Museum exhibit honors NFD's 125 years

You may not know about Dan and Joe, but they were an important part of Nevada's history. They were the fire horses, who had the job of pulling the Nevada Fire Department's equipment to the scene of a fire on many occasions, during the Nevada Fire Department's early years.

A mural featuring Dan and Joe, and several other artifacts and bits of information will comprise an exhibit in preparation at the Bushwhacker Museum, which celebrates the Nevada Fire Department's 125th year of service in 2010. Firefighters Local 3031 is putting on a fund-raiser, a drawing for a Remington 887 shotgun to help finance the exhibit.

Captain Tim Bullard of the Nevada Fire Department said no one is sure exactly when the fire horses began their service, however, they were retired in 1918 when the Nevada Fire Department received their first motorized equipment, although one was kept on for awhile.

"We're not sure the exact date but it was sometime between 1895 and 1900," Bullard said. "They were retired in 1918 when the department got it's first motorized engine. One was kept on for a time in case the White Motor Company engine wouldn't start."

The centerpiece of the exhibit will be a large mural depicting Dan and Joe in front of the old firehouse on North Ash. Plans for the exhibit include an interpretive panel and a display of artifacts, which will include a leather helmet and belt, among other things.

Museum director Terry Ramsey said 3M had donated a large mural created from a picture postcard featuring the two fire horses and Bullard said that he appreciated the donation.

"Kate Long at 3M really did a great job with the mural," Bullard said. "We started with a picture post card that featured Dan and Joe and we scanned it in at a very high resolution."

Ramsey said that in the past fire companies were sponsored by businesses and prominent citizens.

"There will be a leather firefighter's helmet and belt in the display," Ramsey said. "In the past businesses used to sponsor the fire department and the name of the business is on equipment they sponsored."

Bullard said the helmet and belt were from one of three fire companies that eventually merged to form the Nevada Fire Department.

"They're from the Harding Hose Company, one of the volunteer fire companies in Nevada," Bullard said,

The volunteer companies, which were formed in 1885, merged in 1895 to create the Nevada Fire Department with three paid positions, including Fire Chief.

Today the Nevada Fire Department is composed of 13 full-time firefighters plus three part-time firefighters. They have two pumper trucks, 212 and 219, which are used for structure and vehicle fires; a ladder truck, 216, which is used in structure fires and to provide elevated streams of water; one tanker, 211, which hauls water to rural areas but also can function as a pumper; a rescue truck, 214, which has the extrication tools and hazmat equipment; a brush truck, 217, which is used for grass fires and unauthorized burning; two pickups and various other support equipment.

Ramsey said that she had a lot of respect for the firefighters and felt the display was their due. "For 125 years we've depended on the fire department to help us when we're in trouble and it's time to recognize their dedication and service to the community," Ramsey said.

Included in the display will be a panel honoring the three Nevada firefighters who lost their lives in the performance of their duties.

Bullard said, "There was a wall collapse in 1921 and two heart attacks in the 1930s or 1940s."

Bernice Lynch lost his life Christmas day 1921, James Jones died March 22, 1929, and Orval (Pete) Davis died April 14, 1948.

Tickets for the drawing are $1 each or 6 for $5 and can be purchased from any firefighter or at EMS Guns and Ammo, where the shotgun is on display. ꆱ