1957 Ward LaFrance Ladder Truck 1 Restoration

In 1957, the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Snyder Fire Department purchased the Ward LaFrance ladder truck for a cost of $34,955. The truck was delivered to the Snyder Fire Department in March 1957. It was recognized as the first aerial ladder in the Town of Amherst. In addition, it was the first aerial ladder owned by a volunteer fire department in all of Western New York.

Designated as Snyder Truck 1, the vehicle had a legendary career for close to 20 years as a response vehicle for fires in Snyder as well as other parts of the Town of Amherst and throughout Erie County.

The 1957 Ward LaFrance ladder truck remained in service with the Snyder Fire Department until 1976, when it was sold to the Cuba, NY Fire Department, where it was in service for nearly another 20 years.

In the late 1990's, the Cuba Fire Department then sold the truck to Jessie Melvin "Beau" Tucker (father of country star Tanya Tucker).

Because of its historic and nostalgic value, the Snyder Fire Department arranged to purchase the truck and bring it back home where its storied career began. In August 2004, the truck was purchased back by the Snyder Fire Department, and it arrived back home in Snyder on September 17, 2004.

A committee was formed to restore the vehicle back to its original luster. Over the past 18 years, the committee has concentrated on making the vehicle roadworthy and focused on mechanical repairs to do so. the truck is currently NYS inspected and certified to legally operate on roadways. It regularly participates in community events and festivals. It is also used at fire prevention events to highlight fire service history.

The committee is now focusing on the next step in the refurbishment process, which includes making repairs to the apparatus body and the main aerial ladder.

This 1957 Ward LaFrance ladder truck is a true historical gem. It has a long, glorious, and storied legacy that needs to be preserved for future generations. With your help, we can continue to bring this truck back to its former glory!

Now that we have shared the history of our truck, let us explain our reason for choosing an initial goal of $10,000 and what the fundraising team plans to do while this GoFundMe is active.

This fire truck requires extensive restoration work, especially on its exterior and mechanical parts. We have obtained a professional estimate from Gorman Enterprise Service Repair in Elma, NY, which specializes in antique vehicle restoration. The estimate is for $117,000.00 for exterior and mechanical repairs and a separately quoted $22,761.00 for repairs to the ladder. You can see the details of the estimate and the current condition of the truck in the attachments below.

We have set up this GoFundMe Page to raise $10,000.00 from public donations, which we believe is a realistic and achievable goal. We have chosen this platform because it allows us to be transparent and accountable for every dollar we receive from you, our generous and supportive community members. If we reach our goal of $10,000.00, we will use these funds to complete [Line Item 2] of the restoration work, which involves restoring the front grille, bumper, headlamp, bezels, front-mounted chrome lights, horn, and window chrome to their original shine and luster. This will require 46 hours of labor from Gorman.

Your donation will not only help us preserve this historic fire truck but also show your gratitude and appreciation for the Snyder Fire Department and its courageous firefighters. We are proud to serve you and protect you from fire hazards.

We are also pursuing other fundraising strategies, such as applying for grants, writing letters to philanthropists, and organizing events. However, these methods are uncertain and time-consuming, and we want to make progress on our public campaign while we wait for their outcomes. That’s why we are asking for your help today.

If we manage to raise more than $10,000.00, we will use the extra funds to complete the next tier of restoration work [Line Item 4], which involves removing all compartment door latches and hinges so they can be individually repaired. This will require 26 hours of labor from Gorman.

We will keep you updated on our progress and achievements as this campaign goes on.

Business Plan

Estimate (12-Aug-22)

January 2024 Committee Meeting Minutes

Photos (2015):