Firefighters' Memorial

Built in 1997 on the Little Miami Bike Trail at the corner of Harrison Street and Railroad Avenue in downtown Loveland, the Loveland-Symmes Firefighters' Memorial stands as a testament to the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department’s commitment to never forget.

Remembering the Sacrifices Made

Originally created to draw the community’s attention to the sacrifices made by all public safety officials who serve, thousands of visitors pass by the memorial each year to remember those who dedicate their all to their communities each and every day. The Firefighters' Memorial is home to many significant artifacts that represent Loveland’s and Symmes’ public safety services, as well as the nation’s first responders.

Design

Designed by David Camelle and built by local contractor Crapsey and Gilles, the Firefighters' Memorial consists of four pillars that surround a large concrete vault. Inside the vault is a time capsule that contains current renditions of the LSFD’s badges and uniforms, as well as copies of local newspapers and department documents that describe the state of the department in 1997. A great method of preserving and passing on our department history, this time capsule is scheduled to be opened by department members many years down the road.

On the top of the concrete vault is a bell from the riverboat Reuben Springer. This bell was acquired from a local resident who had served as a riverboat captain. The bell served as the alarm for Loveland’s firefighters to respond to an emergency until 1934.

Recent Additions

Recent additions to the memorial include a plaques to remember those first responders who made the supreme sacrifice on September 11, 2001 and the nine firefighters who lost their lives in a furniture store fire in 2007 in Charleston, South Carolina. Both plaques are permanently affixed to one of the four pillars. The Loveland-Symmes Firefighters' Memorial is also home to a section of an I-beam retrieved from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.