It’s been four years in the making, and Saturday afternoon the Hays Fire Department Museum finally  celebrated its grand opening.

The new museum is a partnership with the Hays Firemen’s Relief Association and the Ellis County Historical Society.  It’s the newest addition to the Historical Society complex at 100 West 7th Street.

The building was actually constructed by Hays firefighters, and much of the material was donated.  Lieutenant Darrin Myers who headed the project, says the history of HFD dates back to 1885 when some of the town’s men organized a bucket brigade.

Taking center stage in the museum are the first two motorized fire engines owned by the Hays Fire Department, a 1927 International, and a 1936 Ford.   Myers says he  started thinking about a museum  because there was no permanent home for the two engines which had to be moved and relocated many times to various buildings around town.

Visitors will also see other types of firefighting equipment used by HFD over the years.  The family of Bill Dechant, a Hays firefighter from 1945-1975, recently donated his Class A uniform.

Fundraising for the museum began in early 2008.  Ground breaking was in August 2009.