GREENVILLE, WIS. (NBC 26) — While she may have seen a few years, Grandma sure doesn't look her age.
"I's a 1948 Ford," said 72-year-old Captain Tom Becher for the Greenville Fire Department.
He's talking about the department's first fire engine, known as Grandma.
"It carried a little water, maybe 1,000 gallons," he said. "Most pumpers don't carry water."
Next year, the department is celebrating 50 years in Greenville, so they wanted to get Grandma spruced up.
"We got the truck when Hortonville Rural Fire Department dissolved," Becher said. "We [Becher and his brother] kept it all these years."
So after 14 months at a local body shop, getting some new repairs and a few other mechanical updates, she's back home. (You can see some retired members below in a photo with her)
Grandma hasn't made her official restored debut to the public, but Becher said she'll be ready for the village's Summer Sendoff in August.
Until then she's got a few more tweaks, until then, Becher will stand by his pager, as he celebrates 50 years with the department.
"If you want to do it and feel good about it, then you're going to be here, and that's why I'm still here. I'm 72 and I'm still going," he smiled.
He shares more about Grandma and what it was like driving her in the video above. You can also check out some more photos in the clip as well!
In total, restoration efforts cost over $50,000 which was paid for by the department through fundraisers over the last 7 years.
