York Town News
Fire fighters have their day with convention, parade and muster
By Jennifer L. Saunders
This 1926 Maxim Model M3 fire engine graced the antique show and parade route of the 43rd Annual Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters Convention, hosted by the York Beach Fire Department this past weekend. The truck was fully restored by David Brown of St. Johnsbury, Vt., who brought the truck across New England in a special trailer to be a part of the event.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK BEACH - "It was absolutely wonderful."
Those were the words that Convention Chairman and York Beach Fire Department Capt. Mark Gay used to describe the weekend's events when the 43rd Annual Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters Convention came to town from Sept. 14 through 17.
"We had a real good turnout. I think a lot better than what we expected," Gay said. "The weather was a big factor in it. It was perfect. It couldn't have been any better."
The event included an array of antique fire apparatus from across New England, a traditional firemen's muster, a parade featuring community groups and organizations - as well as firefighters, ladder trucks and more - and a chance for the community to come out and say "thank you" to firefighters from near and far.
One of those community members, Scotty Thomas, was on hand Friday afternoon at the York Beach Fire Department as trucks began to line up for the first phase of the antique judging. To express his support for the town's firefighters, Thomas explained, he has been at work creating an historical mural for the York Beach Fire Department.
David Brown, meanwhile, traveled to York from St. Johnsbury, Vt., to take part in the parade and antique events with his fully-restored 1926 Maxim Model M3 fire engine.
Shining brilliant red under Friday morning's sun, the antique truck drew appreciative comments from firefighters, local residents and visitors alike.
"I went to fires on this truck," Brown said, explaining that he joined the Marion, Mass., Fire Department on his 18th birthday. At that time, although it was aging, the truck was still in use.
Years later, it was stripped down by a Marion resident hoping to refurbish it. When that individual was unable to complete the task, Brown took on this "labor of love."
Brown said he was looking forward to taking part in the York Beach parade, adding he only takes the truck out to events like this a few times a year, and that he was relieved the weather cooperated.
For those who took part in the parade and muster, scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, those sentiments were the same. After all, it has been 11 years since the York Beach Fire Department has hosted the convention.
"It's a good feeling," Gay said of the success of this year's event. "A lot of work went into it."
