by Robert Gates
The Hamilton Fire Department’s first motorized fire apparatus, Chemical 1, will soon have a new home that will prominently display it in the town center.
The Planning Board recently approved the construction of a building to house and display the historic truck, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Fire Chief Ray Brunet said construction on a new home for the 1916 American LaFrance chemical truck with a Ford Model T chassis will start soon.
The project received $150,000 in funding from the Community Preservation Act fund, as the Community Preservation Committee recommended. Voters approved the spending at the Annual Town Meeting in April 2024. The building will be located on the Hamilton Public Safety Complex grounds and clearly visible from Bay Road.
Hamilton firefighters previously built a brick-and-mortar building to house the Model T in the 1980s, but it was razed to make way for the current Public Safety Building complex in 2007. Plans to build a replacement display building were initially included in the scope of the Public Safety Building complex. When construction costs exceeded the allocated funds, it was eliminated from the project.
Hamilton firefighters have long sought a dedicated building for Chemical 1. In 2007, Fire Chief Philip Stevens, Jr. secured funding for the building, but the project stalled in the approval stage. From 2007 until 2022, the Model T was stored in the only place available: the modern-day fire apparatus bay.
Chemical 1 has always held a unique place in Hamilton’s history. Purchased in May 1916, it served the town for three decades, even participating in a lend-lease program during World War I, which sent it to Maine. After its service, local firefighters re-acquired the apparatus and have maintained it ever since.
Before Chemical 1, the town relied on horse-drawn apparatus and rudimentary firefighting methods, such as bucket brigades. Chemical 1 used a more modern firefighting technique in the early 20th century. Unlike today’s fire trucks equipped with pumps and water tanks, the truck was essentially a large fire extinguisher on motorized wheels, relying on a chemical reaction to put out fires. The two 25-gallon tanks filled with water and bicarbonate soda sat on top and combined with sulfuric acid stored in a glass receptacle at the top of each tank. To activate the system, firefighters rotated the tank, and the acid mixed with the soda and water. The chemical reaction produced pressure that forced the water out of the hose.
“What makes this truck so rare is that it still has its original chemical tanks,” said retired firefighter Randy Ayer, a former “Jake” who spearheaded the restoration of Chemical 1.
Ayer said most chemical trucks from that period had the tanks repurposed for the war effort. Others turned into different types of fire apparatus, such as chief’s cars or hose wagons. The fact that Chemical 1 still has its original chemical tanks, a rarity among trucks from that period, underscores its historical significance and the importance of its preservation.
Chemical 1 is a rarity on the North Shore, where antique apparatus preserved in Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Wenham primarily feature hand tubs and horse-drawn apparatus.
Ayer’s passion for preserving the truck shows through his painstaking effort to restore Chemical 1. He spent countless hours and his own money working on the project for more than two years, resulting in the truck’s renewed life. He led everything from rebuilding the engine to replacing the floorboards with mahogany wood. He found original parts, such as the megaphone horn. He even sought expertise from brothers specializing in traditional tin tappin’ to repair dents in the truck without resorting to modern body filler.
“I didn’t want to use body putty to fix the dents,” Ayer said in an interview inside the barn at his Walnut Road home. “No Bondo, no fiberglass, just hammers and leathers. They make it almost look perfect.”
He takes pride in the authentic restoration methods that he used.
“There’s no parts made in China on this truck,” he said.
Brunet applauds Ayer’s efforts.
“Randy saw that this piece of Hamilton’s history was being neglected and took it upon himself to take on a project that would be overwhelming to most. He’s rebuilt this truck with his own hands, and the department members are extraordinarily grateful,” Brunet said. “Additionally, I want to thank Town Manager Joseph Domelowicz, the Community Preservation Committee, and the Board of Selectmen for their support in getting this overdue project completed.”
The new building, designed by Hamilton resident Brian Stein of Vance Stein Architects, is inspired by Hamilton’s original firehouse on Willow Street, where Chemical 1 was once housed. The design pays homage to the department’s history. It will be a fitting showcase for the meticulously restored piece of history. It will protect the truck from the elements while providing a space where the public can appreciate its significance.
In addition to the CPA funding, the project received strong support from the Hamilton Historical Society, town officials, and community members. Hamilton firefighters plan to contribute labor for construction, while various local contractors have agreed to supply technical and trade-related assistance.
The community approach will allow the construction of the building at a minimum cost to taxpayers.
Ayer, too, has offered money toward an endowment to cover the ongoing maintenance of the building and the future upkeep of Chemical 1.
The preservation and public display of Chemical 1 will inspire future generations to serve Hamilton as a firefighter while helping foster community pride.
