NEDERLAND — Every town has a history, where details of its incorporation, its roots in industry or agriculture, and of the day-to-day lifestyles of its inhabitants are celebrated and etched in time through recorded stories and photographs, and through the collection of priceless artifacts and memorabilia.

Equally important to a town’s history as a whole is the history of the municipal services that work to keep that town safe. It is because of this that Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) Administrator Sherry Snyder felt compelled to redesign the front foyer of the District’s main fire station to turn it into a true encapsulation of the NFPD’s years of service to Nederland.

“We’ve always called it the museum, but there was nothing really ‘museum’ about it,” Snyder explained about the space at 650 West 4th Street. “There was just so much in here that wasn’t Nederland-specific; and yes it’s all cool, old, and awesome fire stuff, but I really wanted to stick with the history of Nederland Fire; it’s 113 years—it’s important!” 

Snyder noted how the foyer used to be packed with large glass display cases, most of which were full of memorabilia related to the history of fire fighting in general, not particularly related to Nederland Fire’s history. These cases were so full, even some of the more unique pieces got lost under the weight of all the miscellaneous historic bric-a-brac. 

“I don’t know how long they had been collecting, but I can tell we stopped throwing things away in the ’40s. It was all in this room, so I just took everything out and began cleaning and painting, and replaced the lights.”

Snyder’s ambitious undertaking began in January, and required not only cleaning and a new coat of paint, but vast amounts of research, and even some restoration work. 

“I did find the Smokey the Bear poster buried in one of the old display cases, literally under a pile of paperwork,” she said as she gestured over to the original 1960 US Forest Service poster. “It was rotting at the edges and I found a guy down in Englewood who restored it for us.” 

It became Snyder’s goal to clear out the things that weren’t directly related to the NFPD, and to instead display those things that had been collected over decades that really served to paint a full picture of what it has meant to be a Nederland firefighter. 

From Littleton-based Red Comet brand Glass Fire Extinguisher grenades—which utilized the extremely toxic carbon tetrachloride to starve fires of oxygen—to portable Pyrene brand brass hand-pump fire extinguishers used in the 1930s, these artifacts showcase the chemical hazards firefighters would endure just to fight the natural hazards before them.  

One of the many authentic Pyrene hand fire extinguishers that used the hazardous and highly toxic chemical carbon tetrachloride.

Photo by Christopher Kelley

In addition to the classic firefighting tools that adorn the walls—including a 13-foot 1877 Pompier Hook Ladder and a backpack-style galvanized metal fire pump by R.E. Chapin Manufacturing—there are also several styles of firefighting gear, helmets, and even special NFPD-branded accessories from years prior. 

“I kept everything Ned Fire, even old T-shirts, wildfire jackets, a bunker coat, and everything that I knew that was specific to this area,” Snyder added as she pointed out an old logo design from before NFPD became an official District back in 1990. 

This wall depicts the changes in firefighting gear over the years, from the leather helmets of the late 1800s, to the Fyr-Fyter Gentex plastic helmets of the 1960s and 1970s.

Photo by Christopher Kelley

Snyder explained how some of the items were absolutely astonishing to uncover—like the 200-year-old leather firefighting bucket that predated the riveting process—and how other items were quite the chore to refurbish. 

“This thing was disgusting,” Snyder said, standing next to a 1950s wheeled fire extinguisher from the US Air Force’s former Ballistic Missile Division, now known as the Space Systems Division. “They had actually painted the hose red and I literally had to scrub off all the paint. It was used in their aerospace program and while scrubbing it I found the official contract number for it.”

With the large trophy cases gone and a smart choice of paint, parts of the fire station's foyer begin to shine.

Photo by Christopher Kelley

The museum not only presents a look into NFPD’s roots as a volunteer fire department, but also showcases the District’s most recent history, with a wall dedicated to current responders, a 1978 poster for the Fireman’s Ball hosted at the Pioneer Inn, plaques dedicated to retired Chiefs Mark Friedman and Paul Emerling, and an oil painting by Jeffrey Desautels and a gold-plated Pulaski Axe which both commemorate the completion of the NFPD’s main fire station back in 2002. 

Though the museum is complete, Snyder’s work being rooted in NFPD history still isn’t finished, as she’s uncovered so much in storage that the District has decided to throw a silent auction event and allow members of the community to get a piece of Nederland history. 

On October 10, 2026, the doors to the museum will officially open for history lovers and firefighter enthusiasts alike to browse, and then to partake in a Silent Auction, bidding on priceless artifacts used by the firefighters of the past, with all proceeds going to support the NFPD.