About Our Collections

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is home to over one-thousand artifacts, two thousand photographs, and countless volumes of research materials. These materials range from large apparatus to vials of horse oats to firefighter equipment and uniforms.

Objects - Apparatus - Archival Materials - Research - Donating Artifacts

Objects

Most of our three-dimensional objects include typical things a visitor could expect during their visit to the museum: fire helmets, fire badges, nozzles, axes, alarm equipment, and of course, fire apparatuses. However, visitors will be surprised to see exciting and unique items such as a 1930s ventriloquist dummy, the original pizza oven used by the Aurora firefighters to start their Saturday night pizza tradition, and a turn-of-the-century smoke mask.

View Our Trucks and Apparatus

Archival Materials

Our archival collection is comprised of thousands of photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, annual reports, and Aurora Fire Department log books. Additionally, the Chief’s Office archival room houses hundreds of reference books. Recently staff worked on itemizing the Aurora Fire and Water Commission Records from the 1860s-1890s, and digitizing a collection of notebooks transcribing old Aurora newspapers from the 1880s-1920s.

Click here to view the online finding aid of the logbooks here.

Researching our Collections

While space and focus permit us to exhibit only a small percentage of our artifacts, our collection and archives are available to researchers by appointment.

Please contact us to schedule a research appointment

Back to top

How to Donate Artifacts

We accept donations of materials relating to the history of firefighting in Aurora, our region, and firefighting in general. All decisions regarding potential donations are reviewed by the Museum's Collections Committee.

Please be aware that the museum may not accept every donation for various reasons. The most common reasons are:

Out of scope, non-firefighting or out of our geographic scope
Duplicates of items already in the collection
Condition and size of the object

Please contact us to meet with our staff about your materials.

Back to top

Trucks and Apparatus

Scroll down on each photograph to see more information about each of our apparatus.

On Display

1850s Button-Hand Pumper

This hand pumper was made by Button and Company of Waterford, New York sometime in the 1850s. It was purchased by the Aurora Regional Fire Museum in the fall of 2000 from Jim Carew, a local fire apparatus collector. It is similar in size and style to Aurora's first fire engine made by Wright & Bros. of Rochester New York in 1856.

When the Old Central Fire Station -- home to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum -- closed for renovations in 2001, volunteers restored this engine back to its original appearance and operating condition.

As few clues remain to track down this engine's original name or owner, it has been dubbed the "Young America No. 2" in honor of Aurora's first "Young America Fire Company"

1907 Ahrens-Steam Fire Engine

The Ahrens Manufacturing Company is a direct decedent of the first successful steam fire engine manufacturer in America. The Ahrens company (in all its incarnations) produced nearly one-thousand steam fire engines between 1852 and 1916. This second-sized, Ahrens "Continental" model, was one of six purchased by the Chicago Fire Department in 1907. It served at Engines 39 and 56 before being retired.

This engine is on loan from the Chicago Fire Department

1918 American LaFrance Engine

Delivered in 1918, this American LaFrance pumper served the small community of LaSalle, Illinois for over forty years. Early American LaFrance engines such as this one were often called the Ford Model "Ts" of the fire service. They were common, relatively affordable, and very reliable. Retired from active service in 1958, this engine was saved and restored by a private collector.

Aurora purchased a nearly identical 1918 "type 12" American LaFrance. Aurora's engine bore the serial number 2214, while LaSalle's engine was 2204. They probably sat next to each other at the factory.

This engine is on loan in memory of James Thornton

1921 Stutz/Pirsch Engine

"The best on the market, far superior to any the city has purchased." With those reassuring words of praise, the Aurora City Council approved the bid of $12,500 for the purchase of a Stutz fire engine.

Like most fire engines of the day, the Stutz was considered a triple combination - containing a pump, hose, and chemical tanks. It was assigned to Company Number 3.

In 1943, Peter Pirsch Fire Apparatus Company completely reconditioned the Stutz, adding a new Waukesha engine, replacing the solid rubber tires, and both widening and strengthening the frame.

Upon retirement from the Aurora Fire Department, the Stutz was given to the Aurora Historical Society, who have in turn placed it on loan here.

1948 America LaFrance-Engine

Delivered in 1948, this American LaFrance “700 series” pumper served as Engine No. 3 in community of Batavia, Illinois for over forty years.

Typical of most fire apparatus made after World War II , the 700 series sported a new design that placed the cab in front of the motor. This eliminated the long nose from the front of the engine and provided for better visibility and maneuverability. The new cab also allowed five firefighters to ride inside sitting down. This was much safer than in previous models where the firefighters would ride to the fire while standing on the back running board and hanging on for dear life.

The new 700 series cab was a huge success for the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company. Over three thousand 700 series pumpers, ladder trucks, rescue squads, and even airport crash vehicles were manufactured between 1947 and 1956. The engine’s popularity, and its distinctive front end, make it the quintessential American fire engine.

This engine is on loan from the City of Batavia Fire Department.

Currently in Storage

1934 Pirsch-City Service Ladder Truck

Shortly after the tragic Woolworth fire where three firefighters lost their lives, the Aurora Fire Department purchased a Pirsch Quadruple Combination Service Truck. Technically referred to as a "Quad" because of the truck's pump, water tank, hose body, and ladder carrying ability. The new vehicle soon became affectionately called "The Hayrack" because of it's ungainly appearance. The combination of these four functions, and some additional rescue and lighting equipment, made this truck extremely versatile.

The Pirsch Quad faithfully responded to all general alarms within the City of Aurora until it's retirement thirty years later in 1964. It's versatility, dependable service, and ease of operation made it a favorite among the members of the Aurora Fire Department. Unfortunately retirement was hard on the Hayrack, and it ultimately ended up in a junk yard, buried up to it's axles in mud. In 1997, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum purchased the truck and rescued it. It now longingly awaits the time and funding needed to restore it to it's former splendor.

1942 American LaFrance Engine

This 500 series American LaFrance features a pump mounted in the front of the cab and behind the motor. The pump’s control panel is located on the passenger side of the engine, considered to be a “safety feature” briefly tried and immediately abandoned by American LaFrance at the end of the 1940s. This apparatus was placed in service as Aurora’s Engine 1 and operated out of the Old Central Fire Station. Click here to find out how you can help restore this beautiful vehicle and bring it home to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, where it can once again sit on the apparatus bay floor.

1946 American LaFrance Aerial Ladder Truck

Delivered to Aurora in 1946, this American LaFrance “JOX” series sported a new post-war cab-over design that made the truck safer and more maneuverable. Instead of the engine jutting out in front of the cab, the cab now is perched underneath the cab. Today, it proudly sits in our off-site storage facility.

1964 American LaFrance Aerial Ladder Truck

Delivered in June 1964, at a cost of $3,800, this aerial truck saw most of its service as Truck 2, operating out of Aurora’s Central Station, now the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. The large gold shield and number “2” painted on its doors quickly gave rise to the nickname of “The Deuce.”

Back to top