Some stories are too important to leave to chance. Inside the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti, centuries of firefighting history have been carefully preserved — the trucks, the gear, and the remarkable stories of those who risked everything to protect us.

Director and Curator Dave Egeler opens the doors to a collection that spans colonial times to modern day, revealing how passion, family legacy, and an unshakeable sense of duty can transform a single firehouse into something truly extraordinary.

Because behind every polished engine and every worn leather helmet is a human story — of sacrifice, of service, and of communities that owe more to their firefighters than they may ever know.

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The flagpole that's outside, that's got the American

2

flag on it, well, the very top of

the flagpole is a billiard ball.

3

That back in the fifties or maybe

sixties when the, when the ball at

4

the top of the flagpole was destroyed,

the fire chief took a ladder truck

5

up and then actually put a billiard

ball up on top of the flagpole.

6

Um, and it's been there ever since.

7

I can assure you that if that ball ever

falls apart, we will do the same thing.

8

We will replace it with another

billiard ball, uh, just to kind

9

of keep that history alive.

10

Cliff DuVernois: Hello everyone.

11

Welcome back to Total Michigan,

where we share the stories of the

12

dreamers and doers working to make

our communities a little bit brighter.

13

I'm your host, Cliff DuVernois.

14

For generations, they

ran towards the fire.

15

Not for glory, not for recognition,

but because somebody had to.

16

Because a neighbor needed them.

17

Because that's what they did.

18

And somewhere in that sacrifice lives

a story, A story worth preserving,

19

worth honoring, worth passing on.

20

In Ypsilanti, Dave Egeler, Director

of Operations and Curator of the

21

Michigan Firehouse Museum has made

it his mission to do just that.

22

Dave Egeler: Michigan Firehouse

Museum is a nonprofit charity.

23

It's a museum that is designed

to help celebrate the history

24

of firefighting, not only across

Michigan, but across the United States.

25

We're located right here in

Ypsilanti, right in Depot town,

26

historic area of Ypsilanti.

27

We are attached to Ypsilanti's original

Old Firehouse, and we really do try

28

to do everything we can to tell the

story about firefighting, firefighting

29

history for the state of Michigan.

30

Cliff DuVernois: So before we dive into

that, Dave, why don't you tell us a little

31

bit about where, where are you from?

32

Where did you grow up?

33

Dave Egeler: I grew up

in northern Michigan.

34

I grew up in the town of Leland and I grew

up in a family of volunteer firefighters.

35

My grandfather was the fire chief,

my dad was the assistant chief.

36

So I grew up in, uh, kind of public

service, kind of watching them in

37

awe of them, and that's what got me

and my family, especially my brother,

38

into collecting antique fire trucks,

which got us into volunteering here

39

at the museum, which got us into

leadership roles here at the museum.

40

Cliff DuVernois: And I can imagine that

a part of this is because of, you know,

41

your grandfather being a part of this

and your father being a part of this.

42

What was it that, 'cause you were

telling me before the microphones went

43

hot, that like you and your brother.

44

Bought several of the trucks.

45

Dave Egeler: Yes, we did.

46

And it started with my dad finding

for sale at an antique store in the

47

upper peninsula, one of the first

fire trucks that he actually learned

48

on and drove as a firefighter.

49

Then, um, we got to talking about it.

50

Eventually I ended up buying that truck.

51

My brother and I then bought two of

the other trucks that Leland had,

52

had its first three fire trucks

total that the fire department had.

53

And then our collection grew and

our interest in antique fire trucks

54

got us involved in the museum.

55

Cliff DuVernois: What is it that made

you decide to purchase these trucks?

56

In the first place.

57

Dave Egeler: Again, it had to do early

with, with honoring our family, my dad and

58

my grandfather with their experience in,

in history with volunteer firefighting.

59

Um, but at the point that I was talking to

my dad and, and you could see almost this.

60

This gleam in his eye, this very strong

interest in that one truck that he had

61

found for sale and that, uh, and that

kind of hoping that potentially maybe

62

he'd have a chance to see the truck

again, maybe even, uh, be involved

63

with the truck into the future.

64

And I, when I saw that, that kind of put

me on a quest to, to buying that truck.

65

And, and then the addiction happened,

and then, and then my brother and

66

I got into buying more trucks.

67

Uh, to the point.

