Display shows generations of Antioch firefighting
It's easy to miss. Set back from Holbek Drive, glare and reflections obscure the historic items behind the window.
It's not advertised. There's no admission fee. It's just there. Nearly 100 years of Antioch Fire Department history sits on display for any and all to see.
As the department looks toward its anniversary in 2012, the nostalgic and eclectic collection takes on added meaning.
Major fires destroyed much of downtown Antioch in 1891. More blazes between 1903 and 1905 pushed the hamlet to form a standing crew of firefighters. Much of that lore is gathered in the front window of Station Number One.
A hand pump from 1898 dominates the room. Original price, $695.
There's turnout gear from the 1940s. The old black rubberized kind. The long coat with metal buckles kept firefighters dry, but unprotected from heat.
Along the back wall are a half dozen golden shovels. Once gripped by city fathers and fire department chiefs during groundbreaking ceremonies, the tools were perfect props for newspaper photographs.
An old Motorola two-way radio stands on its own. The lanky clunker weighs about 2 pounds.
For those who hoped to attack the blaze before firemen arrived, there were a variety of fire extinguishers.
Look for an assortment of liquid filled glass grenades. Known as "The Fireman on the Wall," the devices were designed to explode under the heat of the flames spraying their contents. Hopefully, though not likely, dousing the blaze.
A device called "The World's Firefighter," is worth a look. The brass canister was filled with a "perfectly harmless" white chemical. Just pop off the lid and "throw powder with force" at the fire. It was high-tech in the late 1890s.
A line of brass nozzles line the windowsill. Assorted lengths and widths, the old hose tips offered little control over the stream. There were no shut-off valves. Just point and shoot.
An old canvas stretcher complete with thick steel handles looks like it might weigh as much as the injured person it carried.
The primitive nature of the artifacts might make you smile. But the display speaks to the pride of generations of Antioch firefighters.