John D. Murray Firefighter's Museum
The Firefighter's Museum, which is located behind
the Oswego Fire Department Headquarters at 35 East Cayuga St., is dedicated to
the memory of the department's fifth fire chief, John D. Murray, who served in
that position from 1961 to 1977. The artifacts and memorabilia it contains chronicle
the history of the Oswego Fire Department, which was incorporated as a paid department
in 1876. 
Stationed in the museum building are two antique
pumpers, both of which were used by the Oswego Fire Department in the first half
of this century. One is a 1925 American LaFrance pumper (below), one of the first
motorized trucks used to replace horse drawn engines in Oswego. The other is a
1939 American LaFrance pumper (below), which was stationed at Fort Ontario until
1946 when it was given to the fire department. In addition to these vintage fire trucks, the museum holds many pieces of antique fire equipment, journals and historic photographs from the early days of fire fighting. There are also handmade antique replicas of many of the fire engines that have been used by the department over the past two centuries. Fire buffs will be delighted by the many relics exhibited here.
During the months of July and August the museum is open from 10 AM until 4 PM, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tours can be arranged by appointment during April, May, June, September and October. A small admission is charged. All proceeds go to support the John D. Murray Firefighter's Museum project.
Other Memorabilia on display at the Museum includes:
- Photos of Chief Blackburn's Office - Engine #1 Fire Headquarters Company
- Photos of Oswego Firemen from 1800s to the Present
- Photos of Early Fires in Oswego
- Replica Models of Early Horse Drawn Fire Trucks and Motorized Fire Trucks
- Leather Parade Belts, Helmets, Fire Buckets
- Lanterns, Trumpets, Nozzles and Fittings
- Fire Alarm Boxes & Fire Extinguishers
- Old Firehouse Gong
- Certificates of Membership from Oswego Fire Dept. 1842
- Chief George Warshop's Daily journal of 1876
- Chief Blackburn's Daily journal of 1890-1917
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