By BEA LEWIS

Northern Lakes Region Bureau

MEREDITH — A piece of Meredith’s firefighting history may be returning to the community.

A 1928 double A Ford that originally served the volunteer department as a hose truck has been offered for sale to the town.

Local historian Jim Wallace said he met the owner of the truck about 10 years ago and told him that if he ever wanted to sell it, he should give him a call. The Litchfield, Conn., man recently contacted Wallace and said he wanted to sell the vehicle, which antique vehicle collectors termed "scarcer than hen’s teeth."

After hearing from the owner, Wallace said, he approached Meredith Town Manager Peter Russell who in turn told members of the Meredith Fire Department the truck, which was the first motorized vehicle in the department’s fleet had come on the market.

"It’s a case of we may have champagne taste on a beer budget," said Wallace explaining the vehicle, which has just 2,387 original miles on it, is expected to sell for about $25,000.

"I would say it’s very rare," said Wallace, explaining it is equipped with a three-speed transmission with the stick on the floor, and a two-speed hi/low worm drive rear end.

"If it’s something the town wants to support, it would be an awfully nice thing to have in the community," commented Deputy Fire Chief Andre Kloetz.

While the Fire Department would be willing to participate in fund-raising, Kloetz stressed, their volunteers are already asked to adhere to an intensive training schedule, plus respond to calls.

"It’s a lot to shoulder, and we can’t expect these volunteers to do it all," he said.

Kloetz said he would like to meet with representatives of some of the many civic organizations in Meredith to see if they would be willing to help launch a fund-raising campaign and make a donation towards bringing the truck home.

"We want to explore the funding options before we get too excited," Kloetz cautioned.

The town is fortunate to already own the department’s first piece of firefighting apparatus, a 1845 Hunneman hand-tub that has been completely restored and is now on display at the Meredith Irving Station.

Wallace said he’s been asked to have the owner of the 1928 Ford truck take exacting measurements to determine whether that vehicle could also be displayed in the same glass case.

If the truck did return to Meredith, the community would hold the distinction of owning its first two original pieces of firefighting equipment.

When the truck was retired from Meredith, it was taken to an auction in Canterbury where the man who now wants to sell it bought it.

"He told me his daughter was 4 months old when he bought it, and that she’s now 27. That’s how he knows he’s owned it for 26 years," recounted Wallace.

Howe Fire Equipment Co. in Anderson, Ind. manufactured the body of the truck, which still has its original long ladders that jut out over the hood and are supported by struts that attach to the front bumper. The truck still has the M.F.D. logo in gold leaf on both sides of the hood although the red paint is faded. Other original equipment includes a bass drum sized searchlight over the engine cowling. On the sides of the hose body are the words "Meredith F.D."

"When people see it, I think they’ll find it kind of touching and realize that this is the real McCoy," commented Wallace.

Other unusual features of the AA model Ford include solid front engine mounts, a banana ignition cable and a powerhouse generator. The vehicle also has fluted headlamp lens, front and rear tires of different sizes and was made to fit in a garage stall the size of a regular car.

"It would be a real thrill to get it back into the community," Wallace continued.

Meredith Town Manager Peter Russell advised selectmen on Monday that the current owner of the antique truck had offered the vehicle to the town and that fire department members support exploring options to return it to its original community.