Thursday, June 28, 2007

“Old Huldie” Is Restored And On Display

   A chunk of Lawrenceburg history has been resurrected and now resides inside Fire Station Number Two.

   “Old Huldie,” an American LaFrance pumper, was delivered to the Lawrenceburg Fire Station, shiny and fresh from the assembly line, in 1928. The open cab fire truck served the city’s needs for a number of years, rescuing many a structure from the ravages of fire.

   After her retirement, and with space constraints playing an issue, the truck was moved into storage beneath the city’s water tank on Fall River Road.

   Although “Old Huldie” was gone from the fire station, she was never forgotten - forever claiming a spot in many a firefighter’s heart. Eventually an idea emerged, and Lawrenceburg Fire Chief Don Kelley approached the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Commissioners. Kelley indicated that firefighters were interested in raising the funds needed to restore the engine to its former glory.

   Firefighters hosted a series of fundraisers, eventually raising in excess of $20,000. The City of Lawrenceburg then contributed the remaining half of the funds needed to complete the project.

   Although they initially tackled the restoration project themselves, realizing that the task required considerable work and expertise, firefighters eventually sought out an expert. They found Restorer Doug Klink by use of the internet.

   Klink, who had restored an identical fire engine he had obtained from the Lawrence, Kansas, Fire Department, spent two years lovingly restoring every detail on “Old Huldie,” from the wooden spoke wheels to the 23 karat gold leaf trim. Klink himself delivered “Old Huldie” to Lawrenceburg earlier in the week.

   Citizens are invited to stop by Fire Station Number Two on Springer Road to view this fully-restored piece of the town’s history.

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