Eddie the Fireman
A few months after moving into the firehouse, I was outside working on the ’47 Ford truck. A gentleman named Eddie pulled up and said he had heard I had found an old Smyrna fire truck and wanted to stop by to see if that was true.
He told me he started as a firefighter for the City of Smyrna in 1970. Since he was the youngest on the crew, his job every morning was to go downstairs to the lower garage level, open the doors, start the ’47 Ford, and run it for a few minutes to make sure it stayed in good working order. Even though it had been officially retired from service for years, the city still wanted to maintain it for parades and special events. (It was also used in parades by the American Legion.)
He told me he started as a firefighter for the City of Smyrna in 1970. Since he was the youngest on the crew, his job every morning was to go downstairs to the lower garage level, open the doors, start the ’47 Ford, and run it for a few minutes to make sure it stayed in good working order. Even though it had been officially retired from service for years, the city still wanted to maintain it for parades and special events. (It was also used in parades by the American Legion.)
I asked him about the fact that this particular truck looked different than most of the other firetrucks from that time. He recalled that the ’47 Ford was originally a standard flatbed truck. It was purchased new in 1947 by a local farmer who used it to haul chickens to market.
About a year later, the truck was involved in a minor accident, with the rear damaged.
I asked him about the fact that this particular truck looked different than most of the other firetrucks from that time. He recalled that the ’47 Ford was originally a standard flatbed truck. It was purchased new in 1947 by a local farmer who used it to haul chickens to market.
About a year later, the truck was involved in a minor accident, with the rear damaged.
The city needed an additional fire truck and purchased one from the farmer. It was then sent off to be converted into a fire truck, with the addition of a water pump and utility bed, along with standard fire truck accessories.
The city needed an additional fire truck and purchased one from the farmer. It was then sent off to be converted into a fire truck, with the addition of a water pump and utility bed, along with standard fire truck accessories.