Antique fire truck comes home to Sunnidale
Although it will take a lot of work, Clearview Township firefighter Jeff Caldwell is determined to see an old pumper that was once the pride of Sunnidale Township returned to its former glory, or close to it.
His ambitions range from a new coat of paint to possibly getting the engine running – either way he is determined it will be part of the 2026 Sunnidale Winterama celebrations.
Caldwell, who is the president of the Sunnidale Firefighters Association, spearheaded the acquisition of the 1963 pumper after he found it more than 1,300 kms away in Neebing Township, located on the north shore of Lake Superior in the District of Thunder Bay.
The Dodge 500 truck, which had been purchased new from Rockwell Motors in Stayner, was the first pumper stationed at the Sunnidale fire hall at Sunnidale Corners when it opened in 1962. It was relocated when the station moved to New Lowell in 1973. The truck was then sold to Neebing in 1989, where it was in service until the early 2000s.
“I wanted to bring a piece of history back to Sunnidale,” said Caldwell.
He said he had been looking for the truck over the years but says the way he located it was dumb luck. He said he Googled ‘Sunnidale Township old fire truck’ and there it was, in Neebing. A call for assistance from Clearview’s deputy fire chief toNeebing’s set in motion a hunt. It took almost two years but eventually the truck was located – with some sleuthing by Caldwell on Google Earth – at a shop. It was no longer in use and the shop owners, where it was located, said they would love to see the truck go home. They would part with it for $1,000. Caldwell said he took up a collection from individuals and businesses in the New Lowell area and was able to raise the funds.
The next hurdle was the shipping costs. The truck would have to be trailered home. The Sunnidale Firefighters Association allocated $2,000 in proceeds from the firefighters’ spaghetti supper held during Sunnidale Winterama to help cover the costs. They now have additional funds raised for the restoration and are just waiting to see how far to go with it.
“There is a lot of interest and support for this,” said Caldwell. “The big thing is to have it home.”
He has been a member of the fire department at Station 3 in New Lowell for 14 years. His father, brother and wife have all been members of the brigade.
His father, Neil Caldwell, once drove the old pumper so it has sentimental value for all of them.
Caldwell said, now, Creemore, Stayner and Sunnidale all have antique trucks in their fleets and if all goes according to plan they will be seen in parades and at events in years to come.
Being a collector of local history, Caldwell also plans on creating a firefighter recognition wall at the new fire hall in New Lowell and a display of some of its history. He hopes to see the newly restored fire truck sitting proudly out front.
Any information about the truck is welcome at jeff.c77@hotmail.com.
