Saturday, June 17, 2006

Paige and I left for the Muster at the CFD Academy shortly after 0800 hours. It was forecasted to be another 90+ degree day in the Windy City. We found a place to park about a block from the Academy. There were already a number of rigs parked on Taylor Street and more rigs were arriving for the display.

All of the vendors had already been set up and were displaying their wares. I was very disappointed (as was Paige) that there were no vendors selling firefighting or apparatus books at this years muster. Paige wanted to buy Paul Barretts “Elevating Platforms” book, but there none to be seen. There were plenty of fire toys, patches, t-shirts, trading cards and the like on display. I thought most of the stuff was over-priced and for the first time I didn’t buy anything at the muster (except for a CFD fireboat T-shirt for Ron Pearson). I did enter the raffle and won a set of Philadelphia FDAppartus trading cards.

As Paige had to man the 5-11 Club “Bank” at the lobby desk, he and I took turns going out to take photos of the apparatus displays and activities. The CFD ran quite a few companies through the display area on an hourly basis. I saw Engine 1, 5, Aerial Tower 1, Truck 6, Squad 1 and 1A, Squad 2 and 2A,Command Van 2-7-1, and CFD 624 (Chemical/Dry Powder rig). On display all day were CFD 6-3-1 (new Hi-Expansion Foam truck), the CFD bus, and a brand new Survive Alive House.

The CFD Fire Museum had a newly restored CFD 1917 Mack Bulldog Hose Truck and Water Towers 2 and 3 on display. The highlight was probably when they pumped water through one of the 1925 Seagrave Water Towers and the monitor on the Mack Bulldog Hose truck. Many of the young kids used the opportunity to cool themselves off under the big streams on Taylor Street in the very hot afternoon sun.

There were more privately owned fire trucks at this years muster than I’ve seen at recent musters. I’ve already mentioned the 1937 Buffalo and 1938 ALF Scout, both high quality restorations. Some other new vehicles at the muster this year included an old Civil Defense IHC Rescue truck, a 1936 Brockway pumper, a fully restored 1970 Glenview Navy pumper, a 1977 Oshkosh/Stanford pumper, and a 1956 Pirsch pumper from Racine, WI.

The best part of the muster for me is getting to see old friends like Barb and Jack Connors, Ken Little, Steve Little, Chuck Bleck and Roz and meeting new friends like William Post, and Steve Reddick.

When the Muster ended around 1400 hours, Paige and I headed to nearby Mario’s Italian Lemonade Stand for some cool and very refreshing Italian Lemonade. When we got back to the Van Vorst home Caroline and the kids were there, enjoying the annual block party on Dakin Avenue. Donna had gone out and brought them back for the festivities.

We all loaded up in the van and headed back out to Villa Park to drop off Caroline and the kids.. On the way out Paige and Donna treated us all to dinner at a Culver’s Restaurant. After dropping off Caroline and the kids, we headed back to the Van Vorst home. The block party was still going strong and after awhile we started hearing firecrackers. About that time, the wind started blowing like a big storm was coming. It started to rain and blow, which pretty much ended the block party.

We were all pretty tired from the days activities and retired early that evening. I was planning on leaving early the next morning to get back to the Twin Cities for a Father’s Day Bar-B-Que.

Your Roving Reporter