Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Not many things from 1900 are still operating in the City of Buffalo today, but the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat is still going strong.
"It's such an iconic piece of Buffalo history," said Cotter Cpt. Michael Kick on WBEN. "It was a state of the art vessel, built as an icebreaker and a fireboat."
A 125th anniversary celebration of the Cotter will be held Saturday at Riverfest Park on Ohio Street from 1 p.m.-to-6 p.m.
"It's going to be a beautiful day. We've got three live bands, food, beverages and stuff for the kids to do. There will be pipes and drums and all kinds of activities," said Kick.
The fireboat will be spraying its water canons during a drive-by around 2:15 p.m.
It's events like this that keep the boat afloat.
"It takes a lot of money to keep something that is 125-years-old operating," Kick explained. "The Edward M. Cotter Conservancy was formed in 2016 to help offset expenses. The public's help in raising money is so important because everything now is getting older and older and it's hard to get parts, and if we do find them, they are much more expensive."
Tickets for Cotterfest are no longer available online. They can be purchased on site at Riverfest Park on Ohio Street for $30. Children under 12 are free.
The Cotter is the oldest working fireboat in the world. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
Related
