By Carla Charter

Vehicles tell a story, as often as do the people who use them in their day-to-day work. And just like people, they face retirement.

Such is the case of the Athol Fire Department 1968 Farrar Brush Truck. The truck, known as Brush One, has served the department well for 55 years. The old stock brush truck carries 300 gallons of water in a steel tank and pumps 100 gallons per minute, according to Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera. The truck was driven by former firefighter Alfred “Blackie” Bergeron.

Over the years the truck has fought fires in a variety of locations, including brush fires at Bears Den, along the railroad tracks and serving in a mutual aid capacity to other communities. It is still in service and when replaced in 2024 will go to auction.

The new brush truck is a 2023 Toyne Custom Build Brush Truck and comes complete with equipment and radio. It holds 300 gallons of water in a Poly Tank and pumps 150 gallons per minute, according to Guarnera.

“It is a great truck it will go in the woods anywhere,” said Athol Fire Captain Andy Soltysik.

Other trucks have been replaced over the years, including the old 1976 Maxim Pumper which was 46 years old when it was retired. It was donated to the New England Museum of Firefighting in Adams, where it is on display. It was replaced in 2021 by a Tonye Custom Build Pumper.

The Athol Pumper is not the only truck that has found a home at a museum. Other fire trucks can be seen at local historical societies, including an 1864 Hand pulled Hunneman Hand Tub housed at the Orange Historical Society and originally used in Tully. It is still operable and requires several men to stand on both sides of the “brakes” to alternately pump up pressure to activate the stream of water. The society also houses a two-wheeled hose wagon. The Swift River Historical Society is home to a 1929 Ford A Fire Truck, which was purchased new by the Town of Dana.

The Athol Firefighters Association has recently restored a 1920 Seagrave Ladder Truck which once served as the original Ladder 2 for the Athol Fire Department. The vehicle can be seen in parades and various displays around town.

The Petersham Firefighters Association has two 1929 Model A Fords. One was new to the town in 1929 and sold in 1948.

“The Firefighter’s Association got it back about 40 years ago,” according to Petersham Fire Chief Dana Robinson.

The second Model A Ford was bought used and originally served as a delivery truck for Plotkins Furniture. Members of the fire department converted it into a fire truck. The bed of the truck, Robinson said, was originally from a horse-drawn sleigh. Both vehicles run with one being displayed in the River Rat parade in April.

“It depends on how warm it is (for use in parades) as both vehicles have open cabs,” said Robinson.

The vehicles can be seen in Petersham’s Fourth of July Parade as well. The association also has a hand tub from 1854.

More information on the New England Firefighting Museum can be found at www.nemoff.org

More information the Orange Historical Society can be found at www.orangehistoricalsocietyma.org. The museum is open by appointment and on Sundays from 2-4 p.m.

More information on he Swift River Historical Society can be found at www.swiftrivermuseum.org The museum is open Wednesday and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. by appointment only.

Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writing focuses on the history of the North Quabbin area. Contact her at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.

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