Because of their efforts during the past century, some of the fire department's oldest fire apparatus has been spared from destruction, including two of Canandaigua's first hand pumpers and a hose reel.
The "Eagle No. 1" hand pumper is now tucked safely away in the Carriage Museum at the Granger Homestead, while the "Ontario No. 3" hand pumper is on display at Fire Station No. 1 along with a Merrill Hose Company two-wheeled hose reel cart.
The following article from 1917 tells the tale of how the two hand pumpers were saved.
"Valiant Service in Their Time; Two Old Hand Fire Engines Rescued from Complete Destruction"
Two of the old hand fire engines with which the Canandaigua Fire Department was originally equipped have been rescued from neglect and threatened destruction, and have been placed in quarters where they will be preserved and remain accessible for inspection. It goes without saying that they form a striking contrast to the succeeding steam fire engines, or with the motor driven chemical engines of the present day.
One of these interesting relics of the old firefighters, through permission of the city authorities, has recently been deposited in the Ontario County Historical Museum, and the other has been put in custody of the Merrill Hose Company No. 2 and is exhibited at its fire station at 20 Phoenix Street.
The oldest of these two engines, the one now located in the basement of the museum, is without a doubt the first piece of firefighting apparatus purchased by the Village in 1816. This engine is named the "Eagle." It passed through more than forty years of useful service, and has been a notable feature of succeeding street parades including that of the patriotic demonstration on July 19 last.