Fire truck restoration project boosted by historical society support

AMENIA — A recent donation from the Amenia Historical Society to support restoration of the town’s 1937 Sanford Fire Truck, will reliably move the project ahead so that the town’s first fire engine will soon be ready to strut its stuff during parades. The first check for $600 toward the purchase of parts was presented by the historical society on Wednesday, May 28.

“I just want to see it going; that’s all,” said Dr. Julian Strauss of the old fire engine. He has been instrumental in getting the project underway, assisted by Amenia Fire Company volunteerism.

“He’s obsessed,” Strauss said of fire company volunteer Gary Stossel.

“My wife has made much the same remark,” Stossel replied. Stossel has served as a member of the Amenia Fire Company for 25 years. He has done much of the mechanical repair work on the fire engine and recently gave it a new bright red paint job.

“It’s enough to place an order for the tires,” Stossel said of the check. He hopes to get at least two, and maybe three tires ordered.

“The tires are the main issue at present,” Stossel said, indicating that the engine runs well, and the transmission has been repaired, its problem having been a broken “shifter.” And the brakes are working.

Support from the historical society, combined with a GoFundMe effort by George Bistransin, is moving the project nearer to its goal.

“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Stossel said, including refinishing and re-installing the fire truck’s elements that are being restored in his workshop.

“Once the tires are on, I can move it and be able to have more room to work on it,” Stossel said.

To re-chrome the front grill is an ambitious undertaking. Stossel indicated that businesses that do chroming these days are likely to be in the Midwest, so he may need to settle for painting the front grill red, same as the truck body.

“The seat is almost done,” Stossel said. “We call it a Santa seat,” he added, noting that it is reminiscent of a sleigh bench.

The project has taken about four years of work so far. It has perhaps just one year or less to go, Stossel said.

The horn and siren are working. It is missing its bell, but Stossel says that he knows where to find one.

“Doc has kept me going,” Stossel said of Strauss. “It’s going to be in a parade.”

Strauss felt that to restore the old fire engine would inspire community involvement and enthusiasm for volunteering at the local fire company.

“People don’t realize what it means to me,” Stossel said.

For more information about the project, go to www.ameniahs.org.