Manassas Journal Messenger | City Focus by Rob Seal
• The Manassas City Council will have a work session Wednesday to talk about a proposal to turn the old Town Hall on Center Street into a museum exhibiting the history of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company.
Former Manassas volunteer firefighters Woody Merchant and James Robinson brought this idea to the council in February.
From 1999 to February 2003, a museum was operated out of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company. Last year, the display was taken down to make room for a new hazardous materials fire truck the company purchased with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The items from the museum were wrapped up and put in storage.
During the meeting in February, Merchant and Robinson said that they would like to relocate those materials to the old Town Hall building. A possible centerpiece for the museum is a horse-drawn Howe pumper from 1909. Other exhibits could include restored fire engines, old firefighters’ gear, pictures, citations and trophies.
Merchant and Robinson said in February that they would like the proposed museum to operate outside of the city’s museum system, so control of the project would stay with retired and inactive firefighters.
Wednesday’s work session is at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at City Hall.
• During a meeting tonight, the Manassas Park City Council is scheduled to designate this week as Emergency Medical Services Week in recognition of the city’s emergency physicians, nurses, paramedics, administrators, 911 operators, medical technicians, educators and firefighters.
• Stretches of Fairview and Richmond avenues officially became a part of Wellington Road on Monday, when city staff put up new road signs.
Forty-seven addresses, including those of 16 residences, will change with the road signs, though mail sent to the old addresses will continue to be delivered for six months. Installation of the new road signs will be complete today.
Rob Seal covers city government in Manassas and Manassas Park. Got a suggestion for City Focus? Call (703) 369-5718 or e-mail [email protected].