PHOTO: The Osage Fire Department is working to restore its 1917 American LaFrance fire truck to its original glory. The truck – the first motorized vehicle owned by the department – had been stored in a rural shed for many years after it was acquired by the department some years ago. The restoration follows another done by the department, when members restored its 1936 vehicle. The department has all of its original motorized vehicles. In addition to the 1917 and 1936 trucks, it has a 1964 truck, and its most recent, purchased in 2010. Restoration of the 1917 version will be a tall job. The vehicle, which did turns as a fire truck for St. Ansgar for many years, was eventually acquired by a landscaping firm and ended up in Minnesota. A family then acquired the truck and years later, offered it back to the Osage department. “We had the owner’s manual for the truck and weren’t even aware of it,” Angell said. That manual will be helpful, since the truck has had items added and taken from it, and will serve as a good guide for what is needed. “Well, for instance, we don’t have the siren; there was a big light on the front,” Angell said. “It’s going to take a while” to determine all that is needed, find the needed parts and then restore the machine. Many fire departments across the country have acquired their original 1917 American LaFrance trucks, which served as an important crossover vehicle from the steam-powered days. Many departments, like Osage, used this vehicle as their first motorized vehicle. The vehicle typically cost between $8,000-$9,000, according to several history websites. The fire truck carried ladders and hoses and but not a water tank. Small canisters carried early fire extinguishers. When a fire whistle sounded, firemen “just got on and got a hold of whatever they could,” Angell said. The open cab allowed two in the driver’s seat, and the wheel was located on the left side. The wheels have wooden spokes. Angell estimates that restoration will cost at a minimum of $30,000; any donation to the cause will be appreciated, he said.