A replacement engine was found for Luverne, a 1932 fire truck, for the Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade.
Luverne needed a lot more work after 84 years of service. So last year, the Vulcans scratched together some cash and rolled Luverne into the shop.
David Breen headed the committee that raised the funds and organized the overhaul. He said they collected about $18,000 on Give to the Max Day last year plus an additional $6,000 from people connected to the Winter Carnival and other festivals.
It wasn’t quite the $30,000 they hoped to raise, but it was enough to pay for a fresh coat of paint and, more importantly, some serious structural and safety work. It had been almost 25 years since Luverne had that much work done.
“Ninety percent of it was based on the safety of the truck,” Breen said.
The lighting system was updated. The brake system was rebuilt. The rusted running boards were replaced, and the truck was secured to its chassis with new mounts.
The old motor and transmission got some maintenance, too, but Breen said there will be more to do the next time they get some money together.
Luverne is named for the Minnesota city where she was built for the St. Paul Fire Department. After years of service, the city let the Vulcan Krewe start using her in the 1950s. The Vulcans officially took ownership in 1996, according to the organization’s history.
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