Hey everyone,
I recently came across this interesting post on the Blue Island Historical Society's Facebook page. It talks about plans for a new Fire Department Museum that's set to be constructed right across the street from the fire station on Vermont Street. Mike Summa shared this article, and he encouraged people to check it out and leave their thoughts.
The museum idea originated with a local Blue Islander named Joe Dinovo, and it’s gaining strong backing from the city government, the O’Callaghan family, the Blue Island Historical Society, and various other volunteers and donors. Their goal is to not only educate the public about the rich history of the Blue Island Fire Department but also to emphasize fire safety and prevention. One of the highlights of the museum will be Old Bess, a stunning 1925 Seagrave fire engine that was originally bought brand-new by the city of Blue Island. The preliminary design for the museum building was crafted by another Blue Island resident, Ken Jellema, who has also contributed to other local projects. While the current design might undergo some tweaks as construction moves forward, there’s already a lot of excitement surrounding the progress made so far.
Building something like this takes time—years, in fact—but given the kind of community support Blue Island is known for, it feels like just a matter of time before these ideas become reality. If you're interested in supporting these efforts or learning more about similar initiatives, consider joining the Blue Island Historical Society.
Here’s a sneak peek at what the future museum might look like, based on Ken Jellema’s initial renderings. And don’t forget to check out the classic 1925 Seagrave fire engine—a real gem!
Let me know what you think about the plans!
Best,
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