68

At a certain point we've said we're

done, but but it's, it's all because of,

69

you could just see my dad's interest in

70

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

71

Dave Egeler: Where he was headed with,

with talking about that particular truck.

72

Cliff DuVernois: The question I got

for you then, 'cause you said you're,

73

you're from the up north area, from this

community, Leland, but we're in Ypsilanti

74

Dave Egeler: Yes.

75

Cliff DuVernois: How in the

world did this passion for fire

76

trucks, this family passion,

whatever it is, migrate down here.

77

Was there already something

started here in the area?

78

Dave Egeler: No, actually there wasn't.

79

It, it, it migrated with the fact that,

uh, both my brother and I, we moved

80

down to the, uh, anti rips landing area.

81

We both attended the

University of Michigan.

82

And, uh, ultimately, um, developed

professional lives down in this area,

83

but obviously still with our roots in the

family with volunteer firefighting and

84

stuff, our interest in that kept going.

85

And so ultimately everything that

we bought that was antique fire

86

equipment or got donated to us, related

to our hometown, it's down here.

87

Sure.

88

Because we both end up living

down here and having the storage

89

facilities down here for it.

90

Cliff DuVernois: And then why

don't you tell us what is the.

91

What's the idea?

92

What is the genesis of the museum?

93

How did he get started?

94

Dave Egeler: The genesis of the museum

actually is at the founders of the

95

museum, who were Norma and Howard Weaver.

96

Norma Weaver's dad was an Ann

Arbor firefighter who died in

97

the line of duty back in 1961.

98

And they had, they were into, uh,

collecting antique trucks, but

99

they also start, uh, antique cars.

100

And they also started collecting antique

trucks, including antique fire trucks.

101

Really they thought about

it at a certain point.

102

They wanted to have a space

where they could start to show

103

off their antique fire trucks.

104

That's what got them into purchasing

the old firehouse to start the museum.

105

That's what got them then into adding

this whole addition on, uh, in order to

106

be able to display their fire trucks.

107

But mostly it's an honor of,

uh, to pay homage to her dad

108

who died in the line of duty.

109

Cliff DuVernois: And I can also

imagine too that, 'cause there's

110

a lot of areas or whatever that.

111

When they build like an original

firehouse, at some point in time

112

they've either knocked it down

to build a brand new one on top

113

of one, or they've literally just

abandoned it and moved across town.

114

But the original firehouse

that was here, that's purchased

115

is in remarkably good shape.

116

Dave Egeler: It is that, that

117

period of six to eight months.

118

It went from an idea to actually a

119

Cliff DuVernois: You

would not see that today,

120

Dave Egeler: that you

don't see that today.

121

And that's actually fantastic.

122

And that building is probably at

128 years old in better shape.

123

Cliff DuVernois: Amazing

124

Dave Egeler: than this addition that

we're standing in right now, which

125

was built uh, about 24 years ago.

126

Cliff DuVernois: So now if with

for the idea of turning this into

127

some kind of, of a museum, right?

128

We're talking about, you know,

honoring, you know, firemen.

129

I guess what I want to know is, is like,

what, what's the initial reaction to that?

130

I mean, was there, you know,

was it basically like, yes,

131

this is something that we need?

132

Was it just, okay, you're on your own?

133

How did, how did that initial.

134

Dave Egeler: You know, again, they

had this great idea that the weavers

135

did about what they wanted to do.

136

And what's nice about the,

that they had a great idea.

137

They also had frankly, great resources.

138

And when you can put a good vision

together with great resources, you

139

can actually do almost what you want,

140

Cliff DuVernois: right?

141

Dave Egeler: And so it started again

with, uh, ultimately purchasing

142

the old firehouse, going through

the process of getting approvals

143

because we're in a historic district.

144

To be able to add on this whole addition.

145

Ooh,

146

Cliff DuVernois: yes.

147

Dave Egeler: So they had to go through a

whole, a whole process of getting approval

148

through the historic District Commission

and then of course the City of Ypsilanti

149

for, for the construction project itself.

150

Sure.

151

But they basically said, this is what

we wanna do, this is why we wanna do it.

152

And, um, and they continue to move

forward and make that a reality.

153

Cliff DuVernois: So then a part of this

is, is, is going around the museum here.

154

You were showing me before there are.

155

A lot of fire trucks from

a lot of different areas.

156

I'm sorry, different eras of time.

