AMSTERDAM — Battalion Chief Walter Martin remembers when the old West End Firehouse on Division Street was actually used by the fire department.

In March 1973, Martin began his career as a professional firefighter in the city, and worked in the station when it was short-handed. In November 1973, the Public Safety Building opened, and the five neighborhood firehouses were closed to consolidate operations into a central location.

Martin, 56, is into firefighting. So into it that he purchased the West End Firehouse in 2000, renovated the top floors and moved into it in August with his fiancee, Mary Beth Potolec and her daughter.

“I’ve always loved this building and it was vacant for a while and I always felt bad about that, so I convinced her that it was a good idea to buy it,” Martin said.

“He really did need a place for all his collectibles,” Potolec said.

Now, Martin is about to tackle phase two of his firehouse project, which is to restore the lower level of the circa-1911 building to original condition.

Martin has photographs of what the station used to look like and has collected nearly everything from the exact bell to old chairs, signs and a repeater machine, which used to tell firefighters where the call was coming from.

Martin is also restoring a 1932 AA Model Ford hose wagon that was used by the Bigelow and Sanford Fire Brigade, which he plans to park in the middle of the open room once it’s restored.

Besides old things that used to belong to the firehouse, Martin has been collecting firefighter memorabilia and knickknacks for about 30 years. He has toys, games, books, pendants and medals, helmets, brass fire nozzles and a firefighter’s sliding pole.

“I have a big passion for the Fire Department,” Martin said.

His favorite item is a 1927 toy model fire truck that was given to him by a distant relative who kept it in the attic.

Potolec’s favorite artifact is an old fire extinguishing system that was kept in the old mills in the 1800s. During a fire a person would pull down the lid of a box and remove a glass orb filled with a type of chemical. The instructions say to throw the orb at the base of the fire. Martin’s box, which he found in an antique shop, contains eight unbroken glass orbs full of chemicals.

In 1973, firefighters were allowed to retire after 20 years of service with a healthy retirement package. Martin said many of the older guys got out that year, so there was a shortage of firemen, and 23 rookies were hired. Martin calls them the “Class of ’73.” Now, he’s the only one left.

After 35 years, Martin has more longevity than anyone in the entire Public Safety Building, including both Fire Chief Richard Liberti and Police Chief Thomas Brownell.

“I’ve never had a bad day on the job,” Martin said. “I’ve had bad moments, but never bad days.”

Martin said firefighting has changed over the years. There are fewer fires and more of a focus on emergency medical services. Also, there is more emphasis on protecting the firefighter.

Despite the change, Martin said firefighting is still a “young man’s job.”

“Those ladders and hoses don’t get any lighter and it takes me a little longer to recover after being on the job all night,” Martin said.

Martin has many stories about his days of firefighting, from a story about a 14-year-old boy who taught him how to use the pumps on the old fire engines to working 36 straight hours when the Mohasco Mill buildings caught fire.

“The job becomes a part of you and anyone who doesn’t feel like that doesn’t stay,” Martin said.

Martin said he keeps saying that he will retire in a couple of years, but then those years go by and he continues working.

“Everyone knows Walt because it’s his love and his passion,” Potolec said.