Posted: Dec 21, 2020 7:13 AM ET | Last Updated: December 21, 2020
The Central Fire Station in Welland celebrates its 100th anniversary this Thursday. A non-profit wants to restore the fire hall and celebrate its history. (Central Station Education Initiative)
A non-profit group is rallying to protect a 100-year-old fire hall in Welland, complete with its original equipment, furniture, and firefighting artifacts from the 1920s and a pumper from the 1950s.
And Welland city council voted last week to put $100,000 over two years toward that effort, contingent on the group getting another grant.
The volunteer group believes that the Central Fire Station is the only one of its kind to still exist in Canada. It has plans to create an immersive centre of firefighting history at the station, but worries that businesses and speculators threaten its existence.