1928 Dixon Rural fire truck returns home

DIXON – The Dixon Rural Fire Department has a new truck – well not new, exactly. The 1928 model was used by the department up through the ’60s, and it’s just now getting it back.

Firefighter Matt Schumacher said the truck was sold in the ’60s, making its way through various owners throughout town and in Forreston until it landed in its most recent owner’s hands, Schumacher said.

An accurate timeline of the truck’s changing of ownership is a little fuzzy, though.

“There’s a lot of different stories, for sure,” Schumacher said. “Everybody says they know, but they all have a different story, so we’re trying to weed through it.”

The truck needs a little bit of TLC, Schumacher said, before it’ll be seen cruising around town again.

The end goal is to have it available for use in town festivals and parades.

In 2003, the most recent owner, Vern Ellis, called the department. He said he took ownership of the truck from another Forreston man after he got word it was going to be shipped off to another state to be used as a lawn ornament, Schumacher said.

“He thought it should stay in the area,” he said.

After years of fundraising by the Dixon Rural Firefighter’s Association, they were finally able to purchase it this year, and officially re-established ownership Friday

The Dodge Brothers (now simply known as Dodge) truck also was used by the Grand Detour department during its tenure, Schumacher said, and it seems like that’s where it’s going to be hanging its hat – the Dixon Rural department doesn’t exactly have enough space right now.

“Hopefully, we’ll have it up and running in a week or 2,” Schumacher said.