Western Springs' local newspaper, *The Doings*, recently published a fascinating article under the "Blast from the Past" section, featuring photos and a detailed look at the history of the first motorized fire engine owned by the Western Springs Fire Department. The piece highlights a 1941 FWD fire truck that was recently acquired by a private collector, who plans to restore it to its original condition.
WESTERN SPRINGS – In 1941, just days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Western Springs Fire Department received its first modern fire engine—an innovative machine that was far ahead of its time. But for many years, this historic piece of equipment had been forgotten, left to rust on an Iowa farm.
Before this, the department had only used a simple hose reel that had to be manually transported to fires. In 1924, they upgraded to an International/Buffalo pumper, which served them well for years. However, by 1940, the village had grown significantly, prompting the need for a second, more advanced fire apparatus.
Instead of settling for what was available, Fire Chief Waldo Erickson took a different approach. He and his team designed the engine they needed from scratch, setting high standards that were unheard of at the time. The new design included enclosed cabs, internal ladder storage, and four-wheel drive—features that wouldn’t become common in fire trucks for another two decades. It also had a powerful pump capable of moving 750 gallons per minute and was painted white for better visibility.
After receiving bids from ten companies, the FWD Auto Company of Clintonville, Wisconsin, won the contract with a price of $9,203—equivalent to about $150,000 today. The truck was delivered in late November 1941, just days before the U.S. entered World War II. Had the village waited any longer, delivery might have been delayed until 1946.
In the 1950s, as the population grew, Western Springs added a 1952 Ward-LaFrance engine, which became a familiar sight during the Memorial Day parade. By 1967, a third fire truck was added. The 1941 FWD was eventually retired in 1968, replaced by a newer model.
Its whereabouts after retirement remained a mystery until 2012, when it was discovered on an Iowa farm and listed for sale on eBay. Though it had been repainted red over the years, the engine was in poor condition. When the story appeared online through the Western Springs Historical Society, a man from St. Louis reached out, obtained the owner's contact details, and purchased the 71-year-old truck.
He has since moved it back to St. Louis, where he plans to restore it to how it looked when it was first delivered in 1941. The restoration is expected to take months, if not years, but this remarkable piece of firefighting history has found a new home—and a second chance.
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