Turley Publications photos by Ruth M. Lyon

Old Betsy will make her first parade appearance since the 1980s in Saturdays’ parade. The 1927 pumper truck rested in pieces from then until East Brookfield Fire Department Captain Jim Bain began to reassemble it six years ago.

“Old Betsy” to appear at East Brookfield parade

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

EAST BROOKFIELD – She made her debut here in 1929, dressed in red and presenting a dramatic appearance. The town itself was only seven years old, and needed a fire truck in keeping with its youthful image. Sporting the latest in racy equipment, Betsy came to East Brookfield, advancing to the clang of a bell and songs of a siren.

The 1927 American LaFrance Pumper truck with Buda engine was still brand new when it arrived. Somehow, over the years, it acquired the affectionate name, “Old Betsy.”

Retired from active service in the 1950s, the vehicle made appearances in parades and musters, according to Fire Department Captain Jim Bain, until the early 1980s. Attempts were made to repair whatever problems existed, but parts were difficult to find, money was short and in time, Betsy’s scattered innards were relegated to different sections of the attic.

“It laid untouched until six years ago,” Bain related. A mechanic by trade, Bain and some friends took a look at the parts, the vehicle itself, and undertook to restore it, he said.

Saturday, Old Betsy will travel down Main Street under her own power, with Bain, Fire Chief Peter Livermore, and perhaps members of the board of selectmen aboard.

The six years of labor has been a stop-and-start journey, Bain recounted. “Once we discovered what we needed, we’d scrounge for a part. Sometimes it took months to find a simple thing. I was fortunate in that I could find a part that wasn’t exactly right and adapt it to fit,” he said modestly. “Then there’s the brotherhood of old vehicle owners and restorers. Word gets around.”

Patting Old Betsy on a smooth red fender, he credits (now) police Chief William Cournoyer with obtaining the services of prisoners for the paint job, done in 1990. He credits fellow firemen and businesses and friends throughout the community for the financial and other assistance the project necessitated.

The annual extravaganza that is East Brookfield’s Independence Day celebration is a joint project of the fire department and the Friends for the Community, Bain explained. Some funds raised during that celebration, an annual meat raffle, calendars, and other such efforts have provided some funds, and businesses have been kind, he said.

Now, though Betsy jumps to a ready start and chugs and purrs along, there remains some mostly cosmetic work to be completed. New tires are needed. The seat needs reupholstering, and the plywood on the back needs to be covered authentically. Gold leaf striping will be applied as a finishing touch.

And the sign, which announced “Old Betsy Lives. Thanks Captain Jim Bain” hung for a day last week. “I drove past it at least twice before I noticed it,” the mechanic smiled. I think I know who put it there, but no one will own up to it.”

He refused to take the driver’s seat for a photo. “This is not about me, it’s about Betsy,” he said. Besides, I’m not wearing my uniform. I’ll see you on Saturday.”