History

Lake Elsinore Historical Society

1925 American LaFrance Fire Engine

This is the first fire engine the town of Lake Elsinore purchased. Prior to this engine the
Elsinore Fire Department utilized a 1890 horse-drawn hose cart, and subsequently a
hand-me-down Ford hose car, a gift from the county. An early two-term president of the
Chamber of Commerce, James B. Lehigh, began a campaign to purchase a new fire truck
for the city in the early months of his first term as president of the chamber by contributing
$1,000 in the form of a personal check to begin the process. A committee was formed to
collect information and study the purchase. They met over a period of two weeks before
recommending to the city an American LaFrance Type 65 Pumper Jr. A vehicle that would
pump 400 gallons of water or chemically treated water per minute. It also had a capacity
of siphoning water from a pool of water or "lake". The price tag was $8,500; however, the
City Trustees (City Council of that time) discovered that the city did not have a budget large
enough to support such a purchase. The city informed the president of the chamber that if
he could gather subscriptions from the people of the city for an additional $1,000,
the Trustees would finance the balance. The subscriptions were completed and the order
was placed in July 1925.

The Elsinore Volunteer Fire Department was organized in January of 1923, under the
direction of one Mr. Boyle. The department had five officers and eleven men. They proudly
stated they had trained to be "Ready fir a run a minute and a half after the alarm sounded."

The fire engine was shipped to Lake Elsinore in September of 1925 from American LaFrance's
main factory in Elmira, New York, and arrived in early October to begin a 62-year tour
of duty in our community.

The fire engine was utilized in almost every parade in the city, it carried Santa Claus
in every Christmas parade until the early 1960's. It was was used to place the
Christmas star on Flagstaff Hill every year, as well as other Christmas decorations
in the downtown area until being stored away in the 60's.

The Lake Elsinore Historical Society is currently attempting to accomplish full restoration
of the fire engine but we need money and contributions of labor and materials to
accomplish this job. An early estimate of the cost of restoration is
approximately $10,000 to $20,000.

The fire engine is very unique - besides being Lake Elsinore's first - it is one of three ever built
and the only one ever to come west of the Mississippi. A representative from a previous
historical group had spoken to a fire engine historian in Kentucky and it is possible this
is the only one left of the three built. One was completely destroyed in a fire and they have
lost track of the other one in Minnesota somewhere.

Lake Elsinore has a very rare historical treasure and we are grateful to all of you who helped
in the restoration.