By Jessica Isaacs
Want to see history brought to life? Make your way to Memorial Park in Blowing Rock this Sunday, Sept. 27 by 4 p.m. for your chance to see the town’s first fire truck, which has been completely restored and is now ready for you to enjoy.
After a disastrous fire hit the town’s Main Street in 1924, the community saw a real need for more effective and more powerful firefighting technology. The townspeople started raising money, and in December of 1926 were able to purchase a brand new 1927 model fire truck.
Nearly nine decades later, the folks behind the Blowing Rock Historical Society knew it was time to bring back the glory of the original fire truck. In October 2014, Marcia Quinn, who then served as president of the BRHS, and Lowell Thomas, now the sitting president, reached out to a restoration specialist named Bryan Summers.
Summers and his team began work and have since been bringing the truck back to life one piece at a time. The truck rode through the town’s Fourth of July parade this summer, but it wasn’t quite finished.
Now completely restored and in driving condition, the truck made its way into town yesterday and it’s ready to be revealed to the community.
“Our mission as the historical society is the preservation of all and anything to do with Blowing Rock. Most people think about buildings, but this truck is a major piece of the town’s history,” Quinn said. “It is just so important to have physical things like this preserved. The town and people for generations will know that this will now be housed and will be safe and will be available for them to view. It’s just so wonderful that we can now say it’s done.”
The BRHS has teamed up with the town, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum and the local fire department to host a special unveiling event at Memorial Park on Sunday. The fun will begin at 4 p.m. and will feature refreshments, fire hats for the kids, a special presentation of the truck’s history, music from the Watauga Community Band and more.
Visit the historical society online for more information.
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