St. Joseph’s Fire Museum is one of the city’s newest tourism destinations, located in a 1939 fire station at 11th and Penn streets. The museum houses an extensive collection documenting the history of St. Joseph’s Fire Department.

One of the items is a silver-plated speaking trumpet used to amplify a person’s voice.

The trumpet was given to Augustus Saltzman on July 4, 1873, when he was the Fire Department’s chief engineer, said Pat Jones, a museum board member. Originally, city fire chiefs were called chief engineers, Mrs. Jones said.

This early fire chief led an interesting life.

Mr. Saltzman rose to the rank of captain during the Civil War. He returned to St. Joseph in 1864 to practice law. Mr. Saltzman participated in a volunteer firefighting unit. They named their pumper “The Water Witch” and adopted the motto “Run wid de masheen.” Eventually, Mr. Saltzman’s comrades elected him to the rank of pumper foreman. He worked to get the City Council to authorize a paid fire department. In 1870, the city did just that. Mr. Saltzman served as chief engineer from April 1873 until April 1874. He went on to become a municipal judge.

It isn’t known who gave the speaking trumpet to Mr. Saltzman.

St. Joseph hired seven men to operate a steam engine and three one-horse hose reels for its first department.

According to a book entitled “A 1900 Souvenir History of the St. Joseph Fire Department” the city had Dr. Robert Gunn as the first chief engineer in 1865.

John Nelson, a battalion chief, departmental historian and author, translated the motto of the Water Witch volunteers into English as the title of his new book “Run With the Machine.” He donated the book to the museum, and the money from its sale helps pay museum bills. Consider dropping into the museum on a weekday. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. Groups can call (816) 671-0410 to arrange special tours.

Property of the Past is written by Marshall White, who can be reached at marshall@npgco.com. Each week, Mr. White features one item from one of St. Joseph’s many museums and explains its history.