Self-Guiding Tour

#4   Horse-Drawn Hose Reel Wagon #11

This wagon serviced Winnipeg from 1900-1935. Winnipeg’s 2-horse hose wagons were built by local wagon builders “Lawrie Wagon and Carriage Company” and carried approximately 1200 feet of hose. During the winter months, the wheels of the hose wagons were replaced with sleigh runners, permitting them to glide through the snowy streets.

In 1911, the city began the transition from using horse-drawn fire wagons to motorized fire engines with the purchase of a motorized hose wagon, followed by a motorized pumper in 1916. Winnipeg was the first North American city to have motorized fire apparatus, ahead of Toronto, Montreal, and even New York City.

The last Winnipeg fire station to use horse-drawn apparatus until 1932 was located at Sinclair Street & Pritchard Avenue; former Station #7. The horses were well equipped to handle the area’s muddy roads where motorized vehicles had difficulty getting through.

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