157

And it's not only the fire trucks,

but you were showing me some

158

that were like pulled by horses.

159

You've actually made a comment about

having, uh, some of these, and I don't

160

even know I don't wanna say the word fire

engine, but these, like the, the, the fire

161

fighting equipment from colonial time.

162

Dave Egeler: Yes.

163

Cliff DuVernois: How in the

world do you find this stuff?

164

Dave Egeler: You know, that's a a a

lot of the stuff, especially in the

165

eighties, nineties, early two thousands.

166

A lot of, uh, auctions and fire,

fire memorabilia, sales would

167

happen across the whole country.

168

And the weavers had some great,

uh, consultants that would help

169

find things across the country

that were going up for auction.

170

And, uh, and so they would go out on

buying sprees, you know, again, they

171

wanted to equip the museum with as much.

172

Equipment and memorabilia and educational

materials and everything as possible

173

to tell us, complete a story about

firefighting history as possible.

174

In other words, they just

didn't want shiny trucks.

175

They wanted to have, everything else

to help tell the story about fire and

176

celebrate the history of firefighting.

177

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

178

And then one of the things that

really impressed me, I mean, besides

179

the fact that, that everything

in here just looks absolutely

180

gorgeous and pristine, but it works.

181

Dave Egeler: Yes.

182

Cliff DuVernois: mean, if we, we go

out there, like the one truck you were

183

showing me earlier, uh, I think it's for

the 18 hundreds, a four cylinder engine.

184

And it works.

185

Dave Egeler: Yeah.

186

Every single one of our

motorized trucks runs.

187

Um, and that's important for us because

we like to make sure that we're still

188

having living history, if you will.

189

Some of it's outta necessity.

190

We actually have to move the trucks

in and off the floor for maybe

191

events or parades or whatever.

192

But some, a lot of it's just

because we like to be able to say,

193

yes, all of our equipment works.

194

Cliff DuVernois: If you're talking about

doing this nationwide, this fits into

195

what you were saying before and the

fact that it's not only celebrating,

196

uh, the history of firefighting in

Michigan, but actually around the country.

197

Because I saw there was one firetruck in

here, I believe it was from Pennsylvania.

198

Dave Egeler: Yes.

199

Cliff DuVernois: That was here.

200

So it really is a national museum.

201

Dave Egeler: Yeah.

202

So a, a lot of the equipment

that's in here almost all the

203

equipment that's in here was, uh,

was donated to the museum either.

204

Purchased by the weavers and

donated to the museum, or

205

donated to us by other people.

206

And sometimes, uh, the, the donations

are accepted because it's a also a unique

207

piece of equipment that or manufacturer

that, uh, isn't on display in here.

208

And it'd be nice to add to our collection.

209

Uh, a good portion of our

trucks are Michigan departments.

210

But some of them aren't.

211

And like you say, the one from

Pennsylvania even is just because

212

it's a unique truck and it's a very

nice truck to have in our collection.

213

Cliff DuVernois: Certainly.

214

And then, so the trucks are impressive.

215

The firefighting equipment here is

impressive, but it goes beyond that.

216

Right.

217

And I'm thinking, I think the

term I'm looking for is PPE,

218

personal protection Equipment.

219

So when we're talking

about like the actual gear.

220

That the firemen wear, and you've

got a beautiful exhibit up on your

221

second floor where again, you start

off with this is what they wore in

222

colonial times, which is amazing.

223

They just didn't burn to a

crisp versus where it is today.

224

How do you go about finding that, I know

you said some of about consultants before.

225

Is that same, similar kind of process?

226

Dave Egeler: Some of it, it's,

a lot of it's become, I'm sorry.

227

A lot of it's because people also

donate things to us that, that's unique.

228

But I mean, uh, every piece of equipment

for fire safety has an evolution.

229

Talk about fire buckets.

230

Fire buckets have gone from originally

being, wood logs that were howled

231

out to also then being leather, to

then being metal stamped, right?

232

Cliff DuVernois: Yes.

233

Dave Egeler: Uh, you talk about the,

when you think of firefighters, the first

234

piece of safety gear that comes to your

mind about firefighters is the helmet.

235

The helmets, uh, in the colonial

times into the 18 hundreds

236

were made out of leather.

237

Eventually helmets, uh, made a

progression through time, through

238

technology to where in the 19 hundreds

they were stamped out of metal to a

239

while In the 1960s and seventies, they

actually made helmets out of plastic.

