Soon thereafter, a significant event, the tragic death in December of 1972 of Assistant Chief Calvin Bookhardt in the fiery collapse of a downtown building built further interest in honoring those who risked their lives for the citizens of Orlando. The possibility of a museum/memorial to this and other fallen firefighters fueled the fire and many organizations shouldered some part of the effort which after 15 years finally came to fruition. The project received funding from the city, The Phillips Foundation, John Young Museum and Planetarium and many other benefactors and was to be run by the John Young organization. Later after much of the work was done, the John Young Organization decided to become strictly science orientated. After toying with the idea of turning the old fire station into a restaurant, they passed old number three over to the Orange County Historical Society and Museum. Everyone agreed that was the group of folks who would best care for the fire museum.

The perfect time to set as an opening deadline was the Orlando Fire Department Centennial in 1985. And open it did. Hundreds of people who worked hard were comforted that the museum would be there from now on to serve visitors and to educate their children and their children's children who would marvel at the history of firefighting in Central Florida.

Busloads of Central Florida's children, older citizens who remembered the station in it's earlier years, visitors and especially firefighters from around the world have visited the little fire station located behind what was the Orlando Science Center and it's caretaker, The Orange County Historical Museum.

The plans to build additional bays/space for the fire museum were simply dropped though they were budgeted and I had seen preliminary plans in a fire bay design. The fire station "curator" position was changed and the fire museum became a minor part of this position's responsibilities leaving much of what Kent did left undone. The Orange County engine never made it into the museum (given back to OCFR,it was sold at auction). There was less time for volunteer motivation, maintaining exhibits (much less new ones), building maintenance (replacing windows dragged on and on) and little time to maintain the rapport with Central Florida fire agencies that Kyle had built.

The musters were discontinued. The fire museum reverted back 10 years to one floor and much less interactivity with the community. When the historical museum closed in Loch Haven the Fire museum was also closed and Firehouse number 3 was again eyed to become someone's snackbar.

Meetings were held by the Historical Society to see if anyone would be interested in taking over the fire museum. Several groups wanted the museum but each had their own agenda and the scope was looking like it would drift off course. But word was traveling around in The Orlando Fire Department and interest was growing on taking back what was once their project. The City of Orlando Fire Museum.

Good News for Fire Station Number 3!