1954 American LaFrance Pumper
30 April 2012
I want to express my gratitude to Kirk Zikeli of Zikeli Auto Repair on Clyde Street for providing another picture to Ellwood City Memories. This picture is of the BRAND new Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department’s 1954 American LaFrance Pumper truck being unloaded from the railway car in 1954.
The picture of the new fire truck being delivered was taken at the corner of Eighth Street and Beaver Avenue. Thank you again, Zeke.
What a beautiful piece of automotive art work!
It looked just like the 1949 LaFrance Pumper that Ellwood also had. Both were 750 gpm pumpers. Very small by todays standards
I don’t care if they are small compared to today’s models. They were the big firetrucks of my youth and the ones I remember in all the parades and at fires. They were plenty big enough to impress me. While I’m thinking about it a big thank you to all the firemen, paid and Volunteer, for all they have done over the years.
Very Respectful comment about the firefighters Jim. It is, as I write, 11:20PM and there was some thurder just now tha actually sounded like rapid fire firework bombs, you hear at the end of the shoot.
The old firetrucks had such a touch of class,didnt need lots of chrome and lights,keeping it simple.Growing up would always wonder what that ramp was for.Wonder how many cars were unloaded there?
Like Jim Hardie and others who have commented on the referenced article, I have a fond appreciation for the Ellwood City fire department. I love the old engines, red and chrome pieces of art. I don’t remember any fires while I was in Ellwood City. I do remember the fire engines in parades and especially recall the warning alarm horn on the North Side that sounded off every day at noon.
Views shared here are those of a kid. I was in awe of getting a peek at an engine if the doors were open on the fire station. I don’t remember what age I would have been for this memory, but it would have had to be in the late 1940′s when my family lived on Crescent Avenue. We’d be in the car, in town, and pass the fire station. I always looked to see if I could see some activity. I never was inside the station. Sure would like to know more about the main station and any auxiliary stations. I don’t remember an auxiliary station on the North Side. Would be interesting to know which neighborhoods had them.
Dave as a kid running the streets of Ellwood during the 50′s we would always know we could run into the fire dept. for a drink of water and a look around at the trucks, as the firemen would be playing Cribbage. They were always friendly to us and at times teasing. Another thing, you could count on was seeing Connie MacDonald. He was always there. We had a good experienced Fire Chief in Connie for the recent past years. He retired this year and from what I have heard the man taking over is good as well. Thank you Connie for your service.