240

Then, uh, they've made it to the point

now where helmets are made out of a

241

composite material that's cleanable.

242

It's lightweight, it's strong.

243

It doesn't conduct heat,

doesn't conduct electricity.

244

I mean, it's again, the main piece

of safety gear for firefighters.

245

That's, you know, kind

of evolved over time.

246

And the funny thing is, is that some

departments are letting their firefighters

247

going back to wearing leather helmets.

248

Leather helmets are ma making

their way back into the industry.

249

Very expensive.

250

And they're making the

firefighters buy their own.

251

But again, it's just kind of

watching almost a full circle

252

with regards to fire gear.

253

And then if you look at it, probably

the biggest piece of safety gear

254

we're talking, you know, the, the PPE,

if you will, for the firefighters,

255

is now the breathing apparatus.

256

That's probably the one biggest

thing that's come along in fire

257

safety over the last several decades.

258

Is the breathing apparat because

the smoke in a fire is just full of,

259

first of all, it's not full of oxygen.

260

Second of all, it's full of

all sorts of toxins and other

261

things that, uh, are dangerous to

anybody who's gonna breathe it.

262

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

263

Dave Egeler: So if you want to have

anything that's really helped develop

264

the safety of firefighters the most,

it's probably the breathing apparatus

265

and then the turnout coats and bunker

pants and stuff that they're wearing.

266

Cliff DuVernois: And then going back in

time here, just to give a, just to give

267

a perspective of like really a lot of

the cool things that you can learn here.

268

At the museum is in the colonial times.

269

They literally wore wool sweaters.

270

Dave Egeler: Yeah.

271

So

272

Cliff DuVernois: When

they would fight fires.

273

Dave Egeler: All that they had on was

they probably had a leather helmet.

274

They would wear a, uh, probably

a wool shirt, maybe wool pants.

275

They might have a leather

belt that had their.

276

Their company Insignia on it.

277

And basically it told you which

fire company they belonged to.

278

Um, so at a large fire that they'd

be able to distinguish whether

279

this was Alpha Company or Company

One or, or something like that.

280

Yeah, but again, uh, it wasn't until

the 18 hundreds when rubber came

281

along that at least now they started

wearing a, a type of protective coat.

282

Help keep 'em drier because there's

all sorts of water at a fire scene.

283

Yes.

284

And it could help protect them

from the elements a little bit.

285

Then of course, all the way to modern

times where now you're wearing pants

286

and a coat and a hoodie and, and

gloves and everything else, which is

287

fire retardant and very protective of

the firefighter from the elements as

288

well as the fire, as well as anything

else that might be going around there.

289

Cliff DuVernois: From leather

helmets to composite gear, from

290

wool shirts to full turnout coats.

291

The story of how we protect the people

who protect us is one of relentless

292

ingenuity and hard won progress.

293

And Dave Egeler is keeping

every chapter of that story

294

alive right here in Ypsilanti.

295

When we come back, we're talking

about one of the most beloved and

296

longest running public awareness

campaigns in American History.

297

One that started with a wildfire, a

Hollywood studio, and a bear named Smokey.

298

Stick around.

299

You won't wanna miss it.

300

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301

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302

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309

Hello everyone.

310

Welcome back to Total Michigan.

311

I'm your host, Cliff DuVernois.

312

Today I'm sitting at the Michigan

Firehouse and Education Center in

313

Ypsilanti, sitting down with its Director

of Operations and curator, Dave Egeler.

314

Before the break, we were exploring how

firefighting gear has evolved over the

315

centuries from wool and leather to the

lifesaving equipment that's worn today.

316

Now we're about to find out

how a wildfire, a Hollywood

317

studio and one very famous bear.

318

Forever change the way America

thinks about fire safety.

319

Here's Dave with that story.

320

Dave Egeler: So Smokey Bear, and

we've got the largest collection

321

of Smokey Bear items east of the

Mississippi here in the museum.

322

Smokey Bear started in the 1940s as

a public safety or a public awareness

323

campaign through the wildfire service

or the US Forestry Service, right?

324

There was a lot of wildfires

that were being started.

325

And they were mostly through

careless campers and careless

326

ignitions of combustibles.

327

And so they wanted to have a, a

nationwide campaign that would start,

328

start to bring awareness to the fires

and the wildfires that were happening.

