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History of firefighting in Wayne County celebrated at the WCHS museum

HONESDALE, PA — Three new exhibits at The Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS) museum will open on Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the public is invited to an open house from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on that day to see the new exhibits and revisit the permanent exhibits free of charge. Refreshments will be served.

Beginning Wednesday, April 22, the Wayne County Historical Society museum and research library will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Featured at the open house and throughout the year is “Fire! Fire! History of Fire Fighting in Wayne County,” a major exhibit created and assembled by executive director Sally Talaga, trustees Jim Bader and Skip Hillier and volunteer Fred Murray, with the assistance of local fire companies and citizens who loaned or donated photographs and equipment.

Using a 125-foot time line, hundreds of photographs, artifacts and pieces of equipment have been assembled, in addition to displays on topics like fund raising and women’s roles in fire fighting. Also included in the exhibit is a recreated portion of Honesdale’s fire box system and material on training, equipment, Fire Prevention Week, fire police, the many hats fire fighters wear and a map of Wayne County with the locations of its fire companies.

During the grand opening on April 18, the Honesdale Fire Department will park their Fire Safety Trailer in the Borough parking lot across the tracks from WCHS, and the public is invited for a tour.

Other exhibits added to the museum this year are “Wayne County People and Place: Photographs by Jeff Hiller” and “The Jones & Roa Expedition.”