Antique Fire Muster comes to Olde Sanborn Days

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, July 10, 2008

Ransomville Fire Company’s 1933 Buffalo will be among the antique fire equipment on display during Olde Sanborn Days. The 500-gallon-per-minute pump, with original motor, was completely repainted last winter.

Helping to celebrate Niagara County’s Bicentennial, an Antique Fire Muster will be part of Olde Sanborn Days this weekend on the grounds of the Sanborn Fire Company, 5811 Buffalo St. (Route 429), Sanborn.

The muster will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 12.

Some of the finest older fire apparatus from Niagara, Erie, Orleans and Wyoming counties will be on display, including the 1933 American Lafrance that still belongs to the Sanborn Fire Company. This truck was delivered to Sanborn by rail from Elmira. Its cost at the time was $5,100.

Other Niagara County fire companies that will be displaying their older pieces of apparatus are Adams, Bergholz (a chain-driven truck), Lewiston No. 1 Fire, South Wilson, Terry’s Corners, Wendelville and Wright’s Corners fire companies.

There will be displays of old time pictures and equipment that will help tell the history of volunteer firefighting here in Niagara County.

The committee putting the muster together consists of Wayne Jagow, Niagara County clerk and member of Wright’s Corner Fire Company; Gary Hunt from the Frontier Fire Company; Glenn Christman from the Wendelville Fire Company; Peter Maertin from Sanborn Fire Company; and Carl Peckham from Gasport Fire Company.

“Its purpose is to showcase some of well cared for older vehicles that are out there.” Christman said of the muster. “Volunteer fire service in Niagara County has many companies that have been around for more than 100 years and are full of many traditions. Many of these will be shown in the displays that will be available.”

One of the older pieces of equipment the group hopes to have on display is an 1893 American Fire Engine Steamer that belongs to the Middleport Fire Company, Christman said. It was originally purchased by the WJ Sterritt Engine Company of Middleport, after being shown at World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893.

Sponsoring the muster are the Niagara County Volunteer Fireman’s Association and Niagara County Fire Chiefs Association, in conjunction with Niagara County Central Rotary.

Niagara County Central Rotary’s annual Olde Sanborn Days, with a craft show, chain saw carving demonstrations, displays, concessions and entertainment runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.