History

History of the Franklin NH Fire Department 1830-2010

Like our City the Fire Department has a rich history as well.  We are proud of our service, protection, and commitment to this great city.  We are doubly blessed with having many artifacts of the yesteryear as well as those that have been willing to tell the stories of the years gone by.

Retired Deputy Chief Andrew Nadeau has provided a brief highlight of our storied past in his own unique way.  We are fortunate to have a volume of pictures of major fires, incidents and other activities that have been included in his condensed history for your enjoyment.

We have also, through the generosity of many volunteers including our own membership, constructed the Franklin Firefighters Museum in 1987 to store many of these artifacts.  The museum is located directly behind the fire station and is open whenever we are available to show it.  It currently houses our restored 1853 Hunnaman hand tub with hose reel, a partially restored 1930 REO and hundreds of other fire fighting items from Franklin’s past.  It’s worth a look on a rainy day or anytime you have visitors in town.  Retired Deputy Chief Andrew Nadeau is the honorary curator of the department’s museum.

The following condensed history was provided by retired Deputy Chief Andrew N. Nadeau from his book titled:  History of the Franklin NH Fire Department 1830-2010.  Deputy Chief Nadeau completed the original 150+ page work prior to his retirement from the job (1960-1989), and then updated it in 2010.

The members of the Franklin Fire Department would like to thank Deputy Chief Andrew Nadeau for his valiant efforts in preserving the history of the Franklin Fire Department.  Books are available for purchase at the Franklin Fire Department.