(NEENAH-MENASHA, WI) What started as an effort to restore an vintage fire truck for use in parades and community events in Neenah and Menasha quickly became an effort to retrieve a piece of community history. Neenah-Menasha Firefighter Amos Mikkelson was looking for an open cab fire truck and found one in Idaho that just happened to be one that was part of the department until the mid-1990s. Mikkelson says knowing that history made him determined to close the deal on the Kenosha-built 1965 Peter Pirsch and Sons fire truck.
Mikkelson has purchased the truck, designated as “Engine 7”, and is now working to bring it home. He says that might not have been possible without the understanding of the family of the previous owner, who recently passed away.
Transportation from Idaho to the Fox Valley is still a work in progress. However, Mikkelson says he’s already getting calls from those who’d like to use the truck for their events.
Mikkelson has a GoFundMe page to $10,000 s in private funds to bring the firetruck home and restore it. Interested donors can contribute at the GoFundMe page entitled “Bring Back Engine 7” or by clicking on the link here.
