PHOTOS: The old hose reel on its tall, spindly wheels was state-of-the-art fire equipment when it first hit the streets in about 1879.
It responded to its last fire call more than 100 years ago, and largely disappeared from view. Today, following a full restoration job, it occupies a place of honor in the Fort Dodge firehouse. It is a reminder of a time when hose reels like it were key to saving lives and property when fire broke out.
Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said it had been in storage at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. He said he talked to museum Director Tim Morris about it. Morris, he said, “saw value in us taking it and restoring it.”
It was moved to the firehouse at 1515 Central Ave. in the spring, where it sat in the garage behind some of the modern fire trucks.
Hergenreter contacted Curt Bacon, owner of Curt Bacon Body Shop in Fort Dodge, to get his input on restoring the wooden and cast iron reel. He said Bacon volunteered his services to restore it.