Submitted by Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre
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This week’s feature photo shows the Rossland Fire Department’s first motor truck, a repurposed 1910 Austin touring car, waiting in a 1925 parade, with Fire Chief Kenneth Martin and Rod Marrison at the wheel.
The Rossland Fire Department was officially founded following the city’s incorporation in 1897, building on earlier volunteer-driven fire safety efforts.
Rossland’s early firefighters used horse-drawn wagons, but the Rossland Fire Department purchased the Austin in 1916 and adapted it for their efforts.
By 1938, the pull wagons and horses ceased to be used as more new motorized trucks were brought into town.
You can see the 1937 Ford Motor Company Fire Truck and 1941 White Motor Company Fire Truck on display in our exterior exhibits — stop by for a visit!
Learn more about Rossland’s history of fires at: rosslandmuseum.ca/fires.
Museum exhibits focus on Rossland’s social, cultural, and sport history, Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company (now Teck Trail), regional industry/geology, West Kootenay Power and Light Co., and many other interesting exhibits and photographs depicting the early history of Rossland.
The museum is located right on the Black Bear/Le Roi Mine site, which is the designated Kootenay Mining Region National Historic Event site.
Do you have original photos capturing Rossland’s storied history?
Consider donating them to the Rossland archives, we can scan them and you retain the original.
