The Lost History of the Leesburg Volunteers: Fire Apparatus 1947

1954 GMC Pumper

LVFC collection

In 1954, the Fire Company began looking for a replacement for the 1937 Seagrave. Many of the fire trucks of that time were too tall to fit in the old, east Loudoun Street Station and in the end, the Company voted to purchase this 600-gallon, GMC pumper. Painted white at the factory, it was later changed to white over red, which matched the paint on the new 1968 Seagrave pumper. It served for over thirty years, eventually becoming a rescue engine after the Company began running on all vehicle accidents. After Round Hill decided not to purchase it, the GMC was sold to Johns Truck from Rogersville Maryland in 1988.

Members of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company pose with the new GMC pumper in front of the east Loudoun Street station.

LVFC Archive Photo

LVFC collection

(L-R) Bradley Kidwell, Greg Stocks, Danny Gill and Calvin Sisk gather around the pump panel of the GMC

LVFC archive photo circa 1960

The new Jeep and the GMC
LVFC Archive Photo circa 1960

1953 Willies Jeep

At the Town of Leesburg 4th of July Parade circa 1961

LVFC collection

Purchased in 1959 from Lupton’s Orchard Service, this 1953 Willies Jeep was converted to a brush unit with a 100-gallon water tank and pump. In 1973, the Jeep was painted the same as the Seagraves, red on the bottom with a white windshield. A brush guard and roll bar were added a few years later. A new Jeep was purchased in March 1977, and the Company sold the old Jeep to Middleburg a year later.

1953 Jeep Willies circa 1975

LVFC collection

Billy Fiske with Jeep at a call in the late 1960's
LVFC Archive Photo

Pumping out the flooded Muse & Reed Funeral Home garage.
Standing in the garage L-R Unknown, Ed Duncan, Ronnie Houser
At the Jeep Left - Currel Tiffany, Right - Pop Atwell
LVFC Archive Photo

Company 1 members and apparatus in front of the brand new station 1.
(L-R) 37 Seagrave, Jeep, 47 Buffalo, 54 GMC
LVFC collection circa 1954

1939 Seagrave Tiller

Purchased June, 1967

Seagrave factory photo of the Cambridge Maryland tiller

On June 19, 1967, The Company voted to purchase this 1939 Seagrave tiller from the Cambridge Maryland Fire Rescue Company for $3250. It was in service until 1973, when a new Seagrave tiller was purchased. Its features included a 12-cylinder engine, tilt-over tiller seat, all wooden ladders in bed, and a 75ft aluminum aerial ladder. It saw quite a few fires in its six years of front-line service.

1939 Seagrave tiller in front of Station 1, Leesburg

The ’39 Seagrave tiller cools down a barn fire in Arcola, circa 1971.

Times Mirror newspaper clipping, DJ Wimer Collection

The 37 Tiller in operation at the Payne's Fire, North King St. Leesburg. Note the overturned tiller seat. In order to raise the aerial ladder, the tiller steering wheel had to be unpinned and removed, then the tillerman's seat was flipped up and out of the way.
LVFC Archive circa 1970

Fire truck rides during open house in 1972
LVFC Archive photo

(L-R) Howard Leigh, Bob Peirpont and Terry Frye, fixing the motor of the 37 tiller. It took a lot of work to keep the old truck running.
LVFC Archive Photo

(L-R) Bob Peirpont Terry Frye and Nelson Downs
LVFC Archive Photo

1968 Seagrave Pumper

Taken at the Leesburg High School field
LVFC Archives photo, circa 1974

This Seagrave engine with a 750-gallon water tank and 1000gpm pump, was purchased in 1968. Originally Unit “1-1” it was changed to “Wagon 1” in 1975. It carried 1500 feet of 3-inch hose and 1000 feet of 1 ½ hose. It featured a 750-gal tank, a 1000gpm pump and a 5-speed transmission.

The 68 Seagrave in downtown Leesburg circa 1968

David Frye, LVFC Collection

The 68 Seagrave pumping at a house fire circa 1975
LVFC Archives

1949 International Tanker

“Old Maude”

Old Maude parked behind station 1 with the pool house in the back left distance.
\LVFC Archives photo

Donated to the Fire Company in 1968, this 1949 International fuel truck was converted into a water tanker. The chassis was replaced two years later when the tank was swapped onto a new truck.

1964 International Tanker

LVFC Archive - David Frye Photo

Originally a refrigerator truck, this 1964 international was purchased in 1970. The freezer was removed and replaced with the water tank from Old Maude. It remained in service for another six years until it was replaced by the Ford tanker and sold to the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in 1976.

The International tanker at a barn fire in Waterford, 1972.

Times Mirror photo, JB Anderson Scrapbook

1973 Seagrave Pumper

Taken at the Leesburg High School field
Archives photo, circa 1974

This Seagrave engine with a 750-gallon water tank and 1000gpm pump, was purchased in 1973. Originally Unit “1-2” it was changed to “Engine 1” in 1975. Almost identical to the ’68 Seagrave, it carried 1500 feet of 3-inch hose and 1000 feet of 1 ½ hose. It featured a 750-gal tank, a 1000gpm pump and a 5-speed transmission. This pumper remained in service until it was moved to reserve status around 2001. It was brought out for parades and other special occasions. It was sold to a Company member a few years later. For some time afterward, it was seen around town with “Leesburg” still painted on the side, just like the Buffalo.

