Thirty-seven years after a friend suggested he join the Yantic Fire Engine Company #1, Bernard “B.J.” Herz now serves as deputy chief. Though his father had volunteered briefly, and he always enjoyed visiting, he did not know then that it would become a lifelong commitment of service.

Founded in 1847, and one of the oldest volunteer fire companies in the U.S., Yantic is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.

“I think that’s a huge thing,” Herz said of the anniversary. “The company still being here and 100% volunteer. It’s difficult but we’re hanging in there.”

They are celebrating with multiple events throughout the year.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, they host their first Antique Fire Truck Show with children’s activities, pumping demonstrations, food trucks and vendors. There will be 50-75 antique fire trucks, with clubs visiting from as far as New Jersey. The event is free to attend.

The unique thing about this fire company is they are always willing to open their doors to the public to share their knowledge of fire history. Herz says that visitors are welcome to come in to view the station and take a tour, and they are grateful to share it.

“We try to pass history along, to keep history going. People can come to view the firehouse. If we’re here, it’s open to the public. We love company, we love visitors,” Herz shared. “There is a pride in what we have here.”

Yantic Fire Engine Co. is a bit of a living museum. Originally founded by Erastus Williams, owner of the Yantic Mill, the fire station was built to protect the mill if ever there was a fire, but in fact covered most of Norwich and surrounding towns. The new fire station, built in 1907 after a fire destroyed the original, is Tudor-style built of stone and sits upon the Yantic River and the railroad tracks.

A restored 1891 horse-drawn steamer greets firefighters as they walk in, with intricate painted wheels and a shiny nickel-plated boiler. Black and white photographs adorn the walls which trail their way up the winding staircase. The building also houses an 1845 Waterman Handtub, an 1891 Hose Reel (pulled by the asteamer), as well as a 1939 Diamond T Pumper and 1967 Mack Pumper.

As much as Herz loves his duties as a volunteer, it’s not always easy. One of his primary concerns is the dwindling interest of volunteers, not just locally, but what seems to be a global phenomenon. Their youngest members are in their 20s, with the oldest in their 80s, who still respond. But they have a separate committee just for recruitment, and he is concerned that one day, they won’t get the volunteers they used to due to the rising cost of living in both Norwich and Connecticut, which has caused members to move away.

“You can see people just don’t have the time,” he explained, sharing that it used to be more of a familial atmosphere, with brothers, father/sons, mother/son pairings volunteering together—but they don’t see that anymore. “It used to be more family-oriented. We’re still hanging on but it’s not as prevalent. The volunteer system is a dying breed, it’s slowly going away. Our country and world are changing and it’s a concern.”

It’s such a concern that they just revamped their by-laws in hopes that they can keep their doors open as long as possible.

For now, they are holding their own and adapting with the ever-changing times. Which, over the course of 175 years, means a lot of changes.

“There have been so many changes just since I’ve been here. The way you respond. The uniforms changed. We used to wear jeans,” Herz reflected. “We went to cellphones and then to iPads. We can attach our thermal imaging camera to our masks. The technology has changed so much. Not to mention how we treat fires. We have special training on electric vehicles now. We need to adapt; everything is constantly changing.”

Another positive change Herz noted is mutual aid. Whereas they used to handle calls themselves, now others respond and vice versa. They find themselves as far as Colchester and Windham and their dive team was just in both Lebanon and Lyme.

“We’re constantly going somewhere. We didn’t do that before. We ask for help more often now,” he said.

The difference now?

“The egos were stronger back then,” he laughed, but also, “We used to have more members responding. For example, at the recent landfill fire, we had 26 members throughout the fire. In the past, at house fires, there would be between 30-35 members responding.”

For Herz and for the Yantic Fire Engine Co. #1, it is their history that made them, and their history that will propel them beyond the 175 years. “I tell young guys—look around, read the history of how we started and everything we’ve been through. A lot of our guys left for war. Every past member’s name is on a block commemorating the wars. We remember them.”

The importance of history is prevalent at the fire station, and they look forward to sharing that with the public. In addition to the Firetruck Show, they are hosting the New London County Chiefs in August, the State Firefighters Convention, an Open House and Memorial Service. Earlier events this year included a Duck Race and Bid’s Reunion.

What Herz is most proud of is the longevity of the Fire Company and how that strength and perseverance has remained through generation to generation of volunteer firefighters.

“Nothing here was handed to us. Someone worked hard to get it.”

He hopes that what those before him built will be a lasting legacy and continued trend of historic firefighters who will one day see the 200th anniversary of The Yantic Fire Engine Company #1.

For information about the Antique Firetruck Show, or to become a volunteer, visit yanticfireco.org.

Nicole Roberge is a writer from Uncasville and has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, ELLEgirl, Song Facts, Blurt, Hear/Say and Script Magazine. She is the author of the memoir “Hang in There, Wherever ‘There’ is.”