History on the Move
Thomas Volunteer Fire Department has owned engine 88 years
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THOMAS -- In its 106 years of existence, the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department has seen many things come and go, including firemen and many different pieces of equipment.
But one thing that has stood the test of time over the years and is still in its original form is a 1935 Seagrave Fire Engine, which the fire department purchased brand new from Columbus, Ohio.
"We've had that truck since it was made and it's been with our department all of these years," Thomas Volunteer Fire Department Chief Joseph Dibacco told The Inter-Mountain this week.
"When I first joined the fire department back in 1970 it was one of two trucks that we used. We had a 1946 Seagrave and this one that we still have. We didn't have anything else."
The classic fire engine, which is on display at the TVFD, was last used during the flood of 1985, when it combined with a 40-foot ladder to help people across the Blackfork Bridge in Parsons.
"Half of that bridge washed away during the flood and we had a 40-foot ladder that truck used to haul," Dibacco said. "We took that ladder down to help people get across the part of the bridge that was washed out. We did that so they could get to their homes. That was the last official run that truck was on."
Even though the truck hasn't been used for emergency services in decades, it has made many appearances in parades throughout Tucker and surrounding counties. In the past it has traveled as far as Elkins for the Mountain State Forest Festival and to Buckhannon for the West Virginia Strawberry Festival.
"We used to take it to several different parades at one time," Dibacco said. "But as far as the truck is driven now is to Davis and back to Thomas. Because if something breaks down on it, the parts are very hard to find."
Dibacco, who has been the department's fire chief for 42 tears, since 1981, said the truck is all original parts except for one part they had to replace years ago when the truck broke down at a parade in Mount Storm.
"The only thing we have ever done to that truck was several years ago when it threw a rod down through the piston at a parade in Mount Storm," he said. "It was down for several years until we found the parts to put it back together. Everything else is original."
Dibacco said the public is welcome to stop by the Thomas Fire Department at any time to see the truck.
"People can stop and take a look at it anytime," Dibacco said. "We have a lot of kids' groups stop in to see it from time-to-time. They like to get on it and take some pictures – they really enjoy it."
Dibacco said he only knows of two other departments in the region that have antique fire engines similar to the one in Thomas.
"There's not many of these old fire trucks still around," he said. "The only one right now that I can think in West Virginia is in Keyser. I know they have one in Oakland, Maryland as well."
The classic fire truck, which features a Hercules 6-cylinder engine, has seen its share of history over the years, Dibacco noted.
"That truck has a lot of history in it," he said. "Our fire chief that actually went to the Columbus factory to get it, later died in a car crash while going to a parade in Parsons. They were taking the fire truck to Parsons for a parade and he was in his personal car when the accident happened. Some of the guys driving the truck over to Parsons actually came up on the crash and found him."
The truck's 6-cylinder engine runs on two spark plugs per cylinder and has a three-speed transmission. Dibacco said the vehicle has lasted so long because of the way it was made.
"The truck was very well-built," he said. "The fenders and everything else on it have so much metal. It's a very heavy truck, probably the heaviest one we have. It has a solid brass pump also, and it's really hard to tell just how much it weighs."
These days the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department has 25 members, and several more trucks to work with.
"The biggest problem we have is that a lot of our guys work away from Thomas," Dibacco said. "There's no work here so they work out of town. So in the daytime we have a hard time getting crew out because they are all working away from town.
"But we currently have two Class A pumpers, a rescue truck, a pickup truck, a Suburban, and a brand new side-by-side that we use for emergencies."
For more information about the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department, visit its Facebook page or call 304-463-4260.