The Fire Museum of Memphis will host the 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony of 9/11 on Friday, September 11, 2026. Service begins at 0830 AM, but it is highly recommended that you arrive early as we are expecting hundreds of people to attend. The museum will offer free admission on that day and our gift shop will feature commemorative items. Light refreshments will be served afterward. Please join us and remember those who died in the attacks on America on September 11, 2001.
The Fire Museum of Memphis recently received a new artifact that is somewhat of a mystery to our historians. The stone is located just outside our front doors. Not concerned about anyone taking it. Security cameras are one thing, but this stone weighs over 200 pounds!
The stone reads "J. E. Clary Chief M.F.D." What we do know is that Clary was Memphis Fire Chief from 1882-1888. His retirement came three years before the old headquarters was built at 65 South Front Street in 1891. It was found in a back yard of an old house on Forrest Avenue in North Memphis. The man who found it was Mr. Jeff Sample. He was doing some work in the area and was asked to remove it. Within a day or two, he contacted me at the museum and asked if we would like to have it.
I graciously accepted on behalf of the museum. However, several days went by and we did not hear back from Mr. Sample. Then, on September 7th, I received a message from Brian Wiggins at Fire Station 14. Mr. Sample had dropped it off there. On Tuesday, September 9th, with the help of a few volunteers and the crews of Engine 14, Engine 7, and Truck 13, we moved it to the museum. We will be doing some research on the stone. I would like to have an accurate story of how it came to be and where it was for all of these years. In the meantime, come on down to the museum and take a look at it! Thank you.