Posted 9:34 am Thursday, April 12, 2012
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Renovated Brookshire's Museum 1952 Fire Engine Open To Public
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By AMANDA ROBERSON
KYTX CBS19
A newly refurbished attraction is open for business at Brookshire's Wildlife Museum. The museum invited little ones to celebrate the re-opening of an old fire engine Wednesday morning.
After 20 years of wear and tear, it was time for the 1952 La Grand engine to be renovated. Six months of renovation has given the truck a new paint job, new seats and the engine is back open for kids to enjoy.
Tiny hands are at the steering wheel and tiny feet are putting the pedal to the metal.
“We're having fun playing,” five-year-old Ella and Noah said.
They were just two of the dozens of children enjoying the 50-year-old engine once again.
It wasn't their first time to play on the engine, but the truck's upgraded appearance made an impression.
“It looked dirty,” Miss Ella said. “Had lots of dirt in it and it was not shiny like it is today.”
“It was dirty and ripped and it didn't look good,” Noah said.
KYTX CBS19
A newly refurbished attraction is open for business at Brookshire's Wildlife Museum. The museum invited little ones to celebrate the re-opening of an old fire engine Wednesday morning.
After 20 years of wear and tear, it was time for the 1952 La Grand engine to be renovated. Six months of renovation has given the truck a new paint job, new seats and the engine is back open for kids to enjoy.
Tiny hands are at the steering wheel and tiny feet are putting the pedal to the metal.
“We're having fun playing,” five-year-old Ella and Noah said.
They were just two of the dozens of children enjoying the 50-year-old engine once again.
It wasn't their first time to play on the engine, but the truck's upgraded appearance made an impression.
“It looked dirty,” Miss Ella said. “Had lots of dirt in it and it was not shiny like it is today.”
“It was dirty and ripped and it didn't look good,” Noah said.
But one look at that old rip in the driver's seat, and J.R. Hall, of Laneville, instantly knew he'd seen it before. “I went around, the seat on the driver side had a tear on it, a rip, it's been reconditioned, but I recognized it as one of the fire engines being used at Dallas.”
Hall used this exact engine while serving with the Dallas Fire Department years ago.
“Over the years I've driven by and watched kids playing on it so yes, it is very special to me,” Jim Lozier said.
Lozier sold the engine to Bruce Brookshire in 1990 because Brookshire wanted it for the museum.
Hall used this exact engine while serving with the Dallas Fire Department years ago.
“Over the years I've driven by and watched kids playing on it so yes, it is very special to me,” Jim Lozier said.
Lozier sold the engine to Bruce Brookshire in 1990 because Brookshire wanted it for the museum.
While the engine was mostly used with the Dallas Fire Department, before coming to the museum in Tyler, it was also used at the salt mines in Grand Saline. Mining companies received a 30- to 40-percent reduction to their insurance rates because the engine was on standby.
Renovation crews took sharp edges and dangerous knobs off the engine. The truck is more kid-friendly than ever, according to the museum.
Lozier said he's proud of its message to young people.
“It's great to see the kids really realize what the fire fighters used, he said. “I think with all the tragedies we've had in our nation it shows fire fighters are very important and to see these kids appreciate that, it makes it even better.”
Renovation crews took sharp edges and dangerous knobs off the engine. The truck is more kid-friendly than ever, according to the museum.
Lozier said he's proud of its message to young people.
“It's great to see the kids really realize what the fire fighters used, he said. “I think with all the tragedies we've had in our nation it shows fire fighters are very important and to see these kids appreciate that, it makes it even better.”
