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Bismarck reacquires 1926 Seagrave fire truck for city display
Summary
City commissioners unanimously approved the reacquisition of a 1926 Seagrave fire truck previously sold at auction, with staff saying the truck will be serviced, temporarily housed at Fire Station 2 and used for community display and morale-building within the fire department.
The Bismarck City Commission unanimously approved the city's reacquisition of a 1926 Seagrave fire truck that served the Bismarck Fire Department for nearly four decades.
City staff member Jason described how the truck, originally delivered to the city in 1927, was sold at a 1988 surplus auction to Jim and Jan Beck and remained in private hands until this summer. Jason said staff negotiated with the Beck family and completed a transaction to return the apparatus to municipal ownership. "The transaction went very smooth," he said, adding the Becks were "very gracious" to let the city reacquire the vehicle.
Staff said crews transported the truck to Public Works and that mechanics will work on the engine and other running parts to ensure safety if the truck is to be driven. The city plans to store the apparatus temporarily at Fire Station 2 on Expressway Avenue and to install glass panels in a garage bay so passersby can view the truck. Communications staff are preparing a press release and additional public-facing materials.
Jason framed the move as both a preservation effort and a boost to firefighter morale. "It is a wonderful piece of Bismarck history," he said, noting the apparatus will reach its 100th anniversary next year. Commissioners expressed enthusiasm and moved the item from the consent agenda for brief discussion before approving it.
The commission recorded a unanimous roll-call vote in favor of the consent-item approval. The city did not provide estimated restoration costs at the meeting; staff said those details and press materials would follow.
The next procedural step is staff follow-up: mechanical inspection and short-term housing at Fire Station 2 while the city determines longer-term display or restoration plans.
