HERE’S A BRIEF LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE PAST YEAR
Our exterior stone foundation and brickwork was completely repointed and repaired this spring.
Once the exterior brickwork was completed to the less glamorous but necessary interior restoration and upgrades.
In July we moved the 1957 LaFrance Pumper to temporary indoor storage so work on HVAC. electrical, ceiling and floor repairs in the main truck floor could continue.
WE BOUGHT A FIRE TRUCK!
Through the generous donation of a local resident, we got the opportunity in May to bring back home to Welland the 1926 Godfredson Bickle Pumper that was in service here from 1926 to 1948.
We are extremely grateful to our retired firefighter volunteers who are busy restoring the Bickle so that it can be displayed at Central Fire Station.
TRILLIUM FOUNDATION GRANT APPROVED!
We are very pleased to announce that in October we were the recipient of a Trillium Foundation grant of $128,500.00. Along with our previous grant of $500,000.00 from Canadian Heritage, this will allow us to complete the necessary restorations to the heritage building including plaster, paint and restoration of historic windows.
We now have heat in most of the building, including the basement. Heating on the main truck floor should be completed before Christmas. Completion of bathroom upgrades and installation of new interior and exterior lighting is expected to be finished shortly after the New Year. Lights above the exterior side doors will be in the goose neck style like those originally found there in order to maintain the heritage appearance of the building.
FIREFIGHTING HERITAGE DISPLAY MAIN FLOOR
We are now custodians of well over 1500 artefacts and archival materials associated with the history of firefighting in Welland and the Niagara region. They range from our largest artefact – the building itself – through the Bickle fire truck to firefighting gear and equipment, hundreds of photos, trophies and smaller documents.
Our Artefact/Display Committee consisting of museum professionals and retired firefighters, some of whom worked out of Central Fire Hall for decades, has been busy cleaning, cataloguing and restoring the collection as well planning for the display and recording reminiscences from long-time firefighters. We look forward to opening the display to visitors this coming year.
We would like to sincerely thank our volunteers for their hard work this past year, all our donors and supporters and wish everyone all the best for 2024 !