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Milford officials discuss fundraising push to remount 1945 Seagrave fire truck; SORR family to provide chassis and labor
Summary
Fire Chief and council discussed a community-led capital campaign to remount and restore Milford’s historic Seagrave fire truck. SORR family and SORUS Towing pledged heavy in-kind support; estimated project cost is $10,000–$15,000 and fundraising is underway.
Milford’s fire chief told council the volunteer-led campaign to restore the city’s historic Seagrave fire truck is underway and that SORUS Towing (the Sorer family) has pledged chassis, parts and workspace if the city and the fire department can raise roughly $10,000–$15,000 to cover labor and additional parts.
Chief Baird said the vehicle—originally built in 1945 and adapted over the years with replacement driveline, an automatic transmission and other modifications—served as a public-relations and parade vehicle after restoration work completed in 2002. In recent years the truck has shown age-related brake issues that prompted an engineering assessment and the search for a restoration solution.
With support from the Sorer family and other community donors, volunteers have launched a capital campaign with an initial fundraising push; Chief Baird said several pledges and donations had already been received and that the department will continue to raise funds through the fire department’s club (a 501(c)(3)). He asked council to consider whether the city might contribute to the effort and offered to provide monthly updates on fundraising progress.
Council members praised the community effort and the truck’s historical value. Staff said any city contribution would be discussed separately and that the campaign would be administered through the fire department’s nonprofit club to facilitate donations and tax deductions. No city appropriation was made at the meeting.
