Owen Sound’s first-ever fire truck turns 100 today.
On June 9, 1923, the brand new American LaFrance fire engine was delivered.
Engine No. 1 was built in Toronto, then shipped to Owen Sound via Canadian Pacific Railway.
The vehicle went on to serve the Owen Sound community from its arrival in 1923 until 1954 when it became a reserve vehicle until it was taken out of service in 1967.
In 1972, Engine No. 1 was donated to the County of Grey-Owen Sound Museum, before it was given back to the Owen Sound Fire Department for restoration.
In 2015, it was delivered to the Grey Roots Museum & Archives.
This led to a restoration that was completed by staff, volunteers, and local businesses, including Pete’s Auto Body giving the body of the vehicle new paint.
Engine No. 1 then become the centrepiece in the exhibit titled Facing the Flames: The History of Firefighting in Grey County, which opened to the public in September 2019.
The exhibit even received an Award of Excellence for Community Engagement from the Ontario Museum Association.
This week, on June 7th, the old OSFD vehicle was able to drive out of the shop under its own power.
The Grey Roots exhibit can be toured in full at greyroots.com