A History of Firefighting in Geneva
March 27, 2025, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
In the first lecture in our Historic Geneva Spring Program Series, curator John Marks will speak on the history of firefighting in Geneva on Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. The program is being held in conjunction with the exhibit, We Didn't Start the Fire: Firefighting in Geneva, opening March 8 at the Geneva History Museum.
Since its incorporation as a village in 1816, Geneva has had a system of policies to protect the community against the threat of fire and to contain it when necessary. Organized fire companies date back to the early history of the village. Companies multiplied, expanded, and became more important as the community grew in the late 19th century. John will explore how Geneva's fire departments developed from the early days of bucket brigades to modern ladder trucks and fire prevention education. He will talk about the many companies that have existed in the past, the history of the current companies, and how methods of combating fire have changed.
The lecture series is open to the public. There is a suggested donation of $5 to support our programming. For more information about the program, call the Historic Geneva office at 315-789-5151.
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