Bogan Museum Board Of Directors To Host Fundraising Event

Fundraiser will benefit Bogan Station

Photo provided by PAT
The Robert A. Bogan Fire Station in 1960.

The Robert A. Bogan Fire Museum Board of Directors will host a Beer Tasting/Crawfish Boil fundraising event at the Fire Museum in the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge building, 427 Laurel St., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 19. The event is the first planned by the newly formed Board of Directors to raise funds to restore and refurbish the museum. Guests will have the opportunity to taste a variety of beer, along with a crawfish supper. There will also be live music and a silent auction.

Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance.

The fire station was named for Robert A. Bogan, the first fire chief, who was considered the father of Baton Rouge firefighting. The building was constructed as the department headquarters in 1924 and was designed for fire trucks, rather than horse-drawn engines.

The original brass poles are still installed in the building. The museum now contains a 1919 aerial truck with ladders, 1923 and 1926 pumper trucks and a hose cart as well as old fire helmets, fire trumpets and a variety of equipment.

Firefighting began in Baton Rouge in 1825 with the formation of the Baton Rouge Bucket Company, a volunteer fire brigade. Later that year, the Washington Victory Company No. 1 and Independence Company No. 2 were formed as a part of the Baton Rouge Bucket Company, becoming fiercely competitive, which resulted in outstanding firefighting. For 80 years, until World War I, an annual firemen’s parade was held on George Washington’ birthday. In 1980, the Baton Rouge Fire Department was the first in the United States to receive a No. 1 rating. The Museum is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was first renovated and dedicated in 1978, due to the efforts of then Mayor Woody W. Dumas. The Museum is a nonprofit organization.

For tickets or more information, call [phone] or email [e-mail].

Robert A. Bogan Fire Museum Board of Directors