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James B. “JB” Lesher Collection

This is one of many sections that contain information, documents, letters, newspaper articles,

pictures, etc. They have been collected and arranged in chronological order. These items were

collected, organized and entered into a computerized database by Al Ring with the help of many

friends and fellow firefighters.

All graphics have been improved to make the resolution as good as possible, but the reader

should remember that many came from copies of old newspaper articles. This also applies to

other items such as documents, letters, etc. Credit to the source of the documents, photos, etc.

is provided whenever it was available. We realize that many items are not identified and regret

that we weren’t able to provide this information. As far as the newspaper articles that are not

identified, 99% of them would have to be from one of three possible sources. The Courier-

Journal, The Louisville Times or one of the Voice publications.

Please use this information as a reference tool only. If the reader uses any of the information for

any purpose other than a reference tool, they must get permission from the source.

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James B. “JB” Lesher Collection

My collection is mainly hand-held extinguishers, the oldest being

from 1850. 3 Fire trucks, l-1953 Seagrave sits in the center bay

keeping the St. Matthews tradition alive (JB owns the old STMFD

fire station at 117 St. Matthews Avenue). The other is a 1923

Pirsch chemical hose unit Dodge Gram Dry Train Pirsch equipped.

the other is a Seco Industrial truck, this was used in a Ford Motor

body works plant in Ohio.

J.B. Lesher, founder of Lesher Fire Extinguisher Company, who

started the business in his parents garage on Chamberry Drive in

Louisville, Kentucky and over the course of 33 years built the

company into a highly recognized regional fire protection equip-

ment company with facilities in Indianapolis, Lexington, Kentucky

and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Lesher sold the company in 1998 to

Tyco International. After selling, he began collecting antique fire

memorabilia with an emphasis on extinguishers.

Note from Al Ring: The photos at the end of this section are of the

old St. Matthews fire station at 117 St. Matthews Avenue, 40207.

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1923 Pirsch chemical hose unit—Dodge Gram Dry Train Pirsch equipped

Seco Industrial Truck use in a Ford Motor body works plant in Ohio

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1953 Seagrave

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1953 Seagrave—July 2011

1923 Pirsch chemical hose unit—Dodge Gram Dry Train Pirsch equipped

July 2011

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1923 Pirsch chemical hose unit—Dodge Gram Dry Train Pirsch equipped

2004 St. Matthews Fire Department Reunion parade—

Seco Industrial Truck use in a Ford Motor body works plant in Ohio

2009 St. Matthews Fire Department Reunion

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Seco Industrial Truck use in a Ford Motor body works plant in Ohio

2009 St. Matthews Fire Department Reunion

In the old fire station, July 2011

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

Note from Al Ring: The photos at the end of this section are of the old St. Matthews fire station at 117 St. Matthews Ave-nue, 40207. JB owns and lives at the old fire station, note living area in back, 2nd floor. JB bought the station in 1971 from STMFD and is the second owner of the building.

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

Photo taken around 1968 by Malcolm McMakin, STMFD fire-

fighter.

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

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“Old” St. Matthews Fire Station

JB a few years ago—