Homeville Antique Fire Department
Web site:
http://home.roadrunner.com/~homeville/
The Homeville Antique Fire Department is a privately owned collection of antique fire apparatus consisting of thirteen American LaFrance and two Ward LaFrance vehicles. Twelve of the vehicles, which date from 1920 to 1981, are fully operational and roadworthy. The others will be restored in the near future. The aerials, pumpers, and crash truck represent the evolution of fire service vehicles over the course of the twentieth century.
As part of the Homeville/Brockway museum complex, the Homeville Antique Fire Department will present a fire service history exhibit consisting of a revolving display of vehicles along with displays of turnout gear, equipment, and alarm systems.
http://home.roadrunner.com/~homeville/
The Homeville Antique Fire Department is a privately owned collection of antique fire apparatus consisting of thirteen American LaFrance and two Ward LaFrance vehicles. Twelve of the vehicles, which date from 1920 to 1981, are fully operational and roadworthy. The others will be restored in the near future. The aerials, pumpers, and crash truck represent the evolution of fire service vehicles over the course of the twentieth century.
As part of the Homeville/Brockway museum complex, the Homeville Antique Fire Department will present a fire service history exhibit consisting of a revolving display of vehicles along with displays of turnout gear, equipment, and alarm systems.
The Homeville Antique Fire Department had a small beginning in 1979 with the purchase of a 1927 Brockway/American LaFrance 500 GPM rotary gear pumper that was originally from Homer, NY. This pumper was purchased as junk and is awaiting a frame up restoration.
Next came a 1935 Ward LaFrance pumper originally from the Marathon Rural Fire District, Marathon, NY. This truck is complete, however it was left outside for a number of years and is also awaiting a frame up restoration.
In 1985 the first of several 700 series American LaFrance apparatus was purchased. This is a 1954 710PJO, 1000 GPM pumper that was purchased by the City of Geneva, NY, for a cost of $24,000. It was operated by the Nester Hose Co. This truck has had both the engine and pump rebuilt, but is otherwise completely original. The truck has the American LaFrance (ALF) "J" V-12 engine and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
This was followed by a 1947 710PEO, 1000 GPM pumper originally purchased by the City of Corning, NY Fire Department. This truck was purchased directly from the City by sealed bid in 1989. The engine has been rebuilt, but the truck is completely original. This truck has the "E" V-12 engine and again the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
The first aerial arrived in 1990 from the North Belmore Fire District, North Belmore, NY. This unit is a 1958 7-85-AKO, 75ft ladder. This truck was certified in 1992 and was leased to the City of Elmira FD while their aerial was being refurbished. This truck is completely original - just as it was when it left the fire department. The truck has the ALF/Continental "K" straight 6 engine.
Another pumper was obtained in 1993 from the Village of Suffern Fire Department, Suffern, NY. This is a 1954 710PJO, 1000 GPM pumper with a 1500-watt portable generator and an Eastman deluge set. The truck is completely original - just as it was when it left fire department service. This truck also has the ALF "J" V-12 engine and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
The second aerial ladder was purchased in 1994. This truck was originally in service by the Hewlett Fire Department, Hewlett, NY. It is a 1950 7-85-TJO 85ft tractor-drawn aerial ladder. To our knowledge the truck is in original condition and again has the ALF "J" V-12 engine.
In the fall of 1994 a unique apparatus was purchased by the department. It is a 1935 American LaFrance Quint, and as told to us….the FIRST quint unit built by ALF. The truck has the ALF "G" V-12 engine, a 600 GPM ALF rotary gear two-stage fire pump and a 55' Peter Pirsch all wood Junior Aerial Ladder. The raise, rotate and extend of the ladder are all done by hand crank operation. The truck is completely original, including all the carried equipment. The Hornell Fire Department, Hornell, NY, originally purchased this truck.
Again in 1995 another 700 Series pumper was purchased. This truck was originally purchased by the Village of Watkins Glen Fire Department to assist with protection of the Watkins Glen International Speedway. It is a 1951 775PJC, 750 GPM pumper and is the only closed cab 700 in the collection. It is equipped with both Foam and Wet Water capability, with separate tanks for each. It has the "g" V12 engine, and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump with a high-pressure option.
In 1995 the oldest of the trucks was purchased and this was a 1920 Type 75 ALF chain drive, 600 GPM rotary gear pumper. It has the ALF "T" head engine, and is a six cylinder model. The truck was originally purchased by the Ferndale Fire Department, Ferndale, Michigan in 1920 and was returned to American LaFrance in 1924 to be rebuilt after an accident. The truck is equipped as close as possible to its original state. The truck is still fully operational.
The last aerial device added to the collection came in 1997 and was purchased from the Manville Fire Department, Manville, New Jersey. It is a 1966 American LaFrance 70ft Aero-Chief articulating boom. The complete unit was manufactured by ALF. The truck was refurbished in 1985, which included a paint job and installation of a new Cummins Diesel engine and an Allison Automatic transmission.
The next pumper was added from the Vigilant Fire Company of the Great Neck Fire Department. It is a 1970 American LaFrance 900 series 1500 GPM pump with a 500-gallon water tank. It was refurbished in 1985 with a Detroit Diesel engine and an Allison Automatic transmission. This truck saw active service in Ithaca, New York from December 2000 to March 2001, and was in service for a short time in the City of Cortland Fire Department, due to an accident involving one of their engines.
One of the most unique apparatus is one of about 30 built by American LaFrance. It is a 1959, "Little Mo" crash truck. It is mounted on a Dodge Power Giant 4 x 4 chassis, and is equipped with a Hale 2 stage high-pressure pump and a 200-gallon water tank as well as foam and wet water tanks. It is capable of pumping while driving down the road.
The last truck to be purchased is a 1981 Ex FDNY Century Series 1000 GPM pumper. It is one of 80 ordered by New York City in 1980. It is a fully enclosed cab and has a Detroit Diesel engine, an Allison Automatic transmission, and the American La France Twinflow fire pump. This truck is being restored to bring it as close as possible to its original state while in service with the FDNY. It originally served as Engine 295 in Queens.
All the apparatus in the Homeville Antique Fire Department are fully functional and are equipped much as they would have been when in active service. They are taken to many Fire Department Field Days, various community parades and events, and several antique fire apparatus musters in New York.
Homeville Antique Fire Department
Mahlon Irish Jr.
32 Center Street
Homer, New York 13077
607-749-4466
MIJFIRE@AOL.COM
Next came a 1935 Ward LaFrance pumper originally from the Marathon Rural Fire District, Marathon, NY. This truck is complete, however it was left outside for a number of years and is also awaiting a frame up restoration.
In 1985 the first of several 700 series American LaFrance apparatus was purchased. This is a 1954 710PJO, 1000 GPM pumper that was purchased by the City of Geneva, NY, for a cost of $24,000. It was operated by the Nester Hose Co. This truck has had both the engine and pump rebuilt, but is otherwise completely original. The truck has the American LaFrance (ALF) "J" V-12 engine and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
This was followed by a 1947 710PEO, 1000 GPM pumper originally purchased by the City of Corning, NY Fire Department. This truck was purchased directly from the City by sealed bid in 1989. The engine has been rebuilt, but the truck is completely original. This truck has the "E" V-12 engine and again the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
The first aerial arrived in 1990 from the North Belmore Fire District, North Belmore, NY. This unit is a 1958 7-85-AKO, 75ft ladder. This truck was certified in 1992 and was leased to the City of Elmira FD while their aerial was being refurbished. This truck is completely original - just as it was when it left the fire department. The truck has the ALF/Continental "K" straight 6 engine.
Another pumper was obtained in 1993 from the Village of Suffern Fire Department, Suffern, NY. This is a 1954 710PJO, 1000 GPM pumper with a 1500-watt portable generator and an Eastman deluge set. The truck is completely original - just as it was when it left fire department service. This truck also has the ALF "J" V-12 engine and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump.
The second aerial ladder was purchased in 1994. This truck was originally in service by the Hewlett Fire Department, Hewlett, NY. It is a 1950 7-85-TJO 85ft tractor-drawn aerial ladder. To our knowledge the truck is in original condition and again has the ALF "J" V-12 engine.
In the fall of 1994 a unique apparatus was purchased by the department. It is a 1935 American LaFrance Quint, and as told to us….the FIRST quint unit built by ALF. The truck has the ALF "G" V-12 engine, a 600 GPM ALF rotary gear two-stage fire pump and a 55' Peter Pirsch all wood Junior Aerial Ladder. The raise, rotate and extend of the ladder are all done by hand crank operation. The truck is completely original, including all the carried equipment. The Hornell Fire Department, Hornell, NY, originally purchased this truck.
Again in 1995 another 700 Series pumper was purchased. This truck was originally purchased by the Village of Watkins Glen Fire Department to assist with protection of the Watkins Glen International Speedway. It is a 1951 775PJC, 750 GPM pumper and is the only closed cab 700 in the collection. It is equipped with both Foam and Wet Water capability, with separate tanks for each. It has the "g" V12 engine, and the "tripleflow" two-stage fire pump with a high-pressure option.
In 1995 the oldest of the trucks was purchased and this was a 1920 Type 75 ALF chain drive, 600 GPM rotary gear pumper. It has the ALF "T" head engine, and is a six cylinder model. The truck was originally purchased by the Ferndale Fire Department, Ferndale, Michigan in 1920 and was returned to American LaFrance in 1924 to be rebuilt after an accident. The truck is equipped as close as possible to its original state. The truck is still fully operational.
The last aerial device added to the collection came in 1997 and was purchased from the Manville Fire Department, Manville, New Jersey. It is a 1966 American LaFrance 70ft Aero-Chief articulating boom. The complete unit was manufactured by ALF. The truck was refurbished in 1985, which included a paint job and installation of a new Cummins Diesel engine and an Allison Automatic transmission.
The next pumper was added from the Vigilant Fire Company of the Great Neck Fire Department. It is a 1970 American LaFrance 900 series 1500 GPM pump with a 500-gallon water tank. It was refurbished in 1985 with a Detroit Diesel engine and an Allison Automatic transmission. This truck saw active service in Ithaca, New York from December 2000 to March 2001, and was in service for a short time in the City of Cortland Fire Department, due to an accident involving one of their engines.
One of the most unique apparatus is one of about 30 built by American LaFrance. It is a 1959, "Little Mo" crash truck. It is mounted on a Dodge Power Giant 4 x 4 chassis, and is equipped with a Hale 2 stage high-pressure pump and a 200-gallon water tank as well as foam and wet water tanks. It is capable of pumping while driving down the road.
The last truck to be purchased is a 1981 Ex FDNY Century Series 1000 GPM pumper. It is one of 80 ordered by New York City in 1980. It is a fully enclosed cab and has a Detroit Diesel engine, an Allison Automatic transmission, and the American La France Twinflow fire pump. This truck is being restored to bring it as close as possible to its original state while in service with the FDNY. It originally served as Engine 295 in Queens.
All the apparatus in the Homeville Antique Fire Department are fully functional and are equipped much as they would have been when in active service. They are taken to many Fire Department Field Days, various community parades and events, and several antique fire apparatus musters in New York.
Homeville Antique Fire Department
Mahlon Irish Jr.
32 Center Street
Homer, New York 13077
607-749-4466
MIJFIRE@AOL.COM
