box43.html

BOX 43 ASSOCIATION
75 Elgin Street, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
L8L 4X9

The Box 43 Association was founded in Hamilton Ontario in 1950 to serve refreshments to fire fighters at multiple alarm fires, taking its name from the alarm box that sat at the central fire hall on Hughson St. and patterned after the Montreal Auxiliary Fire Fighters. The club started serving coffee and drinks out of the trunks of their cars.

A home made trailer was built and later a 1956 IHC step van was purchased. In 1970 this vehicle was replaced with a 1964 Chevrolet step van, formerly a newspaper delivery van and in 1980 this truck was replaced by a 1972 Fargo step van, also a newspaper delivery truck. All of the previous vehicles modified for canteen service by the members of the Box 43 Association.

In the late 1980's the Association was incorporated and received charitable status, in 1991 we started running Bingo games at a local bingo hall. We were then able to purchase a fully equipped 1992 Ford Cube van, equipped with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, and a built in 35 gallon water tank. The van was equipped with communications, including cell phone, scanner, and Fire Department radio.

Dispatched by the Hamilton Fire Department via pager, we respond to all areas of the Hamilton-Wentworth Region for fire and police emergencies In 1978 The Box 43 Association restored the Hamilton Fire Department's 1843 Hand Pumper and later that year the Association obtained and began restoring the H.F.D.'s 1926 Bickle-Arens-Fox pumper, which was completed in 1981.

1972 Fargo Step Van

The Box 43 Association has since acquired five more vehicles, including a 1942 Bickle-Seagrave custom pumper, (Its twin can be seen at the Canadian Fire Fighter's Museum), a 1939 Bickle-Seagrave Booster, Hose and Ladder truck, a 1966 Mack B-125 pumper, a 1948 American Marsh-Fargo pumper and a 1967 King-Seagrave-Ford 100 foot Aerial Ladder truck and finally in 1999 we were given ownership of the 1843 Fisher Hand pumper that we had restored years earlier.

In 1999 we purchased our own building at 75 Elgin Street in Hamilton, houses our collection and canteen. we hope to open this building as a fire fighting museum in the near future. We are actively searching for photos and memorabilia from the Hamilton Fire Department and are interested in locating any ex-Hamilton apparatus in service with other departments.

The Box 43 Association is celebrating 50 years of dedicated service to the fire and emergency workers of Hamilton and area and are ready for another 50 years.

Box 43 Association can be reached at 75 Elgin Street,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
L8L 4X9

Box 43's Web Page created and maintained by Randy Elliott,

Canadian Fire Fighter's Museum

Special Thanks to Ken Buchanan of Box 43 Association
for the submission of photos and information.