329

So the US Wildfire or US Forestry Service

reached out to Disney, because the

330

movie Bambi had just come out recently.

331

And they reached out to Disney

and said, can we borrow your

332

characters to do this campaign?

333

To try to get people's awareness

about, you know, wildfires?

334

Disney said yes.

335

Disney allowed 'em to do it for one year.

336

And then Disney drew up the caricature

of Smokey Bear and it's been the

337

Smokey Bear campaign ever since.

338

Now people know it as

Smokey The Bear, right?

339

Cliff DuVernois: Yes.

340

Dave Egeler: And it's

actually Smokey Bear.

341

Cliff DuVernois: Yep.

342

Dave Egeler: It's because we know as

Smokey the Bear, because of the song

343

that came out when they, uh, crafted

the song, they needed an extra syllable

344

to help make the refrain come out.

345

Okay.

346

So they added the word, the, so it's

Smokey the Bear in the song, but

347

actually the campaign is Smokey Bear.

348

Cliff DuVernois: And one of the

things that that really surprised

349

me about this was, 'cause, like I

said, I remember this so much from.

350

My childhood, and I was almost thinking

that maybe that campaign had just

351

been retired, because I don't seem

to hear about it much these days.

352

But actually it's a still,

it's an ongoing campaign.

353

Dave Egeler: Yes, it is.

354

And, and it will pop up

every once in a while.

355

And it is actually the longest running

public service campaign in the country.

356

Cliff DuVernois: It still amazes

me that Disney was a part of this.

357

Dave Egeler: Yeah.

358

Again, you know, with the wildfire scene

coming out of the movie Bambi, that it

359

that it really made sense to kind of

tie that in and use those characters.

360

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

361

And there's probably a.

362

Man in the, in the time that we've

been here, you've shared some

363

things with me that are just, it's

absolutely cool and I don't wanna

364

spoil everything for the audience.

365

The dalmatian exhibit, you've gotta

come in here, you've gotta see this.

366

If you are a lover of dogs, you gotta

come see this and, and ask about that.

367

But what I wanna do right now is

before you were talking about, you

368

know, the people that, that, that

are coming through here, a lot of

369

them are families of firefighters

or perhaps firefighters themselves.

370

They're retired, they're,

uh, they're active.

371

I mean, this is just, it's,

it's a real community here.

372

What I'm curious about is.

373

Perhaps some of the people that have

come in here and shared stories with

374

you, are there some that are interesting

or, or they're touching or something

375

that they've, that they've shared with

you and their stories just stand out.

376

It,

377

Dave Egeler: We get a lot of people

that come in and, and visit us who are

378

retired firefighters or they are family

members of retired firefighters or

379

firefighters who have since passed on.

380

A lot of family members of firefighters

who worked in the old firehouse, some

381

of these family members are people

who actually went to school across

382

the street and when they'd get off,

uh, out school, they'd swing by.

383

The station here because, you know, dad

was possibly working a, a shift then.

384

Right.

385

And they, they had stories

about dad even taking him down

386

the fire pole, um, as kids.

387

Right.

388

And they, they finally had

these, me, these memories.

389

And as these people come into the

museum, I like to engage with them.

390

I like to find out this verbal

history that we're getting at times.

391

I try to record it as best

I can one way or another.

392

Sure.

393

Mm-hmm.

394

Because it doesn't exist otherwise.

395

And there's some simple stories

in here just tied to this

396

building, which are fascinating.

397

The, the flagpole that's outside,

that's got the American flag on

398

it, well, the very top of the

flagpole is a billiard ball.

399

That back in the fifties or maybe

sixties when the, when the ball at

400

the top of the flagpole was destroyed,

the fire chief took a ladder truck

401

up and then actually put a billiard

ball up on top of the flagpole.

402

Um, and it's been there ever since.

403

I can assure you that if that ball ever

falls apart, we will do the same thing.

404

We will replace it with another

billiard ball, uh, just to kind

405

of keep that history alive.

406

Cliff DuVernois: Again, that, and

that right there is just something

407

you would not have known had somebody

not come in here and just say, do

408

you know how that got up there?

409

Dave Egeler: Absolutely right.

410

And again, the person who told us

about that was a family member,

411

I believe it was a grandson of

the chief who actually did that.

