The Jefferson City Fire Department is preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of one of its former fire stations and the future site of a fire museum.
At the Jefferson City Council meeting Monday, Mayor Eric Struemph presented a proclamation in honor of the 80th anniversary of former Fire Station No. 2 on East Miller Street. Fire Chief Matt Schofield said the department will host an open house at the old station Sunday, which also will serve as an opportunity for people to see the progress on a future fire museum.
"It's still in need of many other contributions and support to realize its full potential," Schofield said. "We hope to share the vision of what a fire museum could be."
In 2012, the City Council endorsed a firefighter museum concept to be housed in the old Fire Station No. 2 on East Miller Street, which originally opened March 22, 1935. Since then, firefighters and volunteers have been spending time refurbishing the old station, which was used until 1970, to its original state and gathering as many donations as possible for future exhibits.
The museum has not received any city funds and everything is being operated by donations, volunteer labor and in-kind services.
Other funding came from the proceeds of Capt. Tim Young's book on the history of the local Fire Department, "Capital Smoke: The life and times of the Jefferson City Missouri Fire Department," which came out in 2013.
Anyone interested in donating to the project can send donations to the city marked for the Jefferson City fire museum.
The open house is planned for 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the old station at 911 E. Miller St.