Chamber After Hours Attracts Nearly 300 to Dobson Fire Truck Museum
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Jimmie Dobson (Pictured at Right) is going all out to interest more people in his twin passions--fire trucks, and Bay City.
The longtime Bay City industrialist and entrepreneur was on hand as Dobson Home Care and Staffing Services, Inc., hosted the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours last Thursday as crowds surged around the collection.
Just for the occasion, retired auto executive Jerry Jopke spent two days moving his collection of farm tractors to the site from storage.
Farmers and those who appreciate the massive vehicles could look them over and hear tales of rural days gone by.
The prize attraction at the Dobson museum, 3456 Patterson Road, is the world's largest fire truck, the New York Fire Department supertanker that had to be taken out of service because it ripped hydrants and pipes out of the ground with its powerful water pumping capability.
The museum's next event is the third annual golf outing Sept. 10 at Green Hills Golf Course. The event has a shotgun start at 11 a.m. It is sponsored by Dobson Home Care and Staffing Solutions and Thumb National Bank. Interested golfers may contact Tara at 866-866-8984.
Bob Kinney and grandson Cam Langfeld, 18 months, peruse a 1958 John Deere 420 tractor with owner Jerry Jopke at the Dobson Fire Truck Museum.
The creation of the Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum came out of the love Jimmie Dobson and his late son Jeffrey shared for over five decades.
Jimmie, and Jeffrey, always found a place for each and every toy they came across, whether the toy was big, small, old, or new.
Visitors to the museum were reminded of their own childhoods by the incredible collection of toy vehicles surrounded by over 80 of Mr. Dobson's real motorized fire trucks, which he has been collecting for over 50 years.
The NASCAR Room has almost every model collectible toy car ever raced. Completing the room is a real NASCAR Monte Carlo driven by the late Jeffrey Dobson.
The Tonka Room has been recognized as the largest collection of Tonka Toys and Trucks in the World! "It's definitely a once in a lifetime viewing experience," says Mr. Dobson.
Among the fire truck collection is a 1914 International, believed to the oldest motorized fire truck in the world.
The pride and joy of the collection the New York Super-Pumper --the biggest fire truck ever built. The Super Pumper could deliver 8,800 gals per minute for a distance of more than a quarter of a mile. The roar of its powerful engine could be heard for miles and drivers had to wear special ear protection to protect their ears.
Other attractions are the Snap-On Tool Room, Coca-Cola Room, 9/11 Memorial, The Antique Alarm System and much more.
Volunteers Debbie Sharrard and Mike Adams in the Dobson Museum with "greeter" in antique fire officer gear.
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