On hand to accept the plaque were Councilwomen Astri Baillie and Carmela Vitale, along with Fire Chief Lou DeRosa. 

Ray Chang, the county's historic preservation programs coordinator, noted "Geraldine" is a "very unique" historic resource to the borough. 

The fire engine was originally presented to the borough in 1921 by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, who custom-ordered and donated the top-of-the-line engine to the fire department.

"Geraldine," considered the “Rolls Royce” of the era’s fire engines, came to the borough after a lightning strike on July 22, 1920, sparked a fire that destroyed several barns on the Madison estate of Mrs. Dodge, taking with it her favorite horse. The consensus at the time was that the fire department lacked the firefighting apparatus necessary to pump sufficient volumes of water fast enough to extinguish the blaze more quickly.

Dodge's namesake fire engine served the fire department and the community for over 30 years before it malfunctioned and was sold, embarking on a decades-long odyssey through several states, ending up in Ware, Mass.

Returning Home 

"Geraldine" returned home to the borough last year following a fundraising drive that raised $150,000 to bring her home in 2013. At her homecoming celebration last ye