Ruby Tuesday Too - Fire Apparatus

Ruby Tuesday Too prompts us to find items in an arresting shade of red. So how about a restored early 1950s Chevrolet fire truck. With its ruby hue, this is eye-catching for sure, although its previous home base of Moosehead Lake, Maine made me a bit skeptical (moose residing in Maine? ), but a cursory search reveals there actually is a Moosehead Lake in western Maine, in fact a very large lake (40 miles/64 km Long) and a popular vacation area...at any rate, this cherry red truck is a fine sample of our favorite color...

Ruby Tuesday Too - Fine Event Flapping Flag

Ruby Tuesday Too compels us to look for red, a lot or a little. For me today, I showcase the red stripes on a large flag flying from a Shelton CT ladder fire truck...and a poster that sits along the route. The event that hosted this was the local Relay for Life on Saturday to celebrate those who have survived (and those who sadly have not). As Patti is now a three year survivor, she walked laps with her Circle of Friends support group, clad in pink. The ruby thus flies high and deservedly so...

Whimsical Windows - Old style and spirit

Toby hosts the fun architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors where we look at portals and such of interest. Readers know of my fascination with my family over the decades since I inherited in 1981 the box full of family pictures taken by my grandfather.

As I continue to scan the old B&W prints, I often have to make a guess at where/when they were taken...I think this would be in 1941 as this may have been a 25th anniversary (from 1916). That would be my father at 13 in the steel town of Weirton WV, 32 miles/51 kM west of Pittsburgh. The building behind looks like a typical structure built in the early part of last century, if not earlier. Any guess may explain the mystery...or maybe not!

Tina's WW - Large vs. Tiny

Seen in the same parade in May, the really big and the really small shared the same parade route - quite a contrast...See Tina's WW!

Large Pierce Firetruck, Derby CT, 27 May 2013

Tiny Fiat Cinquecento, same day

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Fire Museum

1982 American LaFrance, built in Elmira, New York

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and weekly shadow hunting is a must for this weekend meme.Last week, Patti and I were invited to the soft opening of the new Ansonia (Connecticut) Fire Museum, a very unique and local one set in our small city. Given our size (19,000), this is a fine one, showcasing our history of fire fighting. Given that there were no benefactors, the work, dedication and passion of the local volunteer department has led to a magnificent look at our history.

1962 American LaFrance

1946 Mack, built in Allentown Pennsylvania

There are several old trucks sitting inside this building, the old machine shop in the original school. We see in these three vehicles the improvements over the three years from open cabs to now enclosed and safer places for the ride to the fires. There was talk of replacing the old wood floor, but those familiar with restoration were concerned with the oil soaked wood. Instead, the stained floor reflects the many eras of hard work above them. An honest style that I hope is not restored...

A final look through the historic Ansonia photos brought the real, in the day and now old school fire apparatus. This of course are the two-horsepower equine engines known as Mollie and Dollie. The technology has gone a long way from the old to the new. A great small city museum of which we are all proud...see more shadowy art at SSS2!