The1930 American LaFrance Tiller Truck is now back home. The Middletown Fire Department used the truck from 1930 to about 1963 and recently got a call from someone in Binghamton, New York – the old truck was sitting on a lot there.
Jim Loewenthal, a retired Middletown firefighter, enlisted his friends and fellow former firefighters and had the 75-foot fire truck brought back to Middletown. Now, the restoration work is beginning. “It’s a lot of history and we’ve had a lot of fun restoring it. It’s been nothing but a team effort and it’s been a wonderful journey,” said Loewenthal. Among those admiring the antique fire truck at a recent restoration day in Middletown was John Cryulik. Cyrulik is now 103 years old and used to drive the Tiller fire truck.
“it’s wonderful to see it again because I remember when they took it away…. It’s a nice truck,” said Cyrulik.