This & That from Here & There

[GA_Dave]

   About a week ago, I received a call from a former co-worker, telling me of the location of a long lost piece of apparatus that I used to drive.  Less than an hour later, I took this photo.  This rig served from 1958-1986 when it was retired and swapped to the local American Legion Post, in exchange for our old 1924 American LaFrance that they had owned since 1951.  I had just become a member of the department, but within a few years, I regularly served as the driver of this rig during the parades that the Legion members attended, most of them being too old and frail to handle it.  The rig was relocated to an airfield a few counties away, housed in a hangar owned by the son or grandson of one of the members.  He would bring it to our Station 2 the day before the parade and pick it up the day after, but I always drove it in the parade.  The last time I drove it was about 15 years ago.  The membership in the local post dwindled and the few remaining members merged with another post in another town.  Within a few years, they had all passed and I never knew the exact location of the rig, nor did I have a contact person. 

   It is currently possessed by the American Legion Post in Peachtree City, GA and I am not sure how it got there, but should find out that part of the story soon.  It is currently at a shop having some electrical wiring issues addressed and plans call for a new paint job, but it still looks to be in very good condition, considering it's age.  It has about 25,000 miles on it and purrs like a kitten.

 

Engine 24, College Park, GA (retired)

1958 Mack B-85F

750/300

#1338