Red Wine Stopper,Wine Bottle Cap,Brandy Glass Bottle Cap,Olive Oil Vodka Bottle Cap Shandong Tengrui Glass Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.trglassbottle.com
Readers have shared their thoughts on our recent post about the non-red apparatus in MABAS Division 5, specifically mentioning a new chapter for the 1977 Ford/Welch rescue squad from Harvard. One reader provided an interesting history of the vehicle, which sparked some great conversation.
The Harvard Rescue truck was acquired by the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department in LaSalle County during the late '80s and underwent a full restoration. It was later painted in a striking chrome yellow and white color scheme. Eventually, it was sold to a chemical plant in Henry, Illinois, where it served as part of their hazmat unit. I was one of the firefighters from Tonica who helped retrieve the truck when we first purchased it. As a not-for-profit organization, Tonica relies entirely on donations and grants—no tax funding is involved.
From Bill Friedrich, who captured the images:
Here's the rig when it was heading to Tonica. We’re always on the lookout for old friends, as we like to call them. It was great that we got the photo before it left Harvard. Tonica is located in the southern part of LaSalle County, and we often travel quite a bit to find these vintage pieces of fire history.
[Image: A photo of the 1977 Ford/Welch rescue squad from Harvard, captioned "The Harvard Rescue Squad has this 1977 Ford/Welch unit. Bill Friedrich photo."]
[Image: A second photo showing the same truck at Tonica Fire Rescue, captioned "Tonica Fire Rescue in LaSalle County ran with this 1977 Ford/Welch (X-Harvard Rescue Squad in McHenry County). Bill Friedrich photo."]
It’s fascinating to see how these historic vehicles continue to serve, even if in different capacities. The story behind this truck highlights the dedication of volunteer departments and the importance of preserving fire service history. Whether it's used in a new role or simply kept as a piece of local heritage, these rigs tell a story worth remembering.