Salem Fire Museum

166 East Broadway

Salem, NJ 08079

(856) 935-0354

https://www.facebook.com/SalemFireMuseum/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46799-d32732888-r984946763-Salem_Fire_Museum-Salem_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

Salem Fire Museum at Christmas time

(From the Salem Fire Museum Facebook page):

Union Steam Engine Company first formed in 1749 and operated from a modest firehouse at the corner of Market Street and Broadway. That site is currently occupied by the Old Court House. The Salem Fire Museum is in the fire company’s second fire station, built in 1869, and served actively until 1992 when the Union Steam Engine Company No. 1 moved into a commodious engine house on Walnut Street.

The outside of the museum decorated for Christmas

The firehouse right by the old Boro hall

The front of the firehouse was altered in the early 1930’s to accommodate the 1935 Ahrens Fox pumper, which would not fit in the narrow arched truck door. In the mid-1970’s, a concrete foundation was poured to hold the weight of the 1978 Mack pumper. Size of modern fire apparatus was the motivating factor that drove the fire company out of this firehouse in 1992. The dignified old fire station sat vacant until 2002 when a group of volunteers began the restoration efforts. They were met with a staunch task of crumbling walls, no heat, no electric, no water, and very little money.

Since the project started, the volunteers have restored the front façade to its’ original 3-arched-door configuration, replaced the frieze, installed HVAC, replaced the electric and water service, and collected, organized, and displayed artifacts from over 200 years of fire service in Salem City and surrounding communities. You can view items like the 1847 John Agnew Columbian Hand Pumper, the ornate boiler exhaust from the 1878 Silsby Steamer, old helmets, uniforms, speaking trumpets, nozzles and the like.

The pumper at the museum

The side view of the pumper on the first floor

The antique equipment on the first floor of the museum

The first floor of the firehouse decorated for Christmas

The ‘irons’ at the fire house

The old and new SCBA equipment

People visiting the museum during the parade

The fire place going on a cold morning during the parade

Safety equipment for rescue at the museum

Equipment used on the fire truck

A full view of the firehouse museum first floor

The firehouse Christmas tree

A full view of the first floor of the museum decorated for Christmas

The firehouse door decorated with helmets

The second floor of the museum was set up for the office and operation base of the fire department. The displays are set up with fire operations in mind as well as where the fire fighters were living when on duty for their shifts.

The second floor of the museum

Fire department ‘Class A’ and fire department clothing

Fire department awards and memorabilia

Fire department artifacts

More fire department artifacts

The years of Chief’s hats

Years of emergency communication equipment

The operation desk at the firehouse

Desk operations and Chief’s horn

View from the second floor of the fire house

The second floor set up for a party for the firefighters and their families

The illumination equipment on the first floor

The full first floor of the museum

The Salem Fire Museum gives an interesting look of life in the fire service both at the turn of The last century and today. I just wish it were open more often for the public to see.