When the Monticello Fire Department was looking a year ago to refurbish its original 1929 fire truck, it turned to a trusted source - a retired firefighter with years of repairing fire trucks and other vehicles under his belt.
Jerry Klein of Lester Prairie, a former firefighter with the Cologne Fire Department, was called upon, not only because of his knowledge of vintage fire trucks and vehicle repairs, but because his son Dan Klein is the fire marshal and fire inspector for the City of Monticello. Jeremy Armstrong of Diamond Star Auto Spa in Waconia also helped bring the truck back to life.
The 1929 Chevrolet fire truck has a long history in Monticello. It is the first truck ever purchased by the department in 1929.
The Chevrolet Triple combination Type AA truck was shipped to Monticello from the manufacturer on March 28, 1929 and held 300 gallons of water. It came with an 80 gallon booster chemical tank.