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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-06-12, Page 9TY Times -Advocate, June 12, 1996 Page 9 Fire pumper is preserved Exeter resident Danny Smith is gradually restoring the 1944 pumper By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - A strong sense of lo- cal and family history recently en- couraged Danny Smith to purchase the town's 1944 fire department pumper. "Ws part of the history of the town and the fire de- partment as well as a personal history," he said. Smith, born and raised in Exeter, re- turned four years ago with his family and has been work= ing as a volunteer firefighter since 1989. "Three generations of the Smite family have been volunteer fire- fighters including Danny's grand- father, Ray Smith, who was an ac- tive member for 32 years until 1978 when he retired as platoon chief. He then took a fire phone into his house un- til 1991. Larry Smith was in the de- partment from 1967 until his re- tirement as cap- tain in 1992. Danny fondly re- members his fa - family for a Sunday "It's part of the history of the town and the fire department as well as a personal history." ther taking the Danny Smith participated in Saturday's Hensel! Spring Fair Parade with the former Exeter Fire Department 1944 pump- er truck. Lucan 125th celebrations scheduled for June 21-23 • LUCAN - Plan to attend the Lu - can 125 Celebrations which begins on June 21 with a chicken barbecue and ends on Sunday evening after the closing cerertto- nies and interdenom- i>.-jr„,..rt-sT ters ,ter activities, :rt ..r throughout the weekend, including a parade, an Opti- mist ball tourna- ment, the Lions' Den Advance tickets for the dinners Molly McGuires and the Rock Concert are recommended. The weekend will provide many oppor- tunities to meet friends and relatives and to 3,reminisoe about life in ., ,R • t. with the Molly .t871_4 McGuires, heritage displays, antique car JUNE show, antique tractor and equipment show, children's en- tertainment, festival in the park with a craft and art show, open air rock concert, firemen's breakfast, talent contest and more. (Schedule of activities is attached). GRADUATE COLLEEN MARIE t ER daughter of Wayne & Bonnie Keller graduated on June 7 from the University of Westem Ontario with a Bachelor of Education, with Distinction. Colleen is also a graduate of the University of Waterloo. Love d Best Wishes from Family AFriends -Weere proud dyou! CHRIITA LYNN KELLER yne & Bonnie Kehr, graduated on June 7 from the UnW.relty of Wetttem Ontario with a Bachelor of Education. Chrfsta Is also a graduate of Mad Lau** Low A Reat,s I er Family A Friends - . prtlud d you! s Le- rc the ve Fr Heritage • display planned for the week end include James Rea ney, Ray Fazakas, North Buxton Museum, John 9 verton, Ermerald Isle So - Z2 6 ciety, Genealogical Soci ety, Biddulph 2000 quilting display, London and Middlesex Historical Society, Roy al Canadian Legion display, Gael' Language display and Lucan and Area Heritage Museum. Heritag displays can be viewed at the Mu seum, Market Street Park and Legion. The Talbots, Peter Mennie, Ste Seguin, Denis Siren and Gail Gil bert will entertain throughout the day at the Market Street Park and the Community Centre. The mald Isle and Dutch Canadian Dancers will dance on Saturday of temoon at the Market Street Park. The Molly McGuires Band was a feature at Lucan Lion's Fairs in the past. Their return engagement at the Lions' Den on Friday and Sat- urday evening will provide oppor- tunities to celebrate in an Irish Pub atmosphere. The community is strongly be- hind the 125 celebrations. Many citizens, including the reeve, for- mer reeves, and council members have been focussing on the upcom- ing celebrations for nearly a year. The Business Association has pro- moted and supported the celebra- tion weekend. Expect to see homes and businesses decorated for the occasion. The Co-operative Nur- sery School, the Firemen, Lucan and Area Heritage Committee, the elementary schools, the Royal Ca- nadian Legion, the Optimists, the Lions' Club, the Masonic Lodge, churches and the Junior D Hockey Team are putting forth great efforts to ensure that the celebration of Lu - can's 125 years is the best that it can be. The horse drawn wagon tows will provide a glimpse into the his• tory of the community. Advance tickets for the meals (Friday - chicken barbecue, Saturday - bar- becued beef, Sunday - ham and scalloped potatoes) and the Molly McGuire's are strongly recommend- ed. Call the village office (227- 4253) to order. For more information about this special weekend, contact Norm Steeper 227-4864, Peggy Mastora- kos 227-0181, Ron Reymer 227- 4253. morning ride on the pumper. His youngest son, three-year-old Corey is also enthusiastic about firefighting and enjoys spending time with his father as he gradually restores the pumper. Although Smith bas worked on the engine, the truck has its original body and motor. Although the 90 -gallon pump leaks, it is fully operational. "In time I'd like to have the whole thing restored," said Smith adding due to the significance of the decals, he only touches up the paint. The truck was purchased new by the fire department in 1944 and af- ter a new pumper was bought in 1961, remained as a second re- sponse vehicle until 1973. It was built by the Blckle Seagrave Man- ufacturers m Woodstock and has travelled a total of 3,800 miles. According to Smith, former Chief Gary Middleton, who retired last year, was the last firefighter to have been in the department when the pumper was used alone. Middleton has been an important source of in- formation for Smith, who has re- searched the history of the truck and the Exeter Fire Department, formerly the Defiance Fire Com- pany No. 2 and the Rescue Com- pany No. 1. "I feel what you know about the past influences the future," said Smith. The pumper truck was turned over to the firefighters association and it was displayed for a time at the Goderich museum. Without a proper place to store the truck, it was up to local members to decide its fate. Although a fire museum in Port Hope was considered, Smith felt it was important to keep this piece of local history in the area. With the help of John Morgan, who stores the truck at his property in Usborne Township during the win- ter, Smith took over responsibility for the truck. He has driven the pumper to vari- ous area parades and antique I shows as well as a fire muster at Doon Pioneer Village. He also plans to participate in the Lucan 125 celebration and Friedsburg Days. Smith collects various fire de- partment memorabilia including photographs and model trucks and is storing the records dating back to the origins of the department. He encourages anyone with old pictures or artifacts to contact him at 235-1625 or John Morgan at 235-1981. The department is hop- ing to raise money to build a dis- play case to house the growing col- lection of memorabilia. JFeTl me, IO\II I'IZOI)!`( 1t'1 1 ‘11.11-1( CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY? CALL 235-0699 (LOCAL) Long Distance: 1-800-529-9292 Alpine's Com. 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