BRING BACK THE "FOX"

Our community has an amazing opportunity to reclaim our original 1926

Ahrens-Fox Fire Truck that left Avon in 1959! A few community members have visited the truck in the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada! Other community members have been there also, scoured the truck inside and out, taken pictures and reported back with further history. Read on for more information and how to donate to our 501(c)3 non-profit to help bring this beauty home for good and in time for the 150th Avon Fire Department Anniversary!

Timeline history for the purchase of the Ahrens-Fox

The decision to purchase a triple combination pumper for the Avon Fire Department wasn’t just to update our firefighting capabilities, it altered the structure of the fire department itself which nearly 100 years later is still prevalent in our operation.

March 1, 1924 - Annual Report of Fire Commissioners; due to the age and condition of the Chemical and Hook and Ladder trucks, suggested the purchase of a triple combination chemical, hose and pumper.

July 23, 1926 - Special Meeting of the FIre Commissioners voted 2 to 1 to purchase the Ahrens-Fox, 750 gpm, price to be determined at a later date.

Also summoned the President and Secretaries of the 5 Fire Companies to a meeting with the commissioners to discuss reorganizing the fire department. Those companies were: Erie Hose Co #1, Avon Hose Co #1, Avon Chemical Co., Avon Hook and Ladder Co #1 and the Wm Van Zandt Hose Co (tidbit of info ~ Wm VanZandt was never a member of the fire department. He was a great individual and supporter and the fire company was named in his honor. :) True story. )

July 28, 1926 - Discussed disbanding the 5 companies and forming a new company to operate the Ahrens-Fox when it arrived. (It was the fire truck to have a pump-all previous trucks were just hose carts.)

August 4, 1926 - Two of the five companies voted to remain independent (the Van Zandts and the Avon Hook and Ladder Co #1). The Erie Hose, the Avon Hose Co #1 and the Chemical Co voted to disband and reorganize as the Avon Pumper Company. {Today we still have the Van Zandt Hose Co. The Avon Hook and Ladder dissolved at a date unknown.)

August 7, 1926 - The three companies meet and reorganize as the Avon Pumper Company.

August 16, 1926 - Twenty-four (24) days after the decision to purchase the Ahrens-Fox and reorganize, a motion was made and carried that the three companies combine to form the Avon Pumper Company. It is now official. The Avon Pumper Company was born!

We only mention this part of our department history because this reorganization was the direct result of the purchase of the Ahrens-Fox. We always thought the “Fox” was purchased and assigned to the Avon Pumper Company, where in reality the “Fox” was purchased first and the Avon Pumper Co. was formed and assigned to operate the Ahrens-Fox.

The Fire Department purchased the Ahrens-Fox Combination Pumper for $12,950 (today’s cost: $220,106.10) financed through the sale of municipal bonds and paid off over 13 years at $1000 a year plus interest.

August 21. 1926 - Ahrens-Fox Reg#1261 shipped to Avon Pumper Company via Erie RailRoad in a boxcar.

It was in active service from 1926 - 1959 when it was retired and sold for scrap for $300 to Sandy VanAllen of Avon. He sold it to Scott Warthman of Brockport with the intention of restoring it. But Mr. Warthman acquired an older Ahrens-Fox and sold this one in 1967 to Robert Owen from Getzville, Ny. In May 1974, it was sold to J. Turner of Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. In 1978, Mr. Turner sold the ‘Fox’ to the Craven Foundation - part of the Rothmans of Pall Mall (the tobacco company) Toronto, Canada. Here it was lovingly restored to its original condition. However, when the Craven Foundation declined, the Canadian Automotive Museum acquired the truck in 1986 and the ‘Fox’ has been housed there ever since. Tucked safely away in the back corner.

As you can see, we, as a community and as a fire department, have always known where the Ahrens-Fox has been. We have followed her throughout her travels and have always wanted to find a way to get her home, where she belongs.

Well, now we have our chance. The Museum is offering to sell the ‘Fox” to us for a third of what it is appraised for. Very kindly of them seeing as they have housed her, fed her, kept her warm and dry all these years!

Early in 2023 a group of interested Avon citizens (a few who are fire department members) formed a separate non-profit organization called Avon NY, Ahrens-Fox Full Circle Preservation Society with the goal of getting her back here safely and securely so as to use her for educational purposes as well as show her off in parades!

Will you help us?

Thank you in advance for any contribution ~ including sharing her story to other firetruck lovers!!

You can make a difference by donating today to Avon NY Ahrens Fox Full Circle Preservation Society.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!