1948 Seagrave Restoration Fund Raising – Hicksville FD

Please consider helping Emergency Company 5 to reach its financial goal to bring history alive again in Hicksville. Preserving the history of the fire service is a labor of love, and returning a 76-year-old fire truck to the community keeps history alive. Please consider helping us by sharing the GoFundMe link below with family, friends and those that might want to help in our efforts.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-restoration-of-hicksvilles-1948-fire-truck

More than 60 years after Hicksville Volunteer Fire Department’s 1948 Seagrave fire engine was decommissioned, the vintage vehicle has finally returned home. The engine that was long thought to be lost to the salvage yard was sold in 1961, and that was the last the Department saw it.

The engine, a Seagrave Pumper, responded at a critical point in the growth of the Hicksville Community. The pumper was completed on October 28, 1948. It was capable of pumping 750 gallons of water per minute and was equipped with a set of wood extension ladders and 500 feet of cotton-jacketed hose. In 1960, one of Hicksville’s most disastrous fires caused more than $300,000 in damage. As a result, the Seagrave was pumped at very high pressure for an extended amount of time, rendering the engine unrepairable. The records indicate that the rig was sold in 1961 to the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department, and since 1990 it has been in the hands of private ownership.

Now the work begins. A dedicated group of members will oversee restoring the apparatus, and they are lucky enough to have members with a great depth of mechanical experience and others who are just willing to get their hands dirty. A restoration committee will spend the next couple of years raising money to get it refurbished. Parts, manuals, and contacts with experts have already started. It is hoped that the restoration will coincide with the 100th Anniversary of Company 5 in 2028.

The restoration will be costly and funded by volunteers, so the members of Emergency Company 5 are asking history buffs, collectors, and people interested in seeing this truck come back to life to consider donating. There will be other planned fundraisers as the project moves forward, but there is an immediate need to infuse funds and get the basic items addressed. Motor, transmission, brakes, and tires all require attention. Company 5 has begun accepting donations from the public.

As the restoration moves forward, we are in the process of setting up a business plan, project timelines, and getting cost estimates for tools and equipment.

Contact me at: kschweitzer@hicksvillefd.com