Bickle Fire Truck Restoration Project

Pembroke's 1923 Bickle Fire Truck is currently being restored to working condition.  The Bickle was Pembroke's first gasoline powered fire truck and it is believed to be the last one of its kind still in operation.  

It was bought in 1924 as a way to lure Fire Chief Bob Dey to head up the fire department.  The story goes that he didn't like the town when he arrived but rather than reject any job offers, he told the municipal council he'd accept the position of fire chief if it would modernize by purchasing a gas-powered fire engine, never believing he'd be taken up on the offer.

Six months later, the town called Chief Dey to let him know about the Bickle's purchase and as a result Pembroke ended up with one of its finest fire chiefs.  He went on to become one of the top firefighters in Ontario.  The Aherns Fox Bickle was bought for the hefty sum (at the time) of $18,000.  It was made to order in Woodstock, Ontario and shipped up by rail in 1924.  The arrival of the Bickle was heralded as a great event.

The truck remained the fire departments main pumper until 1954, but continued to serve until it was retired in 1954.The Bickle was there at the Shook Mill Lumber yard fire on April 17, 1950, where 150 million board feet of lumber was destroyed.  The Bickle was pumping water with the rest of the fire departments fleet, although it did need quite a steady supply of engine oil to keep going, brought up by the bucketful. 

After more than 40 years of service, it ended up in a wooden garage at the Champlain Trail Museum, where it sat until being restored in 1992.  This restoration is the second one to be done.  The Bickle's restoration is being spearheaded by Acting captain Bill Clayton of the Pembroke Fire Department.  Other Pembroke businesses and organizations to come forward and assist with the Bickle's restoration include KI Pembroke, Valley Radiator Service, the Pembroke Fiddling Association, and local artist Barbara Blackstein.

The newly restored 1923 Bickle Fire Engine was unveiled at Renfrew County's Expo 150 in June.  Acting Captain Bill Clayton and OVHS President David Whitmore proudly drove it to the Expo to display it to visitors!

Barbara Blackstein is donating the use of the copyright on several of her pieces of art to produce note card sets that are being sold to raise funds for the Bickle project.  The 10-card set features 10 scenes of Pembroke, originally painted by Ms. Blackstein in either oil or watercolour mediums.  The cards sell for $20 a set with every penny going to the Bickle or "old Bertha" as she is called.

Donations are still being accepted for this project and they can be made to the Champlain Trail Museum Bickle Fund.  The next phase of this project includes building an exhibit space inside the Museum for the Bickle.