Old rec centre eyed for possible fire museum

Fall River (D2N) – Halifax is home to the oldest fire department in Canada. The department has been looking for a location to house a bit of very old fire equipment – and they may have found a home at the old Recreation Centre property in Fall River, says Councillor Barry Dalrymple.

“Veteran fire officers have a group,” said Dalrymple. “They have been trying to get HRM to give them a museum for at least 10 years. They have tried in the past, the old Bedford fire station; they have tons of equipment and all kids of old gear.”

When Halifax was founded by the British in 1749, tasks such as fighting fires were primarily performed by the military. In 1754 the Union Fire Club was formed, becoming the first organized fire department in Canada and one of the oldest in North America. It became the Union Engine Company in 1768.

“I met with the mayor; we had a long and terrific meeting,” said the Councillor. “This is the oldest fire department in Canada, but they are getting very discouraged with no proper location. They are in desperate need of a building for an HRM Fire Museum.”

Dalrymple says one of the reasons he worked so hard to get the LWF Hall and the old Rec Centre properties pulled off the market is because of this. “Ours is not a big building, but they are almost out of options and out of time,” said Dalrymple of the group involved in the endeavor to set up a museum for the relics still in existence. “While they fully realize the building doesn’t fully meet their needs, they are almost out of options and are now asking for a building and land for a museum.”

Dalrymple says he has spoken to HRM Fire, who are currently using the building for storage. “They will get back to me very soon,” said Dalrymple. “The mayor is both supportive and enthusiastic and I personally think it would be a wonderful addition to our community. We face a number of challenges as in they don’t have a lot of funding for maintenance costs etc. and it is an old building in need of work.”

But the councillor is optimistic. “I think the community would endorse this as a welcome addition,” said Dalrymple, “and so we are currently working towards that goal.”