1850 William Street
Buffalo, NY 14206-1449
For tour information, call (716) 892-8400,
or e-mail BFHS@adelphia.net
HOURS
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Saturdays, or by appointment.
Groups are always welcome.
The museum is handicapped accessible.
SOCIETY HISTORY
The Buffalo Fire Historical Society was started in 1982 by several firefighters, fire buffs and other individuals who had organized a display at a local bank to mark the Buffalo Fire Department's 100th anniversary in 1980.
With the goals of preserving and celebrating the role of firefighters and firefighting in Buffalo's history, organizers brushed away the dust from old records and forgotten equipment. On September 15, 1982, they formed a committee to develop a museum. The resulting organization, the Buffalo Fire Historical Society, started its collection with memorabilia that had been in storage since the department's 1980 centennial display.
MUSEUM EARNS STATE CHARTER
In January 1984, members started the charter process. As stated in its provisional charter, the Society's goals were to aid in stimulating and cultivating interest in the traditions of the fire service, the Buffalo Fire Department, and to provide an organization and place where the community, and particularly the children, can visit, observe, and become informed of the history of firefighting in the city of Buffalo, through the collection, preservation and display of firefighting equipment, uniforms, helmets, books, rosters, and other pertinent fire apparatus memorabilia. The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, Education Department, granted an absolute charter to the Society in May 1990.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The Society's first home was a former training room at the Buffalo Fire Department Headquarters, 195 Court Street, in downtown Buffalo. It moved to 1850 William Street in 1993. The one-story, five-room building proved an ideal location for the Society's collection; it has several garage-size doors that allow larger parts of the collection, such as apparatus, to be moved in and out easily.
ABOUT THE SOCIETY
The Buffalo Fire Historical Society has a 14-member executive board, from which a president, vice president, treasurer, recording secretary and corresponding secretary are elected. The Society has no paid staff. Members and volunteers perform most work. Jobs include assembling displays, researching topics or individuals, giving tours, cleaning the museum, and general maintenance. Currently, the independent Society has more than 400 members, including local and out-of-town firefighters, retirees, family members of firefighters, clergy, fire buffs and others.
MISSION
The Society's mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and provide equal access to information and artifacts related to the history of firefighting in Buffalo, N.Y., the Buffalo Fire Department, the firefighting profession in general, fire safety and fire prevention, and to teach the public about these objects.
GOALS
The Society aims to continue maintaining and expanding its collection of unique artifacts and research material about firefighting in Buffalo, N.Y., and the Buffalo Fire Department. In keeping with its charter goals, the society aims to continue to spur interest in the traditions of the fire service, and to perpetuate the spirit of service, dedication and heroism of members of the Buffalo Fire Department in its century-old battle to protect life and property against fire.
LINKS
The Fire Museum Network
http://www.firemuseumnetwork.org/
The Buffalonian
http://www.buffalonian.com/history/articles/1851-1900/1884buffalofiredepartment.htm
Buffalo Freenet
http://freenet.buffalo.edu/bah/h/irish/index.html
UB Libraries: Revisiting the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/exhibits/panam/essays.html
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