The Rochester Historical Society’s April 20 program will be “The History of Maxim Motors,” a Middleboro company that supplied fire engines to most of the area’s fire departments. Howard T. Smith, firefighter and author from Wareham, will present the program.
Smith is a second-generation fire fighter who grew up in West Wareham and spent much of his young life around the West Wareham Fire Station where his Dad was captain. He joined the fire department as soon as he was old enough. Choosing fire fighting as a career, he attended college to get his degree in fire science. He has been a fire fighter for a number of departments and is currently with the Cambridge Fire Department. He also teaches at the Massachusetts Fire Academy. Having grown up in this area, he became very familiar with Maxim Motor Company of Middleboro and spent much of his time fighting fires with Maxim fire trucks. He has written two books on Maxim fire apparatus. As a result of his extensive research, Smith has become an expert on the company and gained the title of “Mr. Maxim.”
The current display at the museum features the History of the Rochester Fire and Police Departments. If you haven’t seen it, come early and check it out.
The meeting is at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Road, at 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Refreshments will follow the program.