Lewes Fire Department to dedicate Rickards Museum

Firefighter Louis A. Rickards will be honored at the Lewes Fire House at a ceremony at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 18, when the department dedicates a museum in his honor.

Rickards died in an auto accident Feb. 3, 2002, enroute to a Delmarva Firefighter’s Convention.

He served the department for 39 years and was fire chief for seven years. Rickards was in his 13th year as department president when he died.

The museum’s centerpiece is a 1924 American LaFrance fire engine. The fire department paid $12,500 for the fire engine, taking delivery May 5, 1925. The engine remained in service until 1964.

“It took close to a year to restore,” said Troy Virden, first assistant fire chief.

He said the vehicle has been reworked from the chassis up, including repainting, rechroming many parts, rebuilding the motor and restoring the pump used to pour water onto flames. The vehicle’s tires are mounted on ornate wooden rims.

Other items on display in the museum chronicle Lewes’ firefighting history. There’s a collection of old light bulbs used in earlier fire stations and vehicles; various fire extinguishers; and a 1970s-era Hurst tool, used to extract people from wrecked vehicles.

The collection also includes sirens, flashlights, commemorative china plates, firefighter helmets and coats and a 1901 Holloway hose cart.

There will also be a ceremony to house two new pieces of equipment: a 2010 GMC road rescue ambulance, placed into service early last year, and a 2010 Pierce Velocity pump truck, placed into service early this year. Both pieces of equipment are based at Station 3 on Route 24.

The ambulance cost $173,000, and the pump truck cost $625,000. Following the dedication and housing ceremonies an open house will be from noon to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Fire prevention, recruitment and auxiliary information will be on display, along with shirt and memorabilia sales.

For additional information call Gordon Davis, Lewes Fire Department president, at 302-745-7319. Station 1 is at 347 Savannah Road, Lewes.