“That was my truck,” he said. He remembers one of the first time he used the pumper — at a fire on East Grand Avenue, and one of the last — at a fire that destroyed the Dy-No-Mite Boutique on Old Orchard Street.
“There’s so much history in this thing,” he said.
The fire engine, inscribed with the words “Big Mack Attack” is one of four trucks acquired by the 1907 Fire Society, a nonprofit established to promote education of fire service in Old Orchard Beach and educate about fire prevention. Guerin is the president of the society.
The society’s ultimate goal is to have a fire museum to house the four antique fire engines as well as the equipment the group owns, and have space for educational exhibits about the town’s fire history.
The organization is hoping to get the Mack pumper back in running order so that it can be used in parades and to promote the group at public events.
The society was able to complete one step in this goal, which was the acquisition of new batteries from Ed’s Batteries of Westbrook, thanks to a greatly reduced price negotiated through Northeast Battery of Auburn, Massachusetts.
Also sitting in Guerin’s yard is the society’s pride and joy: Ol Bertha, a 1925 American LaFrance pumper, which served as a front-line piece for the town’s Fire Department until 1960. The acquisition of Bertha in 2008 from a collector in Massachusetts was the catalyst for the formation of the society.
The 1907 Fire Society would also like to be able to keep the two vehicles in Guerin’s yard in covered storage until the group has a permanant museum.
The group has received help from donations and grants and a bottle drive, but needs more assistance to realize its goals.
Anyone interested in providing assistance or who wants more information can contact Guerin at Arthurg2@myfairpoint.net.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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