Antique fire apparatuses to be on display
Thursday, July 03, 2008
GERMANTOWN — Don't worry if you see 30 to 40 pieces of fire equipment heading to Germantown — the whole village isn't ablaze.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 5, you'll have a chance to enjoy antique fire apparatuses at Germantown's Veterans Memorial Park. The event is free and open to the public.
Fire apparatuses dating back to the 1850s will be on display. And equipment, as late as the 1970s, will be part of the show, too.
A fire-related flea market is part of what organizers are calling a "step back in time" adventure.
"Traditionally, we have 30 to 40 antique fire apparatuses on display," said Bob McClain, one of the organizers of the event. Last year he said 44 pieces showed up.
"The weather was nice," McClain explained.
Slated for display is an 1892 Ahren's steamer, owned by an ex-fire chief in Gahanna, and a 1918 American LaFrance from Indiana.
The LaFrance is the "Cadillac of fire trucks," McClain said.
Larry Suttman, newsletter editor for the Miami Valley Antique Fire Apparatus Association, which co-sponsors the event, will bring his 1937 Seagrave pumper. Suttman lives in Kettering.
Bob McClain serves as MVAFAA's treasurer. His son, Matt McClain, serves as vice president.
Veterans Memorial Park is on North Walnut Street, adjacent to Germantown's municipal building. It's handicapped accessible with sidewalks and shade trees throughout. There's plenty of free parking.
The event also is sponsored by the Germantown Firefighter's Association, and is in its 12th year. The Germantown Firefighter's Association will have a food stand and the proceeds will benefit the organization.
For more information, call Bob McClain at (937) 855-2479 or Matt McClain at (937) 256-1726.




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