New Bedford Fire Museum facts for kids
The New Bedford Fire Museum, formerly Fire Station No. 4
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| Established | 1976 |
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| Location | 51 Bedford St., New Bedford, MA, United States |
| Type | Firefighting museum |
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Fire Station No. 4
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | County Street Historic District (ID76000229) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000250 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1975 |
| Designated CP | August 11, 1976 |
The New Bedford Fire Museum is a cool place to visit in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It's a museum all about the history of firefighting in the city. You can find it at 51 Bedford Street.
This museum is special because it's inside an old fire station called Fire Station No. 4. This building was built way back in 1867. It's the oldest fire station still standing in New Bedford! The building itself is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The museum usually opens for visitors during the summer, from July 4th until Labor Day.
Contents
The Old Fire Station Building
The New Bedford Fire Museum is located just south of downtown New Bedford. It sits on the corner of South 6th and Bedford Streets. The building is made of brick and has two floors. It was built in 1867 and made a bit bigger in the 1880s.
One of the most noticeable parts of the building is its tall tower. This tower was used to hang and dry fire hoses. The original part of the station had two large openings for fire trucks. These openings had strong wooden doors and granite frames.
How the Station Changed Over Time
When the station first opened, it was designed for fire equipment pulled by horses. The ground floor had stables for the horses. The upper floor was even used as a hay loft to store food for them!
The first boss of the station was A.M. Howland Jr. He later became the mayor of New Bedford. The station was named after Cornelius Howland, who was an important businessman in the city.
Later, an addition was built next to the main station. This new part was used as the fire department's repair shop. In 1913, volunteer firefighters were replaced by paid staff. At that time, the hay lofts were changed into living spaces for the firefighters.
Fire Station No. 4 was one of the oldest fire stations in Massachusetts that was still being used. It finally closed in 1979. The museum opened in the building the very next year, in 1976.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has a fantastic collection of old firefighting gear and even some old fire engines! One of the most important items is the original 1867 Cornelius Howland hand pumper. This was a special type of fire engine that firefighters used to pump water by hand. It was used at this very station until 1884.
You can also see old log books from the station. These books show what happened at the station between 1867 and 1913. Imagine reading about the calls they responded to!
Fun Activities for Visitors
At the museum, you can even try on old firefighter uniforms. You might also get to slide down a fire pole, just like real firefighters! If you're interested in history, you can look at old city fire records that go all the way back to 1890.
Retired and active firefighters from the city often work at the museum. They are called docents, and they can tell you amazing stories about firefighting history.
Recent Renovations
A few years ago, the roof of the station was damaged by rain. This meant the second floor of the museum had to close for repairs. But don't worry, it reopened in July 2008, so visitors could explore everything again!
See also