412

And, and without just having that

engagement with him, you wouldn't know.

413

Cliff DuVernois: Is there

another story that stands out?

414

Dave Egeler: Again, a lot of times

it's people who, uh ha whose family

415

members worked out of this station.

416

Um, back when it was an active station

417

that was in here just last week,

who actually, there's a picture of

418

him from like 19 64, 19 65 as a kid.

419

With the fire chief at the time,

sitting on the front of the, probably

420

the brand new fire truck that the

city of Ypsilanti had just bought.

421

Sure.

422

And that's picture we've

got on display here.

423

But this guy now you know, 50 some

years later as an adult is coming

424

into the station to visit the museum.

425

And he's pictured right there, you know,

so in talking with him, I went and got

426

a picture of him next to his picture.

427

Um, just because it's again, kind of

preserving more of the history Sure.

428

Mm-hmm.

429

About it and getting the information from

these people who were part of that history

430

then is important because some of that

history's not gonna be around much longer.

431

The history will, the people may not.

432

Cliff DuVernois: And the, the thing

I was thinking about here is it is

433

kind of fascinating how the story

of, you know, just this place is

434

also evolving as time goes by.

435

It's not just a snapshot of earlier

decades, but as the museum moves forward

436

in time and people are coming forward and

sharing stories and revealing this, it's

437

like the history is actually growing.

438

Dave Egeler: Yes.

439

And not only that, because, you know,

fire fighting is evolving and fire

440

safety education is evolving and so

we're trying to move along with it.

441

Also, I mean, we've done, we've done

some things as simple as in the last

442

three, four years, put up digital boards

across the whole museum, which have

443

little fire safety videos and tips that

play the whole time that we're open.

444

Uh, again, because the medium now

is that you can't hand somebody

445

just a printed piece of paper

and expect them to learn from it.

446

The medium now is that, uh, as we are

right now doing, it's getting involved

447

in other types of digital media in

order to get your message across

448

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

449

Because the message is still the same.

450

Dave Egeler: Yes.

451

Cliff DuVernois: Right.

452

It is just a matter of you know,

it's not something like you said, to

453

printed a piece of paper or probably

not even effective, have a commercial

454

on tv, but it's making sure that

you're leveraging the technology out

455

there to get your message in front

of the people that matters the most.

456

It's probably on a phone.

457

Dave Egeler: And so, uh, it's big for

us that, uh, uh, we've even in the

458

last, uh, couple of years done simple

things like shooting some video of some

459

of the antique fire extinguishers, the

antique glass fire grenades the soda

460

acid extinguishers, shooting some video

and posting it into our social media.

461

Because that video just

doesn't exist anywhere else.

462

Right.

463

And if you wanna see how these.

464

Th this fire e extinguishers from a

hundred plus years ago operated, here's a

465

chance to see potentially how they work.

466

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

467

And then at the same point in

time, it's an opportunity now

468

to put your message out there.

469

Say, Hey, here's the old equipment.

470

That we use, but still it's important

that we shouldn't have to use it

471

'cause of a, you know, an errant, you

know, cigarette butt or something that

472

lands in the wood and starts a fire.

473

Dave Egeler: Right.

474

And, and a lot of the old equipment

that we, that we shot video of which

475

video didn't exist anywhere that

we could find it was again, to help

476

preserve the history of it, but also.

477

That stuff doesn't exist

anymore because it was banned.

478

You know, most of the time some of

those extinguishers had a chemical

479

in it or chemicals in it that

were hazardous to your health.

480

Cliff DuVernois: Oh, interesting.

481

Dave Egeler: Okay.

482

So you couldn't use it anymore.

483

Yeah, because of that.

484

But in the long run, the

principle is to put a fire out.

485

Generally a lot of the cool wet stuff

going onto the hot burning stuff,

486

we'll put a fire out in general.

487

There's a lot of exceptions to that

now based on some of the present

488

types of things that are burning.

489

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

490

Dave Egeler: But yeah, if, if you

can either cool the fire down, take

491

the oxygen away, or get the fuel

away from it, the fire goes out.

492

Cliff DuVernois: Now you were mentioning

before about how for here it's not just

493

a museum, but you also do events here.

494

As well.

495

This place is available if somebody

wanted to come and do like, let's say

496

a corporate event here, you allow that.

497

'cause you made a comment about,

you know, sometimes we have

498

to take the trucks outta here.

