Antique piece to hit highway for Mt. Pleasant's 100th

A piece of local history is about to hit the streets of Mt. Pleasant again, just in time to celebrate its 100th birthday, as the department recently was able to get an antique fire truck up and running.

“We wanted to get it ready for the firemen's fair this year to ride it in the parade,” Mt. Pleasant fire Chief Jerry Lucia said of the American LaFrance chemical engine that was acquired in 1915 by the department. “It was the very first motorized vehicle in Mt. Pleasant.”

The engine will be featured in the borough's firemen's parade at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Main Street.

American LaFrance was an American vehicle manufacturer that focused on the production of fire engines and emergency apparatus, dating from the 1800s until they ceased production in January 2014.

Lucia said he believes that the fire truck was retired from the department in the 1940s.

Members of the First Ward Fire Company began to restore the truck in 1974.

“They worked on that truck for two years,” Lucia said.

The truck was used for several years before it was placed in storage, Lucia said, until a few years ago when members decided to restore it. But the rubber tires were no longer roadworthy.

“The truck has solid rubber tires that you just can't find anymore,” Lucia said. “I spent the last two years looking for a way to replace them. They don't make anything like that anymore, and we just couldn't find anyone who knew what to do with them.”

A craftsman was found when volunteer fireman Mark Gustafson ventured to Lancaster to purchase a Dalmatian puppy, a family pet who will serve as the firehouse dog for the company.

“I asked the Amish guy that I bought my puppy from if he happened to know anyone who did that sort of work, and he said ‘Yes, my neighbor does,' ” Gustafson said.

Gustafson took the wheels to Lancaster and had them remade.

“I think this is great that we got it back,” Rescue Captain Dave Bert said of the truck. “It's a classic, and it should be used.”

First Ward Lieutenant Bill Hare said he thinks that past members of the department would be happy to see the engine running.

“All of those firemen who are named on our honor roll would be thrilled to see this back out,” Hare said. “It a true piece of our history.”

Lucia said they plan to have the brass on the engine cleaned and some other minor repairs done to now that it is roadworthy.

“We want to get the brass cleaned and shined up, and once that it done, it will look really great,” Lucia said.

The antique truck made its debut at the Scottdale Firemen's Fair Parade on June 10. The engine was a hit with the crowds.

“They loved the truck,” Lucia said. “We got a lot of thumbs up as we went down the street.”

The American LaFrance replaced the old hand pumper wagons that were manpowered and pulled by horses.

“Eight men would power them with four men on each side,” Lucia said, adding that the department has one of the old pumpers in storage but are not ready to restore it.

Marilyn Forbes is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.