It was the first fire truck used in Chestermere and the only remaining example of any of the trucks used by the fire department over the years. As the early physical history of this settlement has for the most part been either burned (Chestermere CNoR Station 1913-1930) or torn down (Chestermere Yacht Club 1939-2010). This leaves very little from the early days of settlement to represent the physical history of a community which started from cows grazing on the shore, to a spattering of cabins, and finally to a summer village and then, bypassing village status to become a town in 2007. As such, this little vehicle carries a heavy burden of being one of the only artifacts left from the era before Chestermere became even a Summer Village in 1976.
Around 1961, this 1952 Ford truck was modified to be used as a fire truck for a volunteer fire brigade in the early days of the community of Chestermere Lake. It was an idea of members of the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association ( CCOA), a community group of those who leased land on which they had cabins along the shores of Chestermere Lake. At that time the land was owned by the Western Irrigation District, and one could only lease property along the shore, not own it. As Chestermere grew from a small collection of cabins around an irrigation lake, not like most towns around an industry or a railroad siding, and because there was no local fire department nearby, the CCOA members thought it a good idea to set up an emergency building, which had the little truck with the tank, and first aid supplies.
The truck was intended for the use of the Chestermere Cabin Owner’s Association, whose members owned most of the cabins on the leased land that covered the riparian area of Chestermere Lake. The truck was housed in an ‘emergency services’ shed at the north end of the lake. There was a small contingent of volunteer fire fighters, but cabin owners were free to use the truck at any time–the key hung by the door of the shed. It was stored in what was known as the ‘fire hall and first aid station’ and emergency services so to speak. The building was purchased for $150 from Floyd Thompson and located at 111 East Chestermere Drive, the present location of the condominiums at the north end (south of Hyperactive Sports/The Landing). Though the door was locked, a key hung nearby and anyone who needed the truck or first aid equipment immediately became the fire chief for that call. It is not known how many fires were fought. It is said that some residents took the truck and tank out to water their trees–not an official use sanctioned by CCOA! Part of the story of the truck is to be found in the second and third Chestermere history books, Growing Through Time – edited by Elaine Peake, published 1982 page 15 and Chestermere A Home for All Seasons – editor Audrey McDonald published in 2005 pages 23 and 41.
There are no old newspaper articles describing the use of the fire truck at the time it was in service 1961-1981. There is a letter from 1981 discussing the retiring of the truck. It has been up to the Chestermere Historical foundation to interview people who are still alive who owned cabins at that time and were familiar with the little truck. One photo shows the truck from the front, with Fred Paasche standing beside the truck. This photo is from 1969.
Zeebs is has been given a grant to restore the truck chitty-chitty-bang-bang style. It won’t look exactly the same as the day it was built but it will be beautiful in all its red painted glory.
