Crime & Safety
1937 Fire Truck Ready to Ride Again
After more than 12 years of sitting in disrepair, two local men have the Saukville Area Historical Society's 1937 engine running after only 15 hours of work.
Though its been sitting in the Saukville Crossroads Museum’s garage for more than 12 years, the Saukville Area Historical Society's 1937 fire truck is up and running again after just 15 hours of work.
With some help from two area men, Paul Marinello of West Bend and Tom Radonski of Kewaskum, the prized artifact will again be seen patrolling Saukville for upcoming parades.
Anne Kertscher, president of the society, said that her , but never was able to track down anyone that would come in to look at the vintage truck. Many had expressed interest, she said, but that’s as far as any repair went.
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Fortunately for the historical society, Marinello and Radonski stepped in to help.
Marinello said getting the old engine to run again wasn’t difficult, but there was a lot of detailed work to be done.
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"There were a lot of little, tedious things," he said. "We had to make a lot of brackets and things."
After 15 hours spread over four days of working, the two men, who both work on classic cars at home, had the truck running.
"The engine runs great," Radonski said.
Now all that’s left, he said, is to reattach the exhaust pipe and make sure the brakes are working correctly before he and Marinello can hit the streets, as the two were named the truck’s designated drivers by Kertscher.
The truck, which finally revved its engine again April 17, is already garnering some attention from nearby towns. Kertscher said that she plans on having the truck in Saukville’s Memorial Day parade, but she’s also received calls from Newburg and Fredonia asking to have the 1937 custom GMC in their holiday celebrations.
But, before the truck goes anywhere, Kertscher wants it to look almost as good as it did more than 70 years ago.
"Now the next phase is cleaning it and buffing it up," she said.
A video of the first rumbles of the engine in more than 12 years can be viewed here thanks to Kertscher.