FIRE TRUCKS DISPLAYED TODAY IN JACKSON

Above, Bill Thompson and a 1948 Dodge Firetruck. The truck was used to fight fires in Wamego, Kas., until the Thompsons purchased it eight years ago.

Left, Bernard Schaper, left and Bill Thompson discuss the fire truck display at the Oliver House on Wednesday.

The Thompson family will display a portion of their fire truck collection at the Oliver House today from 1-4:30 p.m.

Billy Joe Thompson Jr., began the fire truck collection about 10 years ago while he was hauling cars to Kansas City. Along the way, a man noticed Thompson's jacket that had a Jackson logo on it.

The man told Thompson he had purchased a Jackson fire truck and he wanted it to go back to Jackson. The truck was a 1939 Diamond T model and it was to be the first of many fire fighting collectibles to come. Thompson's wife Robin began collecting with her husband then.

Bill Thompson, a self-professed collector of many things, naturally got involved with his son's hobby later and has become quite the fire fighting collector himself.

The collection of fire trucks is at 10 and they range from 1916-1956 models. The Thompsons have International, Chevrolet, Dodge and La Franz fire trucks.

Along with the big trucks, there are many toy fire trucks that have been collected over the years. The collection also boasts different fire hose nozzles and many fire fighting tools that no longer are included in today's fire fighting arsenals, like fire fighting grenades. A fire fighting liquid is stored in glass bottles about the size of a softball. Fire fighters would through the glass bulbs at the base of the flame to extinguish it.

The Thompson's go all over the country collecting the memorabilia.

The Thompsons love to show off their collection. They like to drive their antique fire trucks in parades in the area.

The Thompsons will have three fire trucks parked outside the Oliver House for viewing as well as a display of collectibles inside.