Engine 1
1926 American LaFrance Type 12 Pumper

---

1926 - 1949 Central Station on Main St.

This engine was shipped on May 6, 1926 and delivered on July 28 at a cost of $11,250 and was the first apparatus to have a motorized pump in St. Johnsbury. Placed in service in August of 1926, the apparatus was an American LaFrance Type 12, 750 gallon per minute pumper, serial number 5477. According to the sale documents it was sold as a Type 75, but the truck was actually a Type 12 due to the smaller engine.

This was the first truck to be officially named Engine 1. In 1949 the truck was replaced and sold to the East St. Johnsbury Fire Department. The apparatus has changed hands over the year's, and since 1976 has been owned by a private party in Londonderry New Hampshire, where it is undergoing restoration.

According to a Caledonian Record Article dated August, 19 1926 Engine 1 responded to it's first fire at 30 Central street but went unused. Apparently the truck was delivered with 2.5 " adapters for hose on the discharge side to adapt to a unique hose coupling thread used by St. Johnsbury. At the time of the fire the representative from American LaFrance had the adapters in his car. (The house was saved)

1926 American LaFrance in front of the firehouse, 1933. Top left is Claude Arnold, and Top right is Chief John McGill. The windshield was fitted to the truck in the 1930's to protect the firefighters.

Driver - Claude Arnold. Also Pictured: Chief John McGill, Jim Willimson, Stanley Faye, Ted Bocasli. 1927

The 1926 LaFrance at its current residence in New Hampshire in September 1999.