Historical Museum & Exhibits
Two museums, one Superior history!
The Grasso Park Interim Historical Museum, located at 122 E. William St., is housed in a 1904 bungalow and situated within a historic park. The museum is programmed with Superior’s agricultural artifacts, objects, and photographs. Outside of the museum within Grasso Park stand the 1895 Hake Homestead House, barn, woodshed, root cellar and historic farm equipment.
The Asti Park Historical Museum, located at 110 W. Maple St., is programmed with Superior’s mining, mine camp house living, schoolhouse education, plus a small area dedicated to Marshall Fire objects and photographs. The museum is housed in a replica 1910 Mine Camp House as the original was lost in the 2021 Marshall Fire.
Both museum locations have served the Historical Commission well as locations for the continued preservation of the Town’s history and source of Superior’s history for residents and patrons alike.
Historical Collection
Historic Fire Engine
The Town of Superior’s historic 1942 Chevrolet fire engine was manufactured during World War II and served as a military fire truck during the war before it was purchased by the Lafayette Volunteer Fire Department in 1945.
In 1971 Gladys Forshee, Superior Original Town resident and then Town Clerk, saw the need for fire protection in Superior and started the conversation to create the Superior Volunteer Fire Department. Superior Volunteer Fire bought the engine in the early '70s from Lafayette as its first fire engine and it later served as a reserve vehicle. After the engine was no longer in use it ended up spending a handful of years outside where it was exposed to the elements and became quite weathered. It was eventually transported to be stored at Tri-County Self Storage in Erie where it sat for about a decade. On March 1, 2013, the Town brought the truck back to Superior and stored it at Guardian Storage in town.
In the spring of 2015, the vehicle was restored to get it operable, and it was driven by staff in the Town’s 4th of July Parade that year. In the spring of 2016, Mile High Classics, based out of Denver, installed a new electrical wiring system, gave the truck a new paint job and replaced both the windows and front windshield. In the spring of 2017, Mile High Classics did more work by updating the truck’s interior (upholstery, seat belts, etc.), improved the exhaust system and re-striped the gold leaf pattern that was previously on the exterior of the truck.
Superior’s cherished fire engine has since been in every 4th of July parade and present at other large Town events.
Fire Truck vs. Fire Engine?
The terms fire truck and fire engine are commonly used interchangeably as they have similar meanings in their general applications. But toss out the word "fire" and shorten the terms to “truck” and “engine” and this is where we split the hairs.
Fire Engines and Fire Trucks perform significantly different functions at a fire scene. Fire Engines are equipped with hoses and water so that personnel can aggressively fight the fire. Fire Trucks are like the firefighter's tool box -- carrying ladders, rescue equipment and other tools to enable personnel to support firefighting activities.
Superior Original Town resident Gladys Forshee, far left, spearheaded the creation of the Superior Volunteer Fire Department that was formed in 1972. The women volunteer firefighters, pictured in this photograph taken May 25, 1973, called themselves "The Flamettes" and fought fires during the day while the men volunteered nights and weekends.