499

Talk to us about some of the, some of

the events that have, that have happened

500

Dave Egeler: here.

501

Uh, they've been a, they've been a

total range of anything you can think

502

of where you need an event space.

503

And so we've had weddings

and receptions in here.

504

We've had corporate training events had.

505

Actually corporate sales events.

506

We've had corporate thank you events for

major customers or clients or sponsors.

507

Um, we've had, uh, celebrations of life.

508

We've had birthday parties, uh,

graduation parties an artisan market.

509

That we are now hosting for at

least the next year, a bourbon

510

festival that we've hosted now

511

Cliff DuVernois: Yes.

512

Dave Egeler: For the last several years.

513

And a

514

Cliff DuVernois: wine festival too.

515

Dave Egeler: And, and we are doing

our own wine festival, uh, in June,

516

uh, which will be our fundraiser.

517

A major fundraiser.

518

Yes,

519

Cliff DuVernois: certainly.

520

And so when I'm thinking about the

museum and just like the, the upkeep.

521

That goes on with all this equipment.

522

'cause like I said, this

looks like brand new.

523

Literally.

524

It's like it could have just

rolled off the assembly line.

525

What does it take to keep a place

like this, like looking so pristine?

526

Dave Egeler: Good bones is what helps,

you know, the fact that the place was

527

built originally with, with really

good vision and really good bones.

528

Yes.

529

That really helps.

530

Cliff DuVernois: Mm-hmm.

531

Dave Egeler: To give at least

the appearance that it's clean.

532

Right.

533

And then but then, you know, it's,

it's just like any other place.

534

It's, it's dusting and

cleaning and, and all of that.

535

And then, and then there's a few

volunteers, uh, um, in the museum that

536

help wrench on the vehicles so that if,

uh, sometimes with these antique trucks.

537

Two hours of running turns into

three days of repairs afterwards.

538

Cliff DuVernois: Ooh.

539

Yeah.

540

Dave Egeler: You know, just

because they're so old mm-hmm.

541

That there might be seals or

something else that you know, need

542

a little bit of work on afterwards.

543

And

544

parts

545

Cliff DuVernois: could be hard to find.

546

Dave Egeler: Very difficult to find.

547

Yes.

548

Mm-hmm.

549

Yes.

550

Even if it's a, even if it's a

modern manufacturer like Ford or

551

Mac or something like that, finding

particular parts where that particular

552

truck could be pretty difficult.

553

Cliff DuVernois: Now if somebody

was coming here for the first time.

554

Walk you through the stores.

555

First off, see everything.

556

Take the time, see everything.

557

But the question I always like to ask

is, what would be like a particular

558

exhibit or something that you would say,

if you can only see one thing, see this.

559

Dave Egeler: I wouldn't wanna

restrict anybody to just one thing.

560

All right.

561

Um, generally everybody who's coming here

for the first time, one of the, one of

562

the very first things that we tell them

to do is start their tour over in the old

563

firehouse, because then you can actually

564

and what it looked like on the inside.

565

Uh, back in the day, if you will.

566

A lot of people come visit the museum

leave and they, and then they come

567

back in saying, well, we didn't realize

that the old firehouse was right there.

568

So they come back in to visit that.

569

So the very first thing we do

is we direct people to that.

570

The other thing you just recognize is

that we've got three floors in here.

571

Cliff DuVernois: It is huge,

572

Dave Egeler: and it looks a

heck of a lot bigger inside

573

than it appears on the outside.

574

Cliff DuVernois: Mm-hmm.

575

Dave Egeler: And the, again, the breadth

of our collection, going all the way from

576

colonial times to modern times with fire

equipment, fire, safety, education, all

577

of that it's really hard to narrow it down

just to say, make sure you see this right.

578

Because there's, we, we

wanna tell the full story.

579

Cliff DuVernois: Yeah.

580

'cause one of the things that really

impressed me with going into the original

581

firehouse that was here is not only

just how immaculate the first floor is,

582

which is where you got the fire trucks

and the firefighting equipment, but also

583

to the painstaking efforts to recreate

like the, the crew quarters area.

584

Like this is where they slept, right?

585

This is the bathroom that they used.

586

Here is the, the kitchen area

where they would cook their meals.

587

Uh, because, you know, the, the crew

at this point in time was basically,

588

you know, they were on a 24 hour shift.

589

That was working here.

590

So it's not just, here's the

history of fighting fires.

591

This is what life was

like in the firehouse.

592

Dave Egeler: Yes.

593

We try to tell as much

of that story as we can.

594

Remember, that old firehouse

595

the city of Ypsilanti moved out.

596

Cliff DuVernois: Oh wow.

597

Dave Egeler: They built a new station

because they had to have more equipment

598

and larger quarters and all of that.

599

And so, you know, that 1898 station

just wasn't capable of handling.

600

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

601

Dave Egeler: Um, the workload.

602

And that they needed and the

space that they needed as they

603

were getting more people in,

604

Cliff DuVernois: right.

605

Dave Egeler: But it now, twice in the

last three years, we've actually opened

606

the old firehouse up and turned it back

into a fire station for three days.

607

In each of those years we

moved three of our trucks out.

608

City of Ypsilanti moved

three of their trucks in.

609

We moved more bunk beds

into the bunkhouse.

610

We opened up the fire

pole and the fire pole.

611

The firefighters covered the city of

Ypsilanti from the old firehouse for three

612

shifts in a row for three days in a row.

613

and we did it just solely

to help reenact history.

614

Most of the firefighters used the pole.

615

Some of them said, Nope,

I'm using the stairs.

616

Um, but they enjoy it.

617

They actually, I would have

618

Cliff DuVernois: to use the pole.

619

Dave Egeler: They actually, they actually

embrace it and enjoy it and help us with

620

making again living history, if you will.

621

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

622

And I could also imagine too, just doing

this, like you said, for like three

623

days a year, gives you an opportunity

to reach out to the community just

624

to say, Hey, we're doing this again.

625

Or, or, it, it puts a nice spotlight

626

Dave Egeler: right

627

Cliff DuVernois: on what

it is you're doing here.

628

News coverage.

629

I can imagine.

630

All that is just wonderful to help

get the message out that you're here.

631

Dave Egeler: It does, it does.

632

Actually, the first year that we did

633

phone started ringing off the hook

once the news coverage hit and it was

634

fire museums from across the country

saying, how did you come up with that

635

idea and why didn't we think of it?

636

Right?

637

I mean, it was just,

638

Cliff DuVernois: yes.

639

Dave Egeler: Again, a chance

to just relive history.

640

And the firefighters from the city of

Ypsilanti are very supportive of us and

641

they really enjoy doing that activity.

642

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

643

Yeah, because it's not every

day, it's, you get that

644

opportunity to live in history.

645

Right.

646

Even though if it was only like, maybe

for three days, but just to say that

647

you've done it, like I, I worked out of

that firehouse at one point in time and I

648

think would be not only bragging rights,

but just such an enriching experience.

649

Dave Egeler: As a matter of fact, they

invited area fire departments to come

650

by and visit with them, and some of

those guys had a chance to slide down

651

the pole too, just because it was again.

652

If, if you want bragging rates, right?

653

Cliff DuVernois: Yes.

654

Yep.

655

Yep.

656

Dave, if somebody's listening to this and

they wanna stop by, they want to check

657

you out, they wanna find you online, your

socials website, how can they do that?

658

Dave Egeler: So our, our main website

is Michigan firehouse museum.org.

659

And you can find all of

the information there.

660

And then we're open on Thursday

through Sunday, noon until four.

661

But we do make arrangements for groups

and special group tours and, and, and

662

schools and all of that as necessary.

663

And then almost all of our social

media's tagged somehow with

664

like Michigan Firehouse Museum.

665

Um, so that you can, you know,

also see us through that.

666

And um, we try to have as

much of a presence as we can

667

in, in the digital world.

668

Cliff DuVernois: Firefighting is one

of the hardest professions on earth.

669

Generation after generation, brave

men and women put their lives on the

670

line, not for fame, not for fortune,

but simply to protect the people

671

around them that they don't even know.

672

And for centuries, the stories of those

sacrifices were nearly lost to time fading

673

with the people who once lived them.

674

But thanks to the passion and

dedication of people like Dave Egeler

675

and the Michigan Firehouse Museum,

those stories now have a home.

676

A place where the sacrifices of the

past are honored, preserved, and

677

passed forward to those who come next.

678

Because some legacies are worth fighting

for and should never be forgotten.

679

My name is Cliff DuVernois

and we are Total Michigan.