When the Society took control of the Fire Station building, it was in complete disrepair after a number of years of neglect and required extensive repairs to bring it up to a usable standard.
With the assistance of a State Economic Development Grant, extensive work by the U.S. Navy Sea Bees, and hundreds of hours of volunteer time, the Fire Museum was opened and dedicated on October 29th, 1983. The building, located in the Cheney National Historic and Landmark District, was built in 1901, with a variety of additions that were added until 1912.
It was occupied as a fire station until the mid-1960s, first by the South Manchester Fire District until 1954 and then by the Town of Manchester Fire Department until March 10th, 1966. The Town of Manchester Fire Department was created after a consolidation of a number of independent fire districts.
Originally housing horse-drawn equipment, the firehouse was converted to a motorized station in late 1912 when a Seagrave chemical truck and a city service truck were delivered. The chemical truck has been fully restored and is on display today. In 1921 an Ahrens Fox pumper, the first pumper in town, was purchased and placed in service in the station. Owned by the Town of Manchester, the Fox is still operational and displayed at the Museum.