There’s heavy equipment across every corner of the Fire Engine and Motorcoach Museum in East Windsor. “We have a collection of 15 antique firetrucks and eight vintage buses,” said museum president John Gasper. As the country is recognizing its 250th birthday, Gasper is quick to point out that the collection at the museum plays a vital role in firefighting history and, additionally, Connecticut history.
“The engines are like apple pie, it’s Americana. A lot of people relate to the stuff here,” said Gasper, who then laughed, “Who doesn’t love a firetruck?” Gasper noted that the museum collection dates back 100 years, to one engine from 1926 to the most “recent”: a firetruck from 1975.
“We want to preserve the state of Connecticut firefighting and bus service, and also fire safety for kids, and bring these vehicles to kids in the community so they can get exposed to the history,” he said. Aside from visitors seeing the engines and vintage buses, the volunteers at the nonprofit museum also bring their treasured keepsakes to events like parades and public events.
WTIC-TV FOX 61 Hartford
