The City of Niagara Falls will formally be dedicating a firefighter museum to a late former Chief.
The museum at Niagara Falls Fire Station 4 will be named after former District Chief Gene Somerville in a ceremony on Saturday June 24 at 1:00pm.
Gene Somerville was a lifelong resident of Chippawa and began his tenure with the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department in January 1954 and was a 32-year member.
He was named District Chief in 1961 and served in that position for 25 years until his retirement in 1986.
Somerville passed away July 10, 2015.
It is not only his service to the community that he is being recognized for but also his role in having the new Chippawa fire station built in 1960.
“In dedicating the firefighter museum in his name, Gene’s contributions to his community throughout his life especially his commitment to the Fire Department will ensure his dedication will be remembered for years to come” stated Fire Chief Jim Boutilier. “Gene was instrumental in the establishment of the Chippawa Volunteer Fire Department and the community thanks him for his work” added Boutilier.
The museum contains many historical pictures and documents as well as equipment and memorabilia from the very early days of the fire station including a 1938 Ford La-France fire truck that was used in the holiday movie A Christmas Story.
The museum will formally be known as the Gene Somerville Memorial Museum.