16 Jul - Lunch at the Dubliner + DC Fire and EMS Museum

 

We slowed things down a bit today.  We had been hitting it pretty hard the last few days and the batteries needed recharging.  We slept in until about 0700 hrs vs 0530 like the previous days and worked around here for a while before heading to the 1055 hrs MARC train to Union Station.  Needless to say we have that route down pat!  The goal today was simply to head down for a nice lunch and to visit the Washington DC Fire and EMS Museum.

We arrived at Union Station and walked west.  The Postal Museum is closed but on the west end of that building is a post office and we had a couple cards to mail.  It seems that greeting cards have become old school but Doreen makes sure our kids and grandkids get cards for birthdays, anniversaries, etc, even while on the road.  We also like to actually make phone calls once in a while rather than relying on texts and Facebook posts. 

Across the street is the Dubliner Irish Restaurant.  My duties in the military brought me to Washington DC periodically and we used to visit the Dubliner in the evening,  

Beautiful old wooden bar area

Doreen had their fish and chips with a margarita  and I had a Reuben sandwich with a Guinness Stout beer.  The atmosphere is good and the food is great!  

After lunch we headed a block west and a block south to the Washington DC Fire and EMS Museum which is located in Capitol Hill Station #3.  As suspected from reading on the Internet, the museum was closed, but the museum lives inside Station #3 and one of their bay doors was open, so we approached.  

We were greeted by one of the firefighters there and he commented on my "Retired Air Force" shirt.  He had served as a firefighter in the Air Force and now served on the DC department.  With my 25 years on the fire department, and our Des Moines airport firefighters as "second kin",  we had a lot in common and quite the conversation ensued!!  He gave us a tour of their station and we looked at their apparatus.   They average over 25 calls per day.  They have a responding engine and emergency medical services (ambulance),  and they provide coverage for the Presidential helicopter arrivals/departures at the White House.

Beautiful old station.

No surprises here

Not in the museum which is on the second floor, but on ground level is this beautiful old  1905 American LaFrance 3rd Class Metropolitan 600 gallon per minute horse-drawn steam fire engine.  It was originally placed in service 26 Aug 1095 and served until 1924 when it was placed in reserve service.  On 15 Jun 1925 it was used in a ceremonial "Last Run for the Horse" and in 1935 it was condemned,  Thankfully they salvaged this beauty and they are in the process of restoring it.

The station here is magnificent.  I especially love the arched doors.  Back in the day they were hinged wood, but they have upgraded the doors yet maintained the nostalgic look.  They are automated metal doors now but they look great!

We said our goodbyes at the fire station and thanked them for their hospitality, then we headed back to Union Station and caught the 1415 hrs MARC train back to Odenton.  The Cubs are at the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight following the All Star break and so on the east coast the game did not start until 2130 hrs!  Safe to say I will read how it comes out in the morning.  

Tomorrow is a down day for us.  No touring.  We will clean up the coach, restock on groceries and take care of other tasks around here.  Sunday we attend the Washington Nationals baseball game.