The ’73 Seagrave
LVFC Archive Photo

Roy Ott pumping the 73 at a structure fire at Waiverly Park, south King St. Leesburg

LVFC Archive Photo

View of the '73 pumper from the roof of the '73 tiller in the front yard of a chimney fire. Thats Terry Frye at the pump panel.

LVFC Archive Photo

Pumping the attack line at an overturned earth mover on fire

LVFC Archive Photo

The '73 at a field fire
LVFC Archive Photo

Fire truck rides at open house
LVFC Archive Photo

1973 Seagrave Tiller

Taken at the Leesburg High School field
LVFC Archive Photo

This new Seagrave ladder truck replaced the 1939 Seagrave Tiller in 1974. In 1987, it became the reserve truck when the ALF was purchased. In 1992, the Company sold it and the ALF to the City of Baltimore where it became Truck 29 then Reserve Truck 35. The entire tiller cab, except for the front, was on rails and instead of opening a door, the whole thing slid back. Eventually the members removed the whole cab and left the front windshield.

The above photos show the arrival of the brand new 1973 Seagrave tiller, driven by Chief Tom Watson. Note the plywood board with cutouts for the lights tied to the front of the truck. It was used as a guard to protect the new paint from chips and dings.

LVFC Archive Photos

LVFC members use the aerial on the ALF tiller to raise the tiller cab off of the 1973 Seagrave tiller.

LVFC Archive Photo

Rick DiZerga open air tillering on the 73 Seagrave
LVFC Archive Photo

The 73 Seagrave tiller in operation at a structure fire in downtown Purcellville circa 1975

LVFC Archive Photo

Taking a breather on the 73 Seagrave tiller at an apartment fire in in Leesburg circa 1976

LVFC Archive Photo

The 73 Seagrave tiller in the yard at a chimney fire with extension in Leesburg circa 1974

LVFC Archive Photo

The 73 Seagrave tiller in operation at a structure fire circa 1977

LVFC Archive Photo

All three Seagraves together in the field behind the high school circa 1973
LVFC Archive Photo

1974 Ford Tank Truck

Put in service in 1976, this 1974 Ford F700 had a 2000-gallon tank and a V8 motor. There was storage for several hundred feet of hose in the rear compartment. It was sold in 1981 when the Seagrave tanker arrived.

Rear hose bed with dump valve

LVFC Archive photo

Dodge Bus

LVFC Archive Photo

O.R. Dube’ help to acquire this Dodge bus was acquired in 1975 from Government surplus. It was used for a while by the Ladies Auxiliary as a canteen unit.

1976 Dodge Mimi Pumper

In April 1976, the Company purchased this Dodge Power Wagon mini-pumper from Hamerly Custom Products. Used as an “attack Pumper,” the idea was that the first two firefighters to get to the station would respond in this instead of waiting for a full crew. Arriving on scene faster meant hitting the fire sooner and possibly holding it until the rest of the company arrived. Despite its small size, it rarely ran out of water and was used very effectively.

Terry Frye trying to stay warm as he operates the attack truck at an apartment fire in Leesburg

LVFC Archive Photo

The attack truck, first in, pumping multiple lines on a house fire in Leesburg circa 1985. Hamilton's engine is to the left, center behind the attack is Company 13's rescue squad and the 73 Seagrave is to the right.
LVFC Archive Photo

1977 Jeep Brush Unit

The new Jeep at station 1 with the attach in the background, the 73 Seagrave pumper back right and the 74 tanker to the right. Note the floor to ceiling, glass bay doors.

LVFC Archive Photo

Purchased new in 1977, this Jeep was converted into a brush unit with a 100-gal. water tank and pump. Due to the weight in the rear, the front end was very light and there was always a lot of play in the steering wheel. Members were repeatedly cautioned to slow down when driving it.

LVFC Archive Photo

The Jeep with the top on at an acquired structure burn circa 1994
LVFC Archive Photo

1981 Seagrave Pumper/Tanker

LVFC Archive Photo

This was the first pumper tanker that Seagrave manufactured and it took over a year for it to begin production. It was so large that the body had to be put on the chassis outside of the factory. It featured a 1000 gpm pump, a 2000-gal water tank and a 100 gal. foam tank. It was sold to North East Fire in 2000 after 19 years of service.

Pumping the tanker at the Cassidy Barn Fire circa 1988

LVFC Archive Photo

At the Antique's building on Rt 15 south

LVFC Archive Photo

The all-Seagrave House – Station 1, circa 1982.
(L-R) 1973 Seagrave tiller, 1981 Seagrave tanker, 1973 Seagrave engine, 1968 Seagrave engine

LVFC archive photo

1982 Chevrolet Carry-all Suburban

“The Serve”

Parked in front of Station 1, circa 1984

LVFC Archive Photo

Used as a Chiefs vehicle, utility vehicle and whatever else was needed, this unit was sold by sealed bid in 1995.

Hauling air cylinders to a training burn

LVFC Archive Photo

1983 Seagrave pumper

LVFC Archive Photo

This 1983 Seagrave pumper was the third Seagrave purchased in fifteen years. It was totaled in an accident in 1988 which injured Driver / Operator Roy Ott. Roy was shuttling water during a fire call and was the only occupant of the vehicle when the crash occurred.