HOWELL – After nearly three and a half years, the Southard Fire Department No. 1 has welcomed home their 85-year-old truck.
The Department announced that the first apparatus they ever purchased new, a 1939 Chevrolet truck, has been completely restored.
“It’s been a long road but… she is finally home,” the Southard Fire Department said in a statement.
The Southard Fire Department was organized in 1933. In its beginning years, the organization held its first election of officers, constructed its firehouse, and got its first fire truck in 1935.
The company decided to purchase a new fire truck in 1939 with the chassis being bought from George Matthews Chevrolet of Farmingdale. The chassis was taken to Rockville Center, Long Island where the Approved Fire Apparatus Corporation constructed the truck. The truck was then delivered to the company in December of 1939.
According to the Southard Fire Department, the truck carried 400 gallons of water with a 500-gallons-per-minute, single-stage pump. It could also carry up to 1,000 feet of one-and-one-half inch hose.
“We would like to take a moment to thank the team at Lee’s Emergency Equipment in Tuckerton for their hard work and dedication to reinvigorating life back into our apparatus, and we send a special thank you to the team at Mike Stahnten and Certified Auto Mall for transporting the apparatus to and from Lee’s,” the Southard Fire Department said.
The Department also thanked its committee for all the hours they put into researching and planning this restoration project.
“Our forefathers of Southard would truly be proud. There is still quite a bit of work left finding some of the additional equipment for the apparatus,” the Southard Fire Department said.
The Department said that the fully restored antique apparatus will be used as a funeral vehicle for the departed membership. In addition, it will make its appearance in local parades and community events.
“Thank you again to everyone who has been a part of making this restoration a huge success,” the Southard Fire Department said.
