The steam fire engine on display at Carillon Park has been preserved through the efforts of the Sidney and Dayton Fire Departments. Originally the property of the Sidney Fire Department, it was donated to the Dayton Fire Department in 1953 for reconditioning and subsequent display. The refurbished engine, in like-new condition, was moved to Carillon Park concurrently with the opening of the park’s 1955 season. Educational and Musical Arts, Inc., the non-profit civic organization which operates Carillon Park, provided the structure which houses both the engine and the old-time fire bell which once hung in the fire station at Fifth and Brown Streets. The fire engine is a single-pump Ahrens-Fox and originally cost $4,000. It was purchased by the City of Sidney in 1883 and remained in active service until 1916. From that time until 1928 it was kept in reserve. After 1928, the engine remained in storage until its restoration to original condition. The City of Dayton at one time employed a number of similar Ahrens engines, but of larger size. None of these machines could be located for restoration, however. Named for Henry Young, the chief of the Sidney Fire Department at the time of its purchase, the engine was drawn by a team of pure black horses throughout much of its period of use. In addition to the steamer, the Sidney Fire Department had a ladder wagon, a hose wagon and a number of hose reels. Although this equipment seems scant as well as out-moded by present-day standards, Sidney in the latter 19th Century was listed as one of the better-equipped cities for fire-fighting in the United States in relation to its size. Besides participating in many major fires at Sidney during its thirty-three years of active service and twelve years in reserve, the Henry Young was used several times to combat out-of-town blazes. At two of these fires, in Quincy and Piqua, the Henry Young was rushed by railroad flatcar to the scene after the fires had passed beyond control of the local departments. [Illustration: The Carillon Park engine is shown above during its period of active service. Sidney firemen pose in the foreground.] During its long span of service, the Henry Young compiled an admirable record of dependability. In operation, the engine was first fired with wood which in turn ignited coal. Usually by the time the engine arrived at a blaze it had already developed a head of steam and was ready for use. As with most steamers, constant attention to the flues was required if the engine was to operate at peak efficiency. [Illustration: The earliest aerial ladders were made of wood and mounted on horse-drawn trucks, with ladders being raised or lowered by hand-operated cranks. Today’s aerial ladder truck, as shown above, embodies tremendous improvements in safety and efficiency.]