on Saturday, June 22, 2024

Saturday, June 22, 2024 post by Journey Indiana on Facebook:

πŸš’ Do you know how people called for help during a fire in the 1800s? πŸ”₯

In the 1870s, they used street boxes on the corners. You'd flip a switch and wait for the fire team to respond, a far cry from today's methods!

Explore this rich history at the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum. πŸ§‘β€πŸš’ The museum chronicles firefighting from the 1800s to today. Housed in a building built 1893, which served as an active station until 1972, it showcases over 200 years of firefighting technology.

Learn more about the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on this week's episode of Journey Indiana!

Journey Indiana is produced by WTIU – Public Television from Indiana University.

Journey Indiana airs live and can be found on the web anytime at the link in our bio.

April 5, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

It's #waybackwednesday! Check out these then and now photos, courtesy of the Daniel A. Baker Collection in our Community Album. The first photo shows Fire station #3 on Washington Blvd. circa 1909. The Fire station was constructed in 1893 and deactivated in 1972. The second photo shows the Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum in 2017, formerly Firestation #3, which opened in 1981.

View these photos and thousands more in our Album: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/

July 6, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

First coat of red finally going on. Gettin closerπŸ˜ƒ

July 22, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

Even closer😁

August 16, 2023 post by the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum on Facebook:

It’s finally done!!!

Come on down and see it up close.

Discussed in Plan A Visit to the Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museuem on the Visit Fort Wayne February 24, 2012 blog. A postcard when it was a fire station posted and discussed September 14, 2017 and again the postcard and a current photo posted August 29, 2018 on You are positively from Fort Wayne, if you remember... Archived group only visible to existing members on Facebook.

See our Fort Wayne Fire Department People section.

Horses in the Fire Department

The Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum at the top of the page says the two-bay station was built around 1893 with 12 horses in the station at its peak. Here are a few of the Fire Department No. 3 horse photos in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.

1895 horses Fire Station No. 3

Fort Wayne Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington Blvd. Date ca.1895.

1895 horses Fire Station No. 3

The new 1908 Nott First Class Steamer in front of Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington. Date 1908.

1908 Seagrave aerial tillerman truck

The new 1908 Seagrave 85' aerial tillerman truck used a three horse hitch is at Fire Station No.3, 226 West Washington. Captain George Jasper is standing in front of the truck. Date 1908.

1909 coal wagon at No. 3

Fire Department Coal Wagon at No. 3
Description Fort Wayne Fire Department Coal Wagon at Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington Street. This is the building in the rear that was added in 1909. This photo was used on the 1909 composite of Station No. 3. Date 1909.

pre 1909 horse Stalls at Fire Station No. 3

Horse Stalls at Fire Station No. 3

Description Fort Wayne Fire Horses in their stalls at Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington Street. This photo was used on the 1909 composite of Station No. 3. Date 1909.

1900s horse fire equipment

Fire Station No. 3 Equipment

Description Fort Wayne Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington. Interior view looking through the apparatus room from East to West. This photograph was used to make a composite picture of Station No. 3 in 1909.

1909 composite photo people, horses, cat, Fire Station No. 3

Composite of Fire Station No. 3. Individual photos of Henry Hilbrecht, George Jasper, J. Luley, Charles Harris, John Meyers, F. Tieman, M. Laughlin, Wm. Brandt, F. Horstman, Fred Stahlhut, G. Steup, F. Sellers, Charles Treece, W.H. Kronk, F. Schulz, Calvin Rieman, H.T. Hayes, George Herman, Bob (mascot cat). Date 1909.It evens names the horses and Bob the mascot cat!

1911 postcard horses Fire Station No. 3

Fire Station No. 3, 226 West Washington. This photo was made off a post card. date 10/16/1911.

May 21, 1911 Fireman Charles Harris driving steamer from Fire Station No. 3

Fireman Charles Harris driving steamer from Fire Station No. 3 on the way to Mayflower Mills Fire at 118-120 West Columbia Street. 05/21/1911 in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.

Another photo: Fort Wayne fire department horse-drawn wagon going north on Harrison Street in response to an alarm at Mayflower Mills, 21 May 1911.

May 22, 2024 post on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook

1913 Assistant Fire Chief George W. Jasper horse buggy

Assistant Fire Chief George W. Jasper holding the reins, Charles Treece is to his left. They are in the assistant chief's buggy at the rear of Fire Station No.3, 226 West Washington. Date 1913.[ This buggy is in the Fire Fighters museum as shown around the 0:55 mark of the video at the top of the page! ]

Fire Station No. 9

Today’s Throwback Thursday post features a building that was Engine House No. 9, became the new fire academy in 1961,...

Posted by ARCH, Inc. on Thursday, June 10, 2021

Thursday, June 10, 2021 post by ARCH, Inc. on Facebook:

Today’s Throwback Thursday post features a building that was Engine House No. 9, became the new fire academy in 1961, and fell on hard times after its service to the fire department. The structure has been brought back to life, thanks to the Fort Wayne Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services, and is now the location of hte urban farm, Johnnie Mae Farm at 2518 Winter Street. The Craftsman-style Engine House Number 9 was designed by architect Frank Allen. The brick building was the first fire station in Fort Wayne that was built to accommodate motorized fire trucks. When the building was restored, many of the original features were retained like the wood brackets, original window openings with limestone lintels and sills, large double doors, the limestone cornerstone and the tower on the north side of the building. The farm’s namesake Johnnie Mae White was a devoted community leader dedicated to enriching the lives of others, through compassion, faith and the desire to help. The community was fed by donations and canning services in this building. The restoration included the installation of a state-of-the-art commercial grade kitchen. The kitchen is available for rent or use by community groups. Johnnie Mae Farm Stand sells the produce that is grown on-site. Indiana Landmarks Indiana Historical Society Indiana Historical Bureau City of Fort Wayne Government Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Allen County Public Library Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Fort Wayne Community Memories Purdue Extension - Allen County Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Johnnie Mae Farm Renaissance Pointe Hanna-Creighton Renaissance Pointe YMCA

June 10, 2024 post with photos on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook

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