Title

Old Betsy - first fire truck for Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department

Creation Date

circa 1946

Description

This truck was built by Peter Pirsch and Sons, Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1923. Gladstone purchased it from the Excelsior Fire Department in 1944 and sold it in 1951 to the St. Paul Clown Club. In 1977, Dick Juker purchased the rusted hulk and restored it to operating condition. He sold it to Maplewood and they donated it to the Maplewood Area Historical Society. Today it is on exhibit at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm.