Fire Department history comes home

Some of the donated items to the Belleville Fire Department were on display. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

There is nothing quite like history on display and there’s about to be a lot more of it at the Belleville Fire Department.

Pieces of Belleville’s Fire Department history were on display on Tuesday evening as part of an open house at Belleville Fire Station 1 on Bettes Street.

Donations from the Vance (Russett) and Emerson families brought artifacts from almost 150 years ago back into the spotlight for display.

Jeff Russett, says he decided to make the donation of a number of items to the fire department because he felt it wasn’t fair the items were kept hidden away out of the public eye.

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Jeff Russett donated a Moira Hose Company leather working helmet from 1859 to the Belleville Fire Department via the Glanmore National Historic Site. He donated a number of historic fire items to be displayed at the fire station on Bettes Street. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Items donated included helmets, belts, nozzles and even the spotlight from the 1929 International fire truck which is kept at the fire hall for display.

Russett says having the name attached to the items means a lot to the family.

Joanne Emerson, the daughter of deputy fire chief Robert Emerson donated the 1881 working helmet of assistant fire chief James Cummins. The fire department already had two ceremonial helmets of Cummins’ on display and this leather helmet completed the set.

Joanne Emerson receives a plaque for her family’s donation of historical artifacts to the Belleville Fire Department from Fire Chief Mark McDonald. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Jeff Russett receives a plaque for his family’s donation of historical artifacts to the Belleville Fire Department from Fire Chief Mark McDonald. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Carson Cross, Fire Prevention Officer with Belleville Fire Department told those in attendance that fire service is all about family, even two or three generations removed from the department.

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He says family is the hidden treasure and the glue of the fire service.

Fire Chief Mark McDonald continued to say they are hoping to expand their historical displays at the fire station because there is so much of it to display and they want to make sure it is displayed properly for people to see and enjoy.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk said the fire department has a tradition of service that is built on the past and sometimes we lose touch with just how far we’ve come.

Cross agrees.

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The pieces will then be restored and catalogued by the Glanmore National Historic Site before being displayed at the Fire Station.

Some of the donated items to the Belleville Fire Department were on display. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Belleville Fire Chief Mark McDonald shows off the plaques that will hang at the Fire Station to mark the donation of numerous items to their artifact displays. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)

Belleville Fire Chief Mark McDonald shows off the plaques that will hang at the Fire Station to mark the donation of numerous items to their artifact displays. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)