By Gari Voss
The buzz around the firehouse on Saturday, August 23, 2025, was not just about a wonderful pancake breakfast complete with eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage or the delicious spaghetti supper that followed, but about the 1951 Ladder Truck that was returning to Allegan after spending time in other parts of the state.
“This was the first ladder truck that Allegan purchased,” explained Chief Nick Brink. “Floyd Harter was Chief at the time.”
The ladder truck has been sitting in a warehouse for the last couple years. David Chrisco, the owner, had loaned it to the Farmington Fire Department for ceremonies and parades. “Frisco sought me out,” stated Brink. “He had taken special care of the truck, and wanted it to remain a fire truck and not be scrapped.”
The Allegan Department sold the truck in 1994 or 95. Brink referenced a picture in the engine room with the 1951 and 1995 truck that is still used by the Allegan Fire District.
“Though the truck was used by the Farmington Department for parades, they liked the lettering on the truck, so it returns to Allegan with the original lettering,” mused Brink. “This lettering isn’t stickers. It is actually gold. Back in the day, they would have an adhesive brushed on then they would add a gold flake. So, the letters and logos actually had gold particles. Farmington called the truck ‘Old Allegan’.”
The truck returns with all the original equipment – ladders, hoses, nozzles, axes, fire extinguishers, flashlight, etc. The equipment has leather handles which is unheard of today. The truck was originally purchased for $16,900. If a modern truck was to be purchased, it would run on an average of $800,000 fully equipped.
“Why Allegan sold the truck with all the equipment, I am not sure,” quipped Brink. “Normally, we would not sell a truck fully stocked like that, but it comes back as an original.”
When the 1951 ladder truck was sold to a collector, the original bell was kept and mounted on the replacement ladder truck, 51. It now resides on the current ladder truck 1-57. A different bell is mounted on the 1951 truck, which will keep the tradition of the bell in place on the old ladder truck.
During Chief Brink’s conversation with Chrisco, the agreement was that he would sell the truck back to the Allegan Fire District if Allegan would pay to have it shipped. This required a proper trailer to ensure overpass clearance across the state.
Brink spoke with members of the Fennville Fire Department who put him in touch with Greenmark Equipment, the John Deere dealer out of Holland that they work for. Greenmark agreed to transport the truck for the cost of fuel. It should arrive on Monday, August 25, 2025.
“The trailer is really cool because it allows the truck to drive up the ramps then sit low on the trailer,” explained Brink. “When it arrives, we will back it off, and the mechanic will be here on Tuesday to prepare for servicing and minor repairs that may be needed. The hope is to have it road worthy by the Allegan County Fair Parade.”
The Department hope has been that Bruce Hoyer (Former Fire Chief) will be aboard the truck in the fair parade, since his grandfather, Mel Truax, assisted in the purchasing process of the ladder truck. Ironically, Mel Truax’s Cousin Raymond, is the grandfather of Chief Nick Brink. Not only does the ladder truck now remain part of the Allegan Fire District, but those who give their lives to the department to carry on the traditions.
