1941 Ford/ American La France Pumper Of
The
NORTH LITTLE ROCK FIRE DEPARTMENT
(Original Pumper Of The Park Hill Fire Department)
This pumper became the property of the NLRFD when Park Hill was
annexed. It was originally "Company 7" of the NLRFD
according to the
1947 Fire Underwriters' Report. (Levy was Co. 6 and the Aerial Truck
was Co. 5.) The 1941 Ford/American
La France Pumper pictured (above) was originally the property of
the Park Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. When Park Hill was
annexed to North Little Rock in
1946, this pumper, the station and the remaining debt became North Little Rock's.
In 1957, the Insurance Underwriters' Report recommended replacing this old pumper.
It was said to be to small for the job.
(It was a 500 GPM Pump.) The Underwriters further
recommended moving the station to the vicinity of Idewilde and Avondale.
Just a thought:
Obviously the Representatives of the Fire Underwritersho came to NLR did not know much
about the geography
of North Little Rock. Can one imagine this pumper, or any large fire
appartus going up "Snake Hill?" Avondale is now Fairway.
The 1941 Ford - Late One Fall Evening in 1976 or '77 where I found it..
In either 1976 or '77, I tracked down the original pumper from Station 5, a 1941 American
La France on a Ford chassis. It was
located somewhere near Avilla, which is is
Southwestern Pulaski County. Obviously, I got there when it was nearing sundown.
I
remember that the owner was using it to haul wood. He did not want to sell it.
I remember seeing "Park Hill" on the bottom of the
hose bed in gold lettering. This
pumper originally the property of the Park Hill Fire Dept. (Park Hill was annexed by
NLR.) Does
anyone know any information concerning this truck now?