Town, fire department to put antique pumper on display

By Suzanne Le Breton
St. Tammany News
Published on Sunday, March 21, 2010 12:23 AM CDT

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Fire District 8, which serves the Abita Springs and Waldheim communities, acquired an antique pumper truck in the 1960s.

It has remained in storage since then, but thanks to a cooperative agreement the district signed with the town of Abita Springs Tuesday night, it will soon be put out on display.

Greg Lemons, chairman of the Fire District 8 Board and a member of the town’s Board of Aldermen, said the firemen dusted the 1907 pumper and brought it out for the annual Push Mow parade this past Mardi Gras. And, he added, “the little boys loved it.”

Fire District 8 acquired this 1907 pumper in the 1960s and is now working with the town to place it on display at the Trailhead. (Staff Photo by Suzanne Le Breton)

Plans are now in the works to put the pumper on permanent display for the residents of Abita Springs and visitors to see. Lemons said a covered structure will be built at the Trailhead next door to the town’s museum, where the pumper will be placed on permanent display. He said a fence will be built around it so the “little boys” don’t climb on it but all children, even the grown up ones, will be encouraged to come take a look at this piece of history.

Once filled, the antique pumper would be pulled by horse to help supply firefighters with the water needed to put out fires.

It was acquired from Baton Rouge and in its heyday was one of former Gov. Huey P. Long’s favorite rides in parades.

“This is a very good opportunity to add to the trailhead and museum this piece of history,” Lemons said.

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Comments

1 comment(s)

Terry Thibodaux wrote on Mar 22, 2010 2:45 PM:

" As President of the Friends of the Louisiana State Fire Museum, I am pleased that fire departments are remembering the men and equipment that was used before motorized fire trucks were put in used. I am also a member of the Firefighters Historical Society
of New Orleans. Myself and a few firemen have planed on writing a book on the Louisiana Fire Departments.

Terry Thibodaux
P O Box 144
Gretna, Louisiana 70054-0144 "

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