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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 4, 2005 Firefighting museum to open in Jacksonville By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — The history of Engine Company No. 1 — the oldest firefighting organization in Southern Oregon — will be honored at the opening of the town’s new fire museum adjacent to Old City Hall. Equipment and artifacts collected over 150 years of Jacksonville’s firefighting history finally will have a permanent display, says Fire Chief Tracy Shaw. An 1861 ladder wagon, an 1883 handpumper and the station’s original fire bell will be part of the permanent display, Shaw says. "We’re hanging up leather buckets and helmets," says Shaw. "We have artifacts that haven’t been seen in 20 years. Now they can be displayed with their actual stories in their own space." The collection also includes log books that date back 144 years, he says. Advertisement "We have handwritten log books," says Shaw. "We have to figure out a way to display them without damaging them." According to an article in Southern Oregon Heritage Today, a magazine published by the Southern Oregon Historical Society, Jacksonville suffered five major fires from 1867 to 1888. Creating the fire museum has been a two-year project, says City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. "This was the original location of the town’s fire station," he says. "It was a double-bay system. The hose carts would be pulled out by the fire company members. They’d grab hose carts and the firemen would run with it." The hose carts would be taken to a well nearest the burning structure, he says. Volunteers would then place an intake hose down the cistern and run the outtake hose to the fire. "Sidehandle (pumps) would be manned by firefighters," says Wyntergreen. "And anybody who was nearby would be volunteered as well." Mayor Jim Lewis says he’ll be honoring some of the department’s volunteers at Monday’s dedication ceremonies — including the town’s oldest surviving volunteer, Louis Applebaker. Fighting Jacksonville fires is a family tradition for Applebaker, says Lewis. "His dad joined in 1911," says Lewis. The museum was renovated in phases, Wyntergreen says. A $20,000 grant from Oregon Housing and Community Services and $30,000 from city coffers helped pay for the project, says Wyntergreen. Funding for the project included American Disability Act grant money earmarked for providing handicap access to the museum and Old City Hall. If you go: Jacksonville’s 150-year firefighting history will be unveiled at the dedication of the town’s new fire museum at 1 p.m. Monday. The new museum is located on Oregon Street adjacent to Old City Hall. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Firefighting museum to open in Jacksonville ">[email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s