COUNTY LIFE
By DANI BLACKBURN
After years of neglect, the 1951 Ford Simms fire truck owned by the Bowie Fire Department appears to be nothing but a pile of rust.
However, to local firemen, it is a vital part of their department’s history and they hope to raise the funds needed to bring it back to its former glory.
The Bowie City Council approved the purchase of the truck, affectionately referred to as the ’51 pumper by the current crew, on May 7, 1951. It was bought brand new from Chassis in Wichita Falls for $3,070. Simms Firefighting and Equipment Company, a manufacturer based in San Antonio, converted the truck for $6,000.
The pumper was in service for the department for 25 years and later donated to a fire museum, where it was to be restored and exhibited. However, it was by mere chance the department recovered its truck at the brink of it being junked by that museum and it now hopes to raise funds to restore it for special use. Read the full feature on Pumper ’51 in the weekend News.
Pictured: The rusty remains of Pumper ’51. (Photo by Dani Blackburn)
Pumper ’51 pictured on the right with other vehicles in the fire department fleet back in the 1950s and 1960s. Courtesy photo.
The staff of Advanced Rehabilitation will conduct a hamburger lunch fundraiser to assist one of its staff members whose child is undergoing serious medical issues.
From noon to sell-out on July 19 hamburgers will be prepared in the front lobby of the home. The goal is to sell 100 burgers with a $10 meal deal of a burger, chips and a drink.
Call Cynthia at 940-366-4960 for pre-orders or Tiffany for delivery at 940-255-0402.
The fundraiser is for Tori Mullins, whose daughter, Bryleigh Gresham, age three, has been undergoing treatment for leukemia at Cook Children’s Medical Center. Tori has had to be off work to travel to Cook’s for the treatments.
Inside your weekend Bowie News find the award-winning visitor’s and newcomer’s guide. There are unique features about this area along with all the resources you may need to set up housekeeping or explore something new.
Bowie Public Library’s Summer Reading program continues on July 16 with the Olympics.
It will be all about the upcoming Summer Olympics with outdoor games at the soccer field. Summer reading wraps up with the popular Creature Teacher on July 23 who brings lots of animals to the kids to see up close.
Any questions about summer reading can be directed to the library staff by calling 872-2681 or follow their Facebook page.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12. Keep a summer reading log and earn a book.
Top photo – This past Tuesday, the library staff visits with Smokey the Bear and a member of the Forest Service at summer reading. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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