The Rochester Historical Society’s April 20 program will be "The History of Maxim Motors," a Middleboro company that supplied fire engines to most of the area fire departments. The program will be presented by Howard T. Smith, a firefighter and author from Wareham.

Smith is a second generation firefighter who spent much of his young life around the West Wareham Fire Station where his father was captain. He joined the fire department as soon as he was old enough. Choosing fire fighting as a career he attended college to get his degree in fire science. He has been a firefighter for a number of departments and is currently with the Cambridge Fire Department. He also teaches at the Massachusetts Fire Academy.

Having grown up in this area Smith became familiar with Maxim Motors and spent much of his time fighting fire with Maxim fire trucks. He has written two books on Maxim’s fire apparatus, which caused him to do extensive research on the company becoming an expert and gaining the title of “Mr. Maxim.”

The current display at the museum features the History of the Rochester Fire and Police Departments.

The meeting is at the East Rochester Church/Museum, 355 County Rd. at 7 p.m. All are welcome. Refreshments will follow the program.