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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Tenth Annual Open House for the Fire Museum in October


All invited to a block party celebrating the history of the Portland Fire Department

What:   Next month, the City of Portland’s Fire Department, IAFF Local 740 and the Portland Veteran Firemen’s Association will host the tenth annual Open House at the Fire Museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to view historic films including footage of the 1912 Portland fire horses, a steam engine on loan from the Manchester New Hampshire Fire Department, the 1938 McCann Fire Engine, and hand-drawn engines from the Great Portland Fire of 1866. Mike Daicy and Don Whitney will be available to sign copies of the book, Portland’s Greatest Conflagration The 1866 Fire Disaster. Both floors of the Portland Fire Museum with over ten rooms of displays to view will be open to the public with docents available to answer questions.

Spring Street will be closed to traffic between Park Street and State Street to allow for the block party and parking of Portland fire apparatus as well as live music.

Built in 1837, the Portland Fire Museum originally served as a fire house with a girls’ school and political meeting space for the West End located on the second floor. Listed as a National Historic Building, the museum is one of the city's hidden gems worth stopping to explore.

The open house is a family-friendly event.  Children will enjoy the chance to see live fire horses in the original stalls, and visitors who wish to bring the fire horses a treat should consider carrots or apples. Free fire helmets will be available for children along with Fire Prevention material for visitors to take home.

For more information, contact the Portland Fire Museum phone number at 772-2040.

When:                  Saturday, October 13, 2012 (Rain or Shine)

                                                10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

                                                 11:00 AM Cladah Mhor Pipe Band

                                                Noon – 2:00 PM State Street Traditional Jazz Band

                Where:                Portland Fire Museum

157 Spring Street, Portland

Suggested donation for attendance is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

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