1866 Steamer Pride of the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum In Port Hope

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

A recent edition to the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum was welcomed on June 25, 2019 in Port Hope.

An Amoskeag Steamer was presented in front of dignitaries to members of the Museum at the former Canadian Tire building in Port Hope from Ottawa.

Kathy Kobelski who is the co-chair of the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum Board of Directors spoke at the ceremony. Below is her welcoming remarks.

“The young people and their parents who have been loyal fans and supporters of the museum over many, many years.

To receive this gem of Firefighting apparatus from Ingenium (former Science & Tech Museum) in Ottawa, is an achievement for us and a wonderful surprise for the community of PH. Just in time for Canada Day!

The CFFM was packed up March 2018 and its contents is stored safely in many facilities, including those belonging to the town of PH, this building belonging to Walter Hillman of Trade Tech and other private citizens who have offered dry, safe space. Although the CFFM is alive and well on Facebook and our website we are determined to find a new and permanent site for the valuable trucks and unique artefacts that our in our collection. Our primary goal would be to have the CFFM stay in Port Hope, where it has resided for the past 33 years. Having a museum in PH would not only serve the families and residents here but for those who come from beyond our municipality to visit friends, enjoy live theatre, attend special events or simply to discover the wonders of our little “Town Of Distinction”. A town steeped in history.

A museum is a place of learning, a place to appreciate past. The Canadian Fire Fighter Museum would be exactly that, but also acknowledge the deeds and accomplishments of the professionals in the broad spectrum of Firefighting-from land, sea, and air to commercial & forest firefighting. It would be a place to respect the legacy of FF & encourage ideas for the future.

Now a bit about the Amoskeeg Steamer itself. Refer to Press Release.

While this particular steamer, never saw service in Canada, it is “representative” of the type of machine used by many Canadian towns and cities during the mid 1800’s well into the 1900’s. This particular unit was built by Amoskeag (one of the leading manufacturers) and delivered to the Charlestown, Massachusetts Navy Yards in 1866, making it a very early unit.

Most steamers have disappeared and were sold for scrap over the decades with many being lost to scrap metal drives during the wars. Today there are approximately 30 known to exist across Canada, with the oldest being an 1863 (also an Amoskeag) residing at the Fire Museum in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

CFFM’s new unit is the second oldest known to exist in Canada and has been virtually unseen by the public since 1967.

Since the Museum’s beginnings, some 35 years ago, to acquire a specimen of this historical significance has been a goal. A recent partnership between CFFM and Ingenium (formerly the Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa) made the dream and search a reality.

The CFFM is thankful to Walter Hillman, Trade Technogies for providing rental space for its newly acquired gem. The Board wants the public to enjoy the Steamer and build its knowledge and appreciation of fire fighting in Canada. Therefore, once an inspection is complete, and until a permanent site for the museum is secured, the steamer will be loaned to another museums.

Before we conclude for some refreshments and photo opportunities with our new acquisition, I’d like to express a special thank you to Christopher Terry , former CEO of the Sc/Tech in Ottawa for initiating the connection about the accessioning of the Amoskeag steamer from Ingenium. And to Will Lambert, the current Curator and former Chair of CFFM, who was also instrumental in facilitating its transfer.”