Worcester Fire Museum & Educational Center

In Worcester’s early years as an industrial center, there were no large businesses. The town’s manufacturing businesses were comprised several small shops. It was the loss of one of these businesses in 1793 that gave impetus to a movement to create an organization to combat residential and businesses fires.

On January 4, 1793, Cornelius and Peter Stwell’s textile shop burned. According to Rice’s “Worcester Diary,” “This shop was located on what is now the east corner of Park and Orange streets. More than 2000 yards of cloth and stock for 700 yards more were consumed. Loss 300 pounds.”

That fire led to the organization of the Worcester Fire Society. Members, including Stephen Salisbury and Isaiah Thomas, organized themselves on the model of the Philadelphia fire association begun by Benjamin Franklin. Members furnished their own equipment to include water buckets, a bed wrench to disassemble beds (if necessary), and fire bags to hold any items from the burned building that could be salvaged. In the same year (1793) that the Fire Society was organized, a hand engine was also purchased. Forty-two years after the fire association was organized, the town formed an official fire department.

The first Line of Duty Death for the Worcester Fire Department happened at the "Great Boston Fire 11/9/1872" Ladderman Thomas Maloney Ladder 2 lost his life from injuries sustained at the fire in boston.

"A FIREMAN'S FUNERAL--The entire fire department of the city turned out Tuesday in uniform, and with badges of mourning, to attend the funeral of Thomas Maloney, who died in the Massachusetts general hospital, a few days ago, from injuries received at the Boston fire. The house of Hook and Ladder No. 2, to which company the deceased formerly belonged, was appropriately festooned with mourning emblems bearing the motto, "We mourn the loss of our departed brother". The funeral services were held in St. Anne's church, Rev. Father Scannell officiating. The procession, which had es**rted the hearse to the church, again formed, and under es**rt of the Worcester National band, accompanied the remains part way to St. Johns cemetery, when part of the department turned back to be on duty in case of fire, while the members of Hook and Ladder No. 2, and delegations from other companies, followed on to the grave."

Click here for more information: https://youtu.be/nAL609RscxE

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Monday, Dec. 2 , 2024, a pop-up exhibit managed by active and retired firefighters will be on display at Union Station (2 Washington Square) telling the story of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire and honoring the men who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Brother Joe and his crew are doing fantastic work on this piece of Central Mass Firefighting History!

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, marks the five year anniversary of the Line of Duty Death of Lt. Jason “Jay” Menard. The Worcester Fire Department will hold a memorial unveiling and dedication at the McKeon Rd Fire Station at 6PM. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Help a little boy when the name contest for Sutton PD’s Drone. Click on David the magic cheese wizard and click like.

Open house on Saturday and the BareCove Fire Museum in Hingham. Worcester Fire’s Engine 3, 1910 LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine is on loan for display there.

Saturday, March 9th Open House. Free admission. Chance to see the Worcester Steam Fire Engine.