Rock Hill firefighters hope new museum ‘makes a difference’

The Rock Hill Fire Department threw open the doors of its new fire history museum on Monday – showing off what has been an eight-year labor of love for city firefighters.

Firefighters have been raising money since 2007 to pull together the museum in the Headquarters Fire Station on Elizabeth Lane in downtown Rock Hill. They designed it themselves – borrowing ideas from other museums around the state – and have done nearly all of the construction over the past three years.

“It’s something we can share with the community,” Fire Chief Mike Blackmon said. “Kids like coming to the fire station anyway, and we now have a lot more to offer.”

While most of its attractions are geared toward children, with plenty of hands-on activities, Blackmon also wants it to be a place for learning and, over time, for saving lives.

“The kids can come here and have fun,” he said, “but it’s also an educational place where we can teach them a little something about fire safety.

“If the kids pick up on one thing, go home and tell mom and dad about it, and if it makes a difference for one family, we’ve done our job.”

Children can slide down a fire pole that firefighters once used, and child-sized firefighter jackets, hats and gloves hang in lockers for them to slip into.

Firefighters also have constructed an area that includes mockups of rooms children would be familiar with at home – kitchen, bedroom, living area – as a fire safety training ground of sorts.

And there’s plenty of history to see, which adults can enjoy along with the children as informational placards on each piece of equipment in the museum help visitors learn about Rock Hill’s rich firefighter tradition.

One of those pieces – a fully restored and handpainted 1924 fire engine – was the second motorized vehicle the department owned. There’s also a 19th-century bell that was used as a fire alarm more than 100 years ago, as well as a display honoring firefighters and other emergency workers who lost their lives in the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Firefighters have raised more than $10,000 themselves over the years, but they have gotten a big assist from the community.

For example, Panther Heating and Cooling donated and installed the HVAC system for the museum without charging the fire department a dime. Robert Ratterree, whose grandfather was one of Rock Hill’s early firefighters, has helped find and restore historic photos to display. Walmart and Sam’s Club have made several donations as well.

Later this spring, the fire department will get funds from the Junior Welfare League of York County, which plans to donate all of the proceeds from its 2014 Gobble Wobble 5K walk and 8K run to the museum. Blackmon doesn’t know yet how much that will be, but last year’s recipient received more than $25,000.

That money will pay for computers and other electronic equipment needed to power even more interactive exhibits through which children can learn about fire safety, he said.

Admission is free, and drop-in visitors are welcome between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays, Blackmon said; large groups should call ahead and make an appointment.

By this summer, he said firefighters hope to be able to host children’s birthday parties on weekends and evenings in exchange for a donation to the museum.

Staff writer Anna Douglas contributed.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 9:31 PM with the headline "Rock Hill firefighters hope new museum ‘makes a difference’."