They fought fires with Hand Pumps and Buckets Steam and Horses

Hand PumpThe Portland Fire Museum at 157 Spring Street in Portland holds an amazing collection of antique fire apparatus and the records of the entire history of the Portland Fire Department. Operated by members of the Portland Veteran Firemen's Association, which itself dates back to 1891, the museum includes artifacts from all the major eras of fire fighting, from the days when it was done with hand pumps and bucket brigades, to steam engine and horses to the early days of the automotive age.

SteamerAssociation President Ed Marks is an authority of the history of firefighting and the changes the fire department has gone through. Our feature features excepts of our interview with Marks as well as some images of early firefighters and firefighting equipment in Portland.

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