Restoration of Adrian’s 1927 fire truck to begin this week

• Adrian Fire Truck

Adrian Fire Chief Ray Bullerman sits in the vintage 1927 Nott fire truck prior to the Christmas in July parade July 17 in Adrian. (Brian Korthals/Daily Globe)

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Adrian firefighters sell ladder rungs to raise money for project

ADRIAN — In just a matter of days, restoration work will begin on the Adrian Fire Department’s 1927 W.S. Nott fire truck. The firefighters got the vehicle running for their city’s Christmas in July parade this summer, but now they want to completely restore it to its former glory.

“The acting firemen, we all threw money in to get it started,” said Adrian Fire Chief Ray Bullerman, referring to the restoration process. “But we still need help. … We will take any and all donations. There’s a lot of history behind the truck, and if we get it done the way we want it, it won’t pump water, but we will get it back to its original state.”

The Adrian department bought the truck — the city’s first fire truck — new in 1929. It was retired from service in 1950, but it stayed in Adrian until sometime in the early 1970s, when it was moved to Pioneer Village in Worthington. The Adrian firefighters considered restoring the vehicle in the 1990s, and it was moved briefly back to Adrian, but when a plan didn’t come together, it was back to the historical site.

This time around, the firemen are determined to see the project through. Scot Henning, Ryan Henning, Brent Henning and Dean Von Holtum did the mechanical work to get it running for the parade. Now, they’ve turned to Tom Loring at Expert Body in Adrian to do the restoration work and will move it to his shop later this week. Loring estimates it will cost about $17,000.

To raise the additional funds, the Adrian Fire Department is offering rungs on ladders for donations. Each donation of $100 or more puts a name, business name or a name in memory of a loved one on a ladder rung (one rung per donator). The ladders will eventually be displayed at the Adrian Fire Hall.

All donations are tax-deductible, Bullerman noted.

“(Loring) says he wants to have it done by the Adrian parade next year,” Bullerman said, adding that the firefighters hope to take it to parades throughout the area. “So, for Turkey Day (in Worthington), hopefully we’ll have it up and running and bring it over.”

Donations for the restoration project should be sent to Adrian Firemen’s Relief General Fund/Restoration Fund, c/o Ray Bullerman, 111 Sunrise Circle, Adrian 56110 or c/o Ron Lonneman, 643 Maine Ave., Adrian 56110.

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