By Katherine Massopust

PERTH AMBOY – The Perth Amboy Volunteer Fire Department Parade Committee, Inc. has been actively restoring an Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine.  This antique fire engine was originally built in 1926 and delivered to the town of Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

While the Ahrens-Fox was in use in Ocean Grove, it fought the famous Morro Castle Fire on September 8, 1934. (The SS Morro Castle was a luxury ocean liner of the 1930s that was built for the Ward Line for runs between New York City and Havana, Cuba. The liner was named after the Morro Castle fortress that guards the entrance to Havana Bay. The SS Morro Castle was en route from Havana to New York, caught fire and burned, killing 137 passengers and crew members. The ship beached herself near Asbury Park staying there for months until she was towed off and scrapped. The Morro Castle fire called for improved shipboard fire safety. Now it is standard for ships to be built with fire-retardant materials, automatic fire doors and ship-wide fire alarms. There is  also greater attention paid to fire drills and procedures because of this fire.)

The Ahrens-Fox was eventually acquired by the American Smelting and Refining Company (A.S.&R.) on outer State Street, Perth Amboy. It was later given to the Perth Amboy Volunteer Fire Department Parade Committee, Inc. and was in storage for many years. “We have spent 25 years trying to restore it. When the firemen’s Museum was built, we had a permanent place to house and work on it,” Fire Department Lt. Anton Massopust states.

“We received donations from collections at ShopRite, the proceeds from the Ad Book of the 125th Anniversary of the PAFD; the Odd Fellows and the estate of the late Jack M. Dudas. Past Chief Andrew Stafford ran 3 spaghetti dinners to help raise funds to restore the truck.”

“Eddie O’s Body Shop on East Avenue, Perth Amboy did a major part of painting the truck,” states Lt. Anton Massopust.

In the month of April, the famous gold leaf artist Eddie May has spent his time gold leafing the Ahrens-Fox Fire Truck. Wallington, New Jersey native, May has been gold leafing vehicles since he was 17 years old. “I learned by watching an old timer, Bill Straight. He had done gold leaf in Wallington. I started practicing with him. I did motorcycles  – a lot of Harley’s, pin striping cars, band murals on vans and a lot of custom cars and flames,” states May.

May said, “In 1990-91 I started specifically to work on fire trucks.”

May was once offered a job in 1975 when he was in California, to work painting models for the movie, Star Wars. “I turned it down because I was the only child and I had to take care of my parents. Who knows what would have happened if I stayed in California?”

May said, “I got interested in gold leafing old fire trucks because I like working with firefighters. My Father-in-law, Tom Coice was a firefighter in the  West Side Firehouse in Passaic. He was a tillerman on the hook and ladder. (a tillerman drives the rear of a two-section aerial truck) All my friends are firefighters in Wallington. Greg Varnas who recently died was a Captain in Jersey City. He was once Chief in Wallington.”

Past Chief Gerard Collins brought in Campbell’s Supply Company on the project, who brought in Eddie May. Past Chief Collins knew Scott Campbell, son of the late Woody Campbell. “Woody Campbell gave me my first chance in the late ‘70’s. I highly respect him. Gerry was good friends with Woody Campbell.”

“It’s a pleasure doing old fire trucks. There are only a half dozen of us gold leafing old fire trucks in the tri-state area. When artwork is done by hand, it’s something special. People appreciate that. The modern day trucks are done with computers and decals with vinyl. The decals don’t last,” May states.

May isn’t finished with the Ahrens-Fox yet, “I still have to do the fenders and other parts.”

The Firemen’s Museum is looking for donations to help pay for the gold leafing of the Ahrens-Fox. The Perth Amboy Volunteer Fire Department Parade Committee Inc. is working on the museum every Tuesday night between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. if there isn’t a fire. Visitors are always welcome.

Tony Massopust states, “When people see the Ahrens-Fox in all its glory, I hope that they will appreciate and feel the great tradition of the